permaculture

["Bruce Weaver" <ecohood@gmail.com>]

Here is a permaculture video on the work of Rico Zook in India. For
those wish a DVD copy of this video as it really is to long for the
internet at 25minutes. Please if your a permaculture group and or
teacher who would like a copy for library, please email me at
ecohood@gmail.com and let me know you would like a copy.

Heaven On Earth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miraywnpgjI

Also please note that Rico is looking for 4 apprentices for next
summer 2009 at the Lama Foundation. If you have students and or
individuals who might be interested you might read more below and
print out or spread around to others.

Regards
Bruce Weaver

LAND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

A Permaculture Experience Facilitated by International
Permaculturalist Richard Rico Zook

    The Land Apprenticeship Program is designed to provide the
participant with real life hands on experiences of creating and
maintaining the many varied and diverse systems that together
constitute sustainable human habitation.  While strongly focused on
the physical we will also investigate the many different aspects and
nuances of invisible structures.  From communication skills to moving
projects through the approval process to facilitating learning
experiences the apprentice will gain valuable experiences of 'working'
invisible structures to create physical manifestation.
     The components of the Land Apprenticeship Program will consist of
'classes', hands-on work, design/project proposals, field trips,
teaching experiences, and an independent project.
    'Classes' will be meetings with Rico and apprentices (at times
including other Lama people) where we discuss, learn about, do
exercises, see slides and films, hear presentations, and interact with
guest presenters regarding the wide and varied subjects related to
permaculture and sustainability.  These classes will include Lama land
orientation (existing systems, history, design, etc.), learning
processes focused on sustainability and permaculture, design processes
for land systems, garden design, planting/cropping at Lama, community
level design, land management, making decisions about the program, and
general check-in about how the apprenticeship program is proceeding.
These classes will be longer and more frequent during the first month
or so of the program (orientation, forming the team, integration with
kitchen and community, garden planning and responsibilities, etc.),
than less so until we have one per week.
    The hands-on aspect of this program will occupy most of the
participants time.  For the apprentices this is the foundational
intent; real life experience in creating land based systems that are
relevant to environment and culture which contributes to the
sustainable survival of a functioning community.  This work will
include, but not be limited to; land stewardship, maintaining and
expanding diverse food production systems, growing food, maintaining
and repairing existing land systems, designing and installing new
systems, and educating, supervising, and working with summer stewards
and other volunteers who are interested in working with the land.  For
a more complete list of subjects covered and work to do see below.
    Design and project proposals will be based in and grow out of
apprentices interaction with Lama's land and community.  These
proposals will be a reflection of what the apprentices understand the
needs of the Foundation are, as well as, what their own insights about
what will benefit the land and community.  These designs will vary in
scale from greywater systems to food production including off site
marketing and income utilization. Though many of these designs may not
be implemented during the program's duration all will form a resource
base that Lama will access and manifest as need and funds allow.
These proposals will be subject to the Lama approval process as is
appropriate to the proposal's scope and scale prior to any physical
work being initiated.
    Field trips are opportunities for us to learn about and facilitate
the inter-linkings that are essential to any truly sustainable site
and community.  Without these mutually beneficial relationships with
one's regional and global communities within which one lives actual,
functioning and enduring human existence is impossible.  Through these
excursions apprentices will be building these relationships so that
Lama Foundation is a more integrated, functioning and contributing
member of the regional community.  Field trips may include:
interactions with people and programs focused on urban and
bio-regional sustainability in Taos and Santa Fe; visiting functioning
permaculture businesses; visiting, interacting, and assisting other
permaculture and sustainability sites; consultancy at private sites;
facilitating learning experiences off-site; and just exploring the
amazingly beautiful cultures and environs of northern New Mexico.
Field trips will occur as is appropriate to happenings and timings
regarding retreats at Lama.  Field trips will be open to other Lama
people as is appropriate to the trip, is agreed to by the apprentice
team, and as space is available.  People joining contribute to the
purchase of gasoline.  Preference will be given to those who are
assisting with stewarding the land.
    Teaching experiences will be times when the apprentices design and
facilitate learning experiences to communicate the many aspects and
components of permaculture and sustainability.  These programs will be
lead by the apprentices and supervised by Rico.  Participants will be
Lama community members, visitors (especially during visitor days),
outside groups as approved by Lama and any Lama retreats where this is
deemed appropriate by Lama and retreat organizers.  These teachings
may also take place off site from the Foundation.
    An independent project will be chosen by an apprentice that is of
interest and has importance to them.  The purpose of this is that the
apprentice is engaged on a deeper level, they feel that they are
personally contributing to Lama, and they have the experience of
working on a project from design to installation.

    The program is grounded in Lama's existing Summer Steward Program.
 The apprentices will have similar responsibilities as the stewards,
except with less involvement in maintaining Lama's non-land based
systems and a more specific focus on developing and caring for Lama's
approximately 108 acres.  Due to the program's breadth and depth the
apprentices will commit to an additional 8 hours of work per week for
an average total of 40 hr/wk.  It should be understood that this
hourly figure is an estimate and will fluctuate, as is to be expected
with a program intimately linked and responsive to the local
environment.  As such expect to have more filled weeks during the
beginning of this program as we form the team; learn about the site;
and prepare and plant the many gardens at the Foundation.  As the
weeks progress and the gardens grow our time relaxes till once again
the busyness of autumn harvest picks up the pace in preparation for
winter.
    Apprentices need to be in good physical condition. As is
explicitly expressed in this program description, apprentices will be
engaged in the very rewarding and demanding tasks of creating and
maintaining the physical systems for appropriate and sustainable human
habitation.  The Lama Foundation is located at 8,200 feet in the
Sangre de Cristo mountains.  It is a wilderness site.  Apprentices
will be given a camping site.  No indoor accommodation will be
available.  Even in summer the nights may be cool to mildly cold.
     All of this, the apprentice, the work and the site conditions,
are held within the embrace of the Lama community.  A community
dedicated to the empowerment and evolution of human consciousness.  A
community that engages in creating a supportive and enriching
environment where individuals have the opportunity to explore, play
and grow.  It is not a perfect place or community.  It is a community
committed to an honest exploration and understanding of the human
condition in all it's crazy, beautiful, mysterious manifestations.
    During program duration Rico and apprentices will document
activities, designs, projects, etc. to create a record that
participants will have of their learning and work to take with them.
Upon successful completion of the Land Apprenticeship Program a
certificate will be awarded in recognition of your achievements and
contributions.
    Due to Rico's international commitments he may be required to
depart New Mexico as early as 1st September.  This will have minimal
impact upon program.  All arrangements will be made for the easy
completion of program through 15th September.


Subjects covered and potential work to do will include

Permaculture Concepts: Pattern Literacy and Application, Observation
and Site Analysis, Zonation, Applying the Principles
Soil: Nurturing and Building, Indigenous Micro-Organisms, Composting,
Vermicompost
Water: Harvesting, Storing, Irrigation, Cycling, Grey and Blackwater,
Living Water
Food Production: From Bed Preparation to Harvest and Delivery, Annual
and Perennial, Techniques and Strategies
Gardens: Design, Systems, Cropping Patterns, Microclimates
Structures: Design, Siting, Natural Building, Integrating, Systems,
Microclimates
Edges: Designing, Utilizing, Windbreaks, Bunds, Paths and Roads
Design: Methodologies, Process, Client Relations, Community Scale,
Individual Projects-design to implementation
Facilitating the Learning Process: How People Learn, Designing the
Process, Designing the Environment, Forms of Communication, Games,
Exercises, Actually Doing It
Community Processes: Mindful Communication, Facilitating Group
Process, Consensus Decision Making
    Invisible Structures: Bio-Regionalism, Globalization, Alternative
Economics, Social Justice, Organizational Structures and Integrated
Strategies
Animal Systems, Appropriate Technologies, Urban Permaculture, Peak and
Post Petroleum, Permaculture and The Majority World, International
Work



FACILITATED BY RICHARD RICO ZOOK

Rico first came to the Lama Foundation soon after the 1996 fire that
devastated it.  As foreman of the land restoration crew he worked with
many others to assist and speed up the processes by which the land
heals and evolves.  Several years later he became the land manager.
Over the years he expanded the gardens and food production systems,
designed and installed a variety of land based systems (water; soil;
structure siting, systems, and integration with landscape; road siting
and erasing; path design and construction; etc.), was a founding
member and instructor of the Build Here Now natural building and
permaculture colloquiums, and taught permaculture and sustainable
techniques and strategies to a variety of people and forums.  He was a
member of the team that over a two year process created the Lama
Permaculture Site Plan Tool.  After an absence of three years Rico
returns to assist Lama in it's ongoing effort to live sustainably and
become a resource for those who wish to learn the concepts and skills
necessary for this.

Rico currently divides his time between Northern New Mexico and India,
with stops inbetween.  He is an International Permaculture designer,
consultant, and instructor working with private clients, small
farmers, villages, local organizations, and NGOs (non government
organizations) to create site and culturally specific solutions to the
many challenges facing us in this globalized world.  While in New
Mexico he lives on six acres a short walk from the Lama Foundation.

Rico is a graduate of Sonoma State University, from which he holds a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies focused on land
restoration, with minors in Biology and Philosophy.


FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RICO AND HIS WORK GO TO

 www.ricoclime.com


DETAILS

DATES: May 15* - September 18, 2009
    SPACES AVAILABLE:  4
FEE: us $2,200

REQUIREMENTS: Permaculture basic certification or equivalent**
Commitment to stay for full duration of program
A quality pair of hand pruners, a hori hori (soil knife), strong pair
work gloves

DEPOSIT REQUIRED to reserve space
Full Payment upon arrival
*tentative, may begin a week earlier, check Lama website
**to be considered and decided by Rico

Fee covers all meals, tent site, course activities and materials
There will be a one week vacation scheduled by apprentice team

For Application and More Information about the Lama Foundation go to
www.lamafoundation.org