A continuation of our Permadynamics series.
Participants will learn:
- A multidisciplinary approach to stewarding soil using the disciplines of Permaculture, Biodynamics, and Soil Microbiome building.
- Building appropriate composts from plant and animal sources using Biodynamic Preparations.
- Incorporating cosmic rhythm attention to biodynamic preparation making and use.
- Creating on farm /garden fertility using indigenous resources, proper cover cropping, and various composting methods.
- Permaculture techniques of swale building, mulching, water management, and microclimate creation to maximize soil retention and tilth.
- Creating indigenous bacterial and fungal ferments to support and enhance the soil food web from on farm resources.
Our Facilitators:
Ryan Herring
Ryan has completed the Permaculture Design Certificate, is a certified Master Composter and Master Gardener. He has been teaching Soils, composting, permaculture, regenerative agriculture and gardening to the local community in Spokane Washington since 2013, and has been an active member in the regional Inland Northwest Biodynamic Group since the fall of 2014. Ryan joined the Fellowship of Preparation Makers and the Evaluation Group that is part of the Fellowship and now conducts research through them using a tool called chromatography. A pictorial qualitative assessment tool used to test soils, composts, gardening and farming inputs, fermented products and just about any food/organic substance. He is passionate about the soil micro biome and creates a multitude of plant ferments to enhance its diversity.
Pat Frazier
Pat Frazier has been a Biodynamic farmer for over 20 years. She and her family have a small biodynamic homestead, diversified farm, and family dairy in Western Colorado where all of the preparation herbs are grown and utilized in making the indigenous Biodynamic preparations for her farm organism and Western Colorado Regional Biodynamic Group. Permaculture design is another of her passions and its marriage with Biodynamics is included in her two-week residential permaculture certification in the summers.
Pat is a passionate cultivator of the Biodynamic Agriculture movement, speaking nationally and regionally at major Biodynamic conferences and advising on three national organizations. She is on board of directors of Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics, Inc, the largest non-profit distributor of the Biodynamic Preparations in North America.
Course location and recommendations
The course will be held at the JPI Farm. Camping is available and there are other lodging options in the town of Floyd, Va.
We will be doing many hands on activities such as earth works, Biodynamic Preparation making and spraying, planting, and compost building. Please come prepared to be outdoors a good bit of the time.
It is strongly recommended that a basic knowledge of Permaculture (or a Permaculture Design Certificate), or Biodynamics be a part of your background if you are new to Perma-Dynamics*.
The final aim of this series is a permaculture design certificate with an emphasis on Perma-Dynamics. This is the second of a four part Design Certificate series. Suggested reading materials relevant to the workshop will be provided upon registration.
Light breakfasts, hearty lunches, and evening snacks will be provided throughout the workshop. Price for workshop is $400.00
*If you wish to take this course without recommended background, please contact the JPI office for information on a short pre-requisite introduction to permaculture course.