permaculture

[Pat Meadows <pat@meadows.pair.com>]

I received this from RUAF (Resource Centres on Urban Agriculture), and
thought maybe some people here would be interested.  

Note that "From next year onwards, the materials developed for the
university courses will also be offered for free on the RUAF website
(www.ruaf.org) and as a CD-Rom."  (I don't know exactly what they mean by
'from next year onwards.'  My *guess* is that they mean after January 1,
but that's only my guess. )

I cannot send the attachments referred to in the letter to most email
lists. For details and enrollment information, please write to the RUAF
email address given in the letter.  

Please direct any questions to RUAF as well, not to me.

Pat

===========================================================
NEW: URBAN AGRICULTURE DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES 

Urban agriculture in increasingly practiced by people from all walks of
life. Support for urban agriculture is increasing, as is the demand for
training. In response to this demand, Ryerson University (Toronto, Canada),
ETC Urban Agriculture (the Netherlands) and RUAF (International network of
Resource Centres on Urban Agriculture and Food security) will be offering a
series of unique Distance Learning courses on urban agriculture. 
Starting from January 2008, students, staff from NGOs and research
institutes, representatives from local and national governments as well as
international organizations can sign up for the urban agriculture courses
with a focus to enabling multi-stakeholder research, action planning,
policy development and implementation on urban agriculture.  The courses
are designed in such a way that they can be accessed with low-speed
Internet connection. Course materials will also be provided on CD-Rom.
Courses will currently only be given in English, in future courses will
hopefully also be provided in Spanish, French and possibly Portuguese,
Chinese and Arabic.

The courses will be offered in two modalities:

1.      ACCREDITED(as part of the Ryersons University's 
Continuing Education program): Each course will run for 14 weeks or one
semester. It is estimated that course participants will spend at least 3
hours/week on lessons and study. Course participants will interact with
experienced course instructors and other students and participate in group
discussions and assignments. Grading will be based on the level of
participation as well as a 
final exam.   Course participants will also have access to 
a technical help-desk and library. Upon successful completion of the
course, course participants will receive an official transcript of their
participation.  Course fees amount to CAD 456 (equivalent to US$ 465) per
course. 
Please find attached more information on the first course "Understanding
urban agriculture" as well as on procedures for inscription.

2.      FREE AND SELF-PACED (independent learning): From next 
year onwards, the materials developed for the university courses will also
be offered for free on the RUAF website
(www.ruaf.org) and as a CD-Rom.  In this set up, learners decide for
themselves what materials to study and when. 
Learners do not interact with instructors or other learners, and cannot
earn a diploma, certificate or any University credits. They neither have
access to technical support.

TO INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS
Please find attached more information on the courses as well as an
Expression of Interest from. Kindly fill in this form and send the
completed from to Joe Nasr (jnasr@ryerson.ca).

TO ORGANISATION WORKING IN THE FIELD OF URBAN AGRICULTURE Please circulate
this email and attachments to your partners and networks. If possible,
please also consider funding one of your staff or partners to participate
in the accredited urban agriculture courses.

For more information:
Marielle Dubbeling (m.dubbeling@etcnl.nl) Joe Nasr (jnasr@ryerson.ca)

=================================================================
-- northern Pennsylvania
"Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of
supply and demand. It is the privilege of human beings to
live under the laws of justice and mercy." - Wendell Berry