Hi Permaculture Friends,

There is still room in our Fall workshops below. See
http://www.sonoranpermaculture.org/courses-and-workshops
for more information and additional classes and courses.
thanks,

Dan

Saturday, September 13th - Your Low Energy Use Home

You can help the environment, go green, and save money on utility
bills all at the same time. This workshop is designed for homeowners
or renters who want to retrofit their existing home and landscape,
and it is also valuable if building a new home is in your future.
We will start with a tour of Mesquite Tree Permaculture Site, seeing
examples of energy saving strategies at work. Many of these
strategies are low cost or can be done for almost no cost, like
planting trees to shade home walls and using passive solar design.
Then we'll see and discuss strategies that have a higher up front
cost, like installing solar panels or a solar hot water heater. This
workshop includes an easy to use handout that details how much each
strategy will cost and how long it will take to make back in energy
savings an initial investment. We will emphasize integrated design
throughout the class and getting back in touch with the patterns of
nature - sun, rain, and wind. We'll show how working with these
patterns can make our living environments healthier and more
comfortable, while also helping us to save money on energy bills.
Class size is limited to 15 participants.
Location: Mesquite Tree Permaculture Site, one and a half miles north
of downtown Tucson. Directions sent with registration.
Time: 9AM - 4:00PM
Cost: $49 - includes all course materials
Taught by Dan Dorsey (520) 624-8030
dorsey@...
http://www.sonoranpermaculture.org/members/dan-dorsey
Call or e-mail Dan for information or registration.


Saturday, September 27th - Introduction to Permaculture

This is a fun one day overview of Permaculture, site analysis and
integrated landscape design, based on Permaculture principles and
ethics. We'll learn how to design sustainable homes and yards that
take care of people and the environment. We will also demonstrate and
practice some of the skills and strategies needed to implement a
Permaculture design. This class features a tour of a mature 14 year
old urban Permaculture site. This outdoor classroom and site is one
of the main teaching sites of the Sonoran Permaculture Guild. Class
size is limited to 15 participants.
Location: Mesquite Tree Permaculture Site, one and a half miles north
of downtown Tucson. Directions and more information will be sent with
registration.
Time: 9AM to 4:30PM
Cost: $59 - includes all course materials
Taught by Dan Dorsey (520) 624-8030
http://www.sonoranpermaculture.org/members/dan-dorsey
Call or e-mail Dan for registration or information.

Saturday, October 4th - Native Foods and Herbs

Foods and Herbs collected during their seasons will be integrated
into recipes featured in Barbara's and Jill's new cook booklet, "Wild
Recipes, Seasonal Samplers". We will prepare and share a feast for a
wild and wonderful taste of the desert - our home. Wear comfortable
clothes and walking shoes, as we will be identifying native plants in
the field. Class size is limited to 15 participants.
Location: Dancing Rocks Permaculture Community, 15 miles north of
downtown Tucson. Directions and more info sent with registration.
Time: 10AM to 3PM
Cost: $75 - partial scholarships available, includes all class
materials
Taught by Barbara Rose (520) 572-7221
www.sonoranpermaculture.org/members/barbara-rose
call Barbara for registration or information


Saturday, October 11th - Complete Hands On Water Harvesting

Learning how to use rainfall and storm water run-off is one of the
keys to developing a successful Permaculture site. It helps us to
reduce erosion and have a lush multi use landscape without having to
import water from outside a site. In this fun workshop we will
install a water cistern, learn how to read the water situation on a
site, and do basic calculations on the water flow available. We will
learn how to install basic earthworks to hold water on site, and talk
about contours, plant selection, and mulching. This workshop is more
than learning about techniques for harvesting rainfall; it will show
you how water harvesting can be integrated into your own lifestyle
and into a simple landscape design for your home.
Location: Central Tucson Location, To Be Announced. This class is
limited to 15 participants.
Time: 9AM to 4:30PM
Cost: $59 includes all class materials
Taught by Dan Dorsey (520) 624-8030 and guest instructors
dorsey@...
http://www.sonoranpermaculture.org/members/dan-dorsey
call Dan for registration or information

Sunday, October 19th - Water Harvesting Designs That Work (and Why)

This is a chance to visit several sites that demonstrate water
harvesting landscapes. The visits will include in-depth discussion
and observation of residents' vision, site resources and constraints,
and budget, which led to the final design. The course focus is not on
hands-on training but on design ethics, site observations, and doing
more advanced run-off calculations. It is geared toward owner
builders and water harvesting installers with some experience. A
lunch incorporating native foods is included with a focus of
connecting the dots between integrated water harvesting design, urban
habitat restoration, community food security, and heritage foods.
Class size is limited to 15 participants. Carpool or Van travel will
be arranged.
Location: Sites in and around Tucson, TBA
Time: 9AM to 3PM
Cost: $65 includes all class materials
Tour led by Barbara Rose and guests
Contact Barbara Rose (520) 572-7221 for registration and
information
www.sonoranpermaculture.org/members/barbara-
rose




Tuesday, October 21st - Build A Straw Bale House or Wall
Co-Sponsored by Pima Community College
Learn about straw bale construction and the advantages of super
insulation, thick walls, and ease of construction. Handouts and a
complete discussion of the current straw bale code, detail drawings
of windows and doors, and additional tips to make your building
experience easier are included. This class also includes a complete
slide show from start to finish on how to build a straw bale house or
wall, as well as a demonstration of special tools and props that work
well with straw bale construction.
Location: Catalina Methodist Church, 2700 E. Speedway
Time: 6:30 PM to 9 PM
Cost: $49, set by Pima Community College. Call PCC at 206-6468 to
register
Class size is limited to 15 participants
Taught by Dan Dorsey, B.S., local straw bale designer of over 50
permitted single family residences and auxiliary buildings throughout
Arizona