Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Steve Diver <steved@ipa.net>]

Hello Michael M. -

It is good to see your voice on this list.  

Yes, there are permaculture short courses that are 
practical to attend on the weekend and they are 
very affordable.   

I have taught the essential elements of permaculture
ethics, principles, and ecological design in one day.  

That is enough to get people oriented, which leads
to years of further self education and practical experience.

But if you have two days, you can include plenty of time
for group participation and make it a memorable 
experience for everyone. 

Separate short courses are available on practical
methods and appropriate technology such as composting, 
solar greenhouses, etc.

I'm speaking in general terms.   These kind of
weekend permaculture short courses are offered
around the country. 

This morning I taught a workshop on organic
gardening at a local community center, for free.

I'm emphasizing four practical growing methods:
raised beds, row cropping, weed barrier, and 
container gardening.  It weaves in soil fertility, 
rock minerals, soil biology, compost, cover crops, 
weed control, mulches, and tools.    

Steve Diver 




-----Original Message-----
>From: Soilsecrets@aol.com
>
>Hi Steve,
> 
>That's great news about someone offering PC classes at a reduced  price.  
> 
>My feelings have mirrored some others who feel that the courses are often  
>way too expensive and I'll elaborate a bit more from what I've seen in New  
>Mexico.  My  complaint is that the people teaching the classes don't  often 
>have 
>enough professional knowledge of Plant Physiology, Parent  Rock chemistry 
>and 
>Soils, Soil Biology and the significance  of the association between plants 
>and 
>the world of microbiology  called mutualism.  My other concern is that I 
>often see the same  plants being called up by Permaculture design-build 
>entities 
>regardless of the  region of the country.  
> 
>Dr. Michael Martin Melendrez