Permaculture in Austin, Texas USA
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Texas Institute for Practical Sustainability

Winter Series of Talks – Jan. – Mar. 2005

Welcome to the first Winter Series of Talks in Austin. We who teach Permaculture and advocate/work toward more sustainable living want to share some of our work and our thoughts with the hundreds and thousands of Austin and Central Texas residents who have a love of our diverse bio-regions, want to live happily on this land, and wish to pass it on in better condition than they received it.

These talks are meant to provoke thoughts, further dialog, and local/individual strategies and actions. They are presented as both follow-on sessions to the Permaculture Fundamentals Course held in Austin in September/October, 2004, and as a prelude/warm-up to the Spring 2005 Fundamentals Course in March/April, 2005. The sessions will also be of interest to those who have attended our Permaculture Introduction seminars and other Permaculture events in 2004. But there is no pre-requisite and any and all are welcome and encouraged to attend – beginners and doubters to seasoned professionals and devotees. Please come to all you can, spread this message, and bring friends and associates.

Here is the exciting lineup. We are requesting a sliding scale donation from $5 - $20 per session. Students, AmeriCorps/Vista volunteers, teachers are encouraged to attend at no charge.

Texology – The Biogeography of [Central] Texas Jan. 20 by Dick Pierce
Ancient History – continents on the move, mountains built/torn down; seas come and go. Geology, Hydrology, Climatology, Biology of ancient & modern Texas. Were did all the limestone/fossils come from; why is the oil in Midland & the Gulf? Information & lessons for living in today’s Central Texas…more sustainably.

American Indian Agriculture (Plants, Tech’s, Origins & Spirituality) Feb 10 Dick Pierce
When and where did farming start; who did, who didn’t, and why, and how? The incredible gifts we receive from American Indians, including spirits & spirituality. Where did these early Americans come from? How long ago? Always been here? Lessons they left for us, gifts for all time still going on today.

“Start the World, I Want to Stay on!” - The Solution Side of Ishmael Feb 24 Dick Pierce
-Many feel our country/culture/nation/world is on a collision course for disaster.
-There’s a call for national/global action; let’s change the focus to home and to ourselves.
-Let’s talk of having and living a new “Story to be in.” – from world-view and
spirituality, to raising children, to living in villages, to new ways of commerce.

Introduction to Permaculture Mar 3 Selwyn Polit
Pick a few Objectives, add some Ethics, develop some Principles, call it Permaculture or Sustainable Living, and focus on living cooperatively with a new partner – Nature.Think of ways to live better, use less resources, recycle more, grow more food locally.

Earth Healing - Soil & Water in Central Texas Mar 10 Gary Freeborg
-Life and living [more] sustainably would be easier if we had better soil and more water.
-This is, at the same time, an intellectual, physical, mechanical, and a spiritual task.
-Listen to the knowledge, experience, and deep spirituality of a major Earth Healer.

Culture of Cooperation Communities/Villages/Alt. Living/Co-Housing/etc. Mar 24 Dick Pierce
Big and bigger, more national and global, more technical and sophisticated, nuclear families/individuals, isolation from Nature. These issues are raising lots of questions these days. Let’s explore smaller, more local, more natural, less technical, different structures, patterns, vocations, and life styles. Many to think about. Take what you like and leave the rest.


All of the talks are on Thursday nights – from 7:00 – 8:30 PM at UT-Austin, Burdine Hall (near 26th St./Dean Keaton, between Speedway & Guadelupe), Room 208,). Surface parking is free after 5:45. Check out these websites for directions and fee parking: http://www.utexas.edu/parking/ parking/garages/pg4.html and http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/bur.html

Mark Your Calendar – Enroll Now - Start the New Year Right
Get into Gardening with your School/Classes
The 2nd Annual School Gardening Workshop
Saturday, January 15th – 8:30 – 1:00

Travis Heights Elementary School
(2010 Alameda Dr., Austin 78704 – tel. 414-4495)

The Price: FREE
Educational. Credit: YES
To Enroll: Email Admin@TreeFolks.org or, call Amy at 512-443-LEAF

Why is this in January? Why so early in January?
- Austin is unique – January is planting time for many veggies – a great time to get started.
- January is also a new semester – your class can keep pace with the Spring Gardening season.
- If you want a Spring Garden in Austin, you should start in January.

Who Should attend?
-It is Basics for Beginners – Teachers, Teachers Aids/Interns, Administrators,
Staff, Parents, Volunteers. A simple approach you can use right away.
-For Gardeners who teach and Teachers who Garden, it will be good review and new
pointers/techniques - raised beds, stop Bermuda grass, intensive planting.
-Anyone who would like to know how to fit gardening into science, biology,
chemistry, math, history, English, special ed, multi-lingual/cultural, etc.

What will be covered:
-Basics: Site review, garden location, garden bed preparation, intro to
soil, water, sunshine, climate, seeds, plants, tools, planting, trees.
-Introduction/discussion of curricula – what’s available, what works
-Basics of Parent, Teacher, Administrator, Community involvement
-Case histories on P/R, Communications, and Funding
-Hands-on Experience – build a bed, prep it, plant it; plant a tree, have fun outdoors

Sponsors:
AISD-Travis Heights Elementary, AISD-Garza High School, TreeFolks, TX Inst. of Prac. Sustainability,

A Great Christmas Present….A Garden in the New Year!
The Texas Institute for Practical Sustainability Presents…
The Spring 2005 Organic Gardening SeriesSat., February 5 – Wed., Mar. 23
at American YouthWorks’ South Campus
(1900 E. Ben White – at I-35 & Woodward)

Who should attend?

-It is Basics for Beginners – If you are new to Gardening or new to Austin and it’s unique
growing season(s), climate, soils, plants, and water resources. Teachers are encouraged.
-If you’ve tried and been baffled – try again with a small-scale, simple, easy approach.
-If you are among the thousands who are concerned about our environment, want to raise
safe, nutritious food for your family, or want your children to know and enjoy gardening.
-If you don’t have a lot of time, money, patience, or space…but want food and want it to work.

What’s it all about?

-Basics: Bare ground or Bermuda grass lawn to installed/planted raised-garden beds – in the
right place, with the right soil, small enough to manage, big enough to provide real food.
-Techniques: Raised, mulch, double-dug beds; bio-intensive/square-foot gardening, varieties for
Cent. TX; soils/compost, mulch, water management; starts, seeds, propagation; good/bad bugs.
-Unique “Do it/Learn it” Schedule: Learn first by doing it – at the Saturday workshops – fun outdoor
activities with small groups. Take it home and try it. Then, come to discussion/talk the next Wed.
That’s three times/ways to learn and do it. Schedule also keeps place with Austin’s growing season.

Why so early in the year?

- It’s not! Austin is unique – Jan.- Mar. is the planting time for most vegetables.
- Feb./Mar. is great weather to be active and outdoors. It’s Spring!
- In Austin, we need to plant early to harvest in May/June before heat/dry of July/August.
- To make it a great Christmas present or New Year’s resolution for yourself, your family, or a friend.

And, about the Basics…

-Classes: Please see topics/agenda on oversheet - 4 Sat. AM W’shops, 4 Wed. night Talks.

- To enroll: email – dpierce@ail.org; US-mail – Dick Pierce, TIPS, 801 E. 32nd St., Austin, 78705;
Phone – 512-695-3425, pls. leave message. Pls. Write/call for more information.
- Fees: $100. for all 8 sessions; $80 for Teachers; Individual sessions: $20./Sat., $10/Wed.;
call or email about credit cards – we are working on it. Checks to Dick Pierce – TIPS.
- Directions: detailed directions will be sent with confirmation. AYW is at 1900 E. Ben White Blvd.;
that is just East of I-35 at the corner of E. Ben White and Woodward. Traffic is light at class times.

Texas Institute for Practical Sustainability – Spring 2005 – Organic Gardening Series

-Set 1 – Intro – Basics – Start-up – Hardscapes – Raised Beds (‘w Soil) – Compost Pile

-Sat. Wkshop-1 – 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM Sat., Feb. 5
-Site Walk/Analysis -Sun/Shade/Drains/Level/Seasons
-Select Bed Locations -Raised Bed Construction
-Soil over Grass, Scraps, Cardboard -Plant – Onions, Lettuce, Spinach
-Intro to Sq. Ft. Planting -Build the Compost Pile

-Evening – Class/Discussion – 7:00 -8:30 PM Wed., Feb. 9
-Intro to Gardening/Food/Course -Site Analysis/Selection
-Garden Design, including ancillary areas – tools, rain barrel, potting, nursery
-Austin Seasons, Varieties, Planting -Square Foot Gardening
-Pictures of gardens -Discuss Compost

-Set 2 – Mulch Bed – Gutter/Rain Barrel – More Planting – Turn/Observe Compost

-Sat. Wkshop Sat., Feb. 19
-Build Mulch Bed, Over Grass, Cardboard, Plywood Sides, w’ Rebar/Stakes
-Plant mulch bed -Lettuce, Potatoes, Herbs
-Install Gutter, Rain Barrel, Drip -Plant Carrots, Peas, Turnips
-Turn Compost – Observe: Temperature, Microbes; add Water/Air
-Plant Tomato seeds in pots to take home

-Class/Discussion Wed., Feb. 23
-Review Mulch Bed -Soils/Soil Analysis
-Water in Austin - Rain Harvest, Store, Cycle/Re-cycle
-Water-wise Landscaping -Wetlands, Outdoor Shower

-Set 3 – Double-Dug Bed – Bio-Intensive Gardening – Season Extenders

-Sat. Wkshop Sat., Mar., 5
-Double Dug Bed – no sides -Turn Compost Pile – add greens
-Plant – Peas, Cukes, etc. -Little Greenhouse/Hot House
-Build Trellis for Peas, etc.

-Evening Talk Wed., Mar. 9
-Review Techniques -Raised/Row, Bio-intensive, Bio-dynamic
-Trees/Orchards/Berries -Wildlife Habitat
-Seed Saving/Genetics

-Set 4 – Finish Spring Planting – Animals – Maintenance – Harvest – Plant Propagation/Seeds

-Sat. Wkshop Sat., Mar. 19
-Plant Tomatoes, Squash Plants -Re-pot/Nursery
-Propagate Cuttings -Save Seed
-Plant 2 trees – dig, plant, mulch

-Class/Discussion Wed., Mar. 23
-Review, Q & A, Class Exercises -Animals in Urban Gardens
-Brief Introduction to Permaculture -Pot Luck Dessert/Coffee
-Next Steps -Graduation Ceremony

Past Permaculture Events

Herb Spiral Building and Solar Flower Festival
Saturday March 26, 2005 12:30pm-4pm

Join Habitat Suites Hotel as they celebrate their new solar system, healthy living and fun for everyone. Free food, music, and activities for the whole family -- face painting, solar ovens, clowns, egg decorating, moonwalk, and more! Learn how to build a herb spiral. The Austin Permaculture Group will build a herb spiral from 2:00 pm to 4:00. Check out the Country's largest hotel solar system, native and edible gardens, innovative composting, and more!

Location: Habitat Suites Hotel Address: 500 Highland Mall Blvd.; Austin, Tx 78752

This is a celebration of the Largest Hotel Solar Installation in the United States. The new solar electric system will prevent 38,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere every year, the amount absorbed by over 5.3 acres of trees.http://www.habitatsuites.com

Slide Presentation of Oregon Permaculture

Thursday April 21, 2005 7-9:30pm

Jan Spencer, from Eugene, Oregon will provide us with images and descriptions of Permaculture in Eugene, Portland and Oakland/Berkely. Interestingly, Jan took his design course here in Austin in 1989 with Patricia Michael. He lived in Texas prior to leaving for the Northwest. Images will include Jan's "suburban conversion" project where he has removed all the grass from his property replacing it with garden, has 4000 gallons of rainwater storage [its is dry in the NW in the summer], he has removed his driveway, created a great deal of bio diversity and has added passive solar design to his 1955 suburban home.

The 1/4 acre site includes blueberries, cherry, apple, peach, fig, pear, english walnut, kumquat, manderquat, olive, raspberries, blackberries, coldframes, water features. He will show other images from Eugene including Maitreya Eco Village, East Blair Housing Co-op, Dharmalaya Center, NW Regional Permaculture Gathering, Eugene's Bike infrastructure, community gardens, Center for Appropriate Transportation and other perma sites. Also included will be images from Portland, neighborhood placemaking and the fascinating "Intersection Repair" projects by way of "City Repair" in Portland. And several perma sites in the Bay Area.

Jan is also working with others in Eugene on the "Green Paper", a description and explanation of principles and programs for a Bio Regional culture and economy centered on the Willamette Valley. He produces a local TV talk show, Global Trends-Local Choices, recorded in front of a live audience.

Jan has presented on topics ranging from global water issues, urban redesign, block planning, peak oil, local culture, the history of suburbia and more. You can view Jan's suburban conversion project at www.efn.org/~spencerj City Repair is http://www.cityrepair.org

Directions to get to 8801 Scarlet Circle:
1) Go west on HIghway 290 2.9 miles past the Y in Oak Hill.
2) Turn left on Tara Lane, go 0.2 miles
3) Turn left on Scarlet Circle. Park on the street and walk into 8801.

The phone number there is (512) 288-0638.

Sustainable Family Farming Free Lecture
Saturday February 12, 2005 1pm-3pm

Another free lecture in the Red Rock area. Red Rock is about 35 miles SE of Austin. Features, reasonable land prices, many organic gardeners and farmers, active home schooling community, and interesting people living there.

Sustainable Family Farming at the Red Rock Elementary School 2401 FM 20 Red Rock, Texas 78662. Saturday February 12, 2005 1pm-3pm (Light refreshments served after the talk)

Have you ever thought of moving to the country, supplementing your income on your small farm by raising crops or animals, naturally and organically? Would you like to grow more than enough food for your family, and have surplus to share with fiends? Have you ever dreamed of being ‘off grid’ – free of utility bills and water/electric regulations? All of this, and more, is possible on less than an acre of land. If you are interested in re-establishing the small family farm, and local food sources, then please come to this free introductory talk given by Dick Pierce on Saturday February 12, 2005.

More importantly, come to meet and socialize, with other like-minded folks from the Red Rock area. Red Rock is about 35 miles SE of Austin. It offers good soil, reasonable land prices, an active home schooling community, and active alternative agriculture community.

Dick Pierce is a Texas Master Gardener, a Texas Master Naturalist, and a dedicated and highly experienced Permaculture teacher. Dick has been working with the Sustainable Food Coalition for many years. He is an enthusiastic and entertaining presenter, and regularly gives talks on gardening, sustainability, Permaculture, the weather, and the natural history of Central Texas.

Sponsored by the Texas Organic Gardeners and Farmers Assoc. and the Texas Institute for Practical Sustainability. Call Dick Pierce at 512 695 3425, or Selwyn Polit at 512 926 7876 for more information.

Permaculture Design Course 2005
Weekends & Saturdays

Spring 2005 - Weekends and Saturdays
April 9 - June 5, 2005
You choose - 1 day or the whole 9 days
in Austin, Texas USA

Dates have been finalized. Pick which dates you want to attend
Cost: $450.00 for all 9 days or you can sign up just for the days you are interested in for $60 per day. Past students and Permaculture Graduates pay half price to retake classes. Click here to view a one-page flyer in Adobe Acrobat pdf format Contact Selwyn Polit at selwyn@austintx.com or 512-926-7876. Please sign up soon. Classes are limited to 25 students. Full course enrollees will receive preference. Click here to view the signup packet [Click here for pictures] from our very successful fall Permaculture Fundamentals Course

Permaculture Fundamentals Course
Fall 2004
Weekends & Saturdays

Sept. 18 - Nov. 7, 2004
8:30 - 5:30
Clarksville in Downtown Austin

Cost: $400.00 for all 8 days or you can sign up just for the days you are interested in. .email: selwyn@austintx.com. Click here to view the flyer in Adobe Acrobat pdf format [Click here for MS Word Version] Contact Selwyn Polit. Not Sure? Check it out first. Free 1 hour 'Intro to Permaculture' sessions are regularly scheduled before the class. Attend an intro session and get free materials.

Please sign up now. Classes are limited to 20 students. Full course enrollees will receive preference. Click here for Registration form

Click here for the photo album from the Spring 2004 Fundamentals of Permaculture Course that was held in San Marcos.

Permaculture Fundamentals Course
Spring 2004

March 26 - April 4,2004
Permaculture Fundamentals Class
A 9-Day Fundamentals of Permaculture Course will be held at Stonehaven Ranch in San Marcos, Texas, March 26-April 4, 2004. Teacher Patricia Allison of Earthaven EcoVillage will lead the class. She will be assisted by Dick Pierce, Gary Freeborg and a team of other local Permaculture teachers.

Permaculture is a Grassroots Movement towards practical sustainability as well as an ethics based design system for effective landscaping and ultimately living well on our planet.Permaculture originated through the the efforts of Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the late 1970's. The course includes ethics and principles, analysis and observation, water harvesting and use, basic design process, natural building, gardening, soil building, composting and much more. Learn to heal the land and to use economic strategies for sustainable rural and urban lifestyles with lots of hands-on activities.

Cost: $600.00. Incentives for early registration/payment and multiple enrollments.email: selwyn@austintx.com. Click here to view the flyer in Adobe Acrobat pdf format [Click here for MS Word Version] Contact Selwyn Polit. Not Sure? Check it out first. Free 2 hour 'Intro to Permaculture' sessions will be regularly scheduled throughout the Winter and Spring. Attend an intro session and get free materials.

Selwyn Polit, Dick Pierce & Martha Stevens posing next to the hoophouse they built. (Jan 2003)

and another shot of it without it's cover.

Series of photos from past permie events

	Herb Spiral at Selwyn's home
	Photos of Rocki, Buffi & Precious

Is this a hippie or a yuppie?

This is certainly a throne fit for a queen or a king!
is this really just a bunch of %$#&^%$?

Past Events

Below are the evening events from our Permaculture class. Permies and non-permies are welcome to attend. Please join our group for all or any the events listed below. While donations to cover our costs will be appreciated, they are not essential. .

Saturday, March 27, 2004 7:30-10:00pm at Stonehaven Ranch in San Marcos - Viewing of the Global Gardener Video. Case studies of Permaculture all over the world. Donation appreciated.

Sunday, March 28,2004 7:30-10:00pm at Stonehaven Ranch in San Marcos - Dances of Universal Peace with Patricia Allison. Donation appreciated.

Monday, March 29, 2004 7:30-10:00pm at Stonehaven Ranch - Texology by Dick Pierce. A talk about ancient geology, hydrology, plate tectonics, climate/weather of Central TX to help people understand our unique "place" and how it came to be that way - a fun 2 hours presentation. Donation appreciated.

Thursday, April 1, 2004 7:30-10:00pm at Stonehaven Ranch - Villages and Ecovillages by Patricia Allison of Earthaven Ecovillage in North Carolina. Donation appreciated.

Saturday, April 3, 2004 6:30-?pm at Stonehaven Ranch - Permaculture Graduation Celebration Potluck and Party. Please bring a dish, salad, desert or a drink and welcome the new graduates.

Friday May 14-May 16 2004 WILD RETREAT IN EAST TEXAS - Come out to 1300 pristine acres in beautiful Northeast Texas. Justin Davis is inviting everyone interested in Permaculture, East Texas Ecosystems, and good fun and food out to his families farm in Wood County. Food will be potluck style, please bring a couple of dishes of food to share. Some food will be provided. Camping will be free. There will be guided walks through all the major ecosystems present on the land: bottomlands, creeks, bogs, upland pine and post oak savannah, and unique "sandhill" areas. The Permaculture projects started and planned will be viewed and explained. Swimming and fishing in the creeks, music playing, campfire sitting, and an optional roadside cleanup are all planned activities. Carpooling will happen as it is a lovely 4 hour drive through the Post Oak Savannah from Central Texas. Everyone is welcome from Friday afternoon (14th) to Sunday evening (16th). Contact Justin Davis 512-695-0896 HappyStomach@Lycos.com for more info. and directions.

Calling all permies young & old
Permaculture Celebration & Potluck
Saturday, February 21, 2004
5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

At the home of Colette Henricks and Selwyn Polit (Selwyn@austintx.com - 512-926-7876) 5509 Delwood Drive (near the old airport)

Bring drinks, a dish, salad or desert as well as silverware and join in the fun. We will have the BBQ aflame if you want to cook something. You are invited whether you are an experienced permie or you just want to know what Permaculture is. This will be a great chance to connect and reconnect with permies. We will also have the sauna warmed up.

Come meet Permaculture instructors and course participants. There will be a series of short (15-minute) slide presentations where people will discuss their projects, ideas and inspiration. There will be plenty of time to ask questions and find out more for yourself. Tours of Selwyn's backyard practical projects will be going on during daylight. See examples of simple rain-water catchment, raised bed intensive gardening, grapevines & fruit trees, aquaculture, backyard chickens, build your own greenhouse with chicken-warmer and of course chicken-proofing your plantings.

Home grown gift exchange:
Feel free to bring a home-grown, home-made, surplus (no/low cost) Permaculture Gift to swap (P/C gifts could include: seed you harvested (or extra you've got around - well labeled, please), late-season veggies or herbs, herb/garlic vinegar or olive oil in a pretty bottle, a surplus but good garden tool, a houseplant from your collection, a potted tree from your nursery, a book on the subject of _____, cookies, etc.. Please use your imagination - the only rule is you can't buy it and you or Nature have to make it. Hope it will be fun. Those giving will receive. It will be our program, plus tales and treasures of P/C travels.

If you need to tell your friends and neighbors what Permaculture is, here is a nice description:

Permaculture is a term coined by Australian, Bill Mollison, in the mid-70's to describe techniques of first gathering local information by the patient observation of Nature and asking and listening to natives, indigenous, and elders. It then provides a framework for designing sustainable human systems that emulate Nature, that efficiently utilize local energies and resources, that create as small a human "footprint" as possible, and that provide abundance, relaxation, and joy to all. Permaculture relates to gardening, food production, agriculture, shelter, life styles, resource (soil, water, energy, climate) conservation and stewardship of the environment. Its ethics are: Care for the Earth, Care for People , and Creating and Sharing of a Surplus, while respecting the rights and dignity of all living beings. For more info check out www.AustinProgressiveCalendar.com/permaculture.htm

We are also inviting the Austin Progressive Potluckers to join the fun. More info about potluckers at http://www.austinprogressivecalendar.com/potluck.htm