permaculture

[Cory Brennan <cory8570@yahoo.com>]

We have two great teachers for this course, both recommended by Darren 
Doherty, and we're going to be implementing some major ecological rehab as a 
result of this course. Be part of the history at Pine Ridge Lakota 
reservation! More info at permacultureguild.us

***

Are you interested in learning how to rehabilitate and regenerate degraded 
environments on a broad scale basis – 1000’s of acres?  Or on a small, one 
acre farm?

Would you like to see degraded, overgrazed lands at Pine Ridge Lakota 
reservation transformed to the rich, diverse prairie systems the Lakota 
enjoyed 150 years ago?

Would you like to find out how ranchers and farmers can reduce CO2 levels 
substantially while enhancing ecosystems and increasing profits?

This course will enable the Lakota at Pine Ridge reservation to begin the 
process of regenerating many thousands of acres of land on the reservation 
and managing herds in harmony with indigenous wisdom so that they help keep 
the prairies healthy instead of destroying them.  The project will create 
economic opportunity for the tribe in a cultural context while regenerating 
ecosystems.  Be a part of and contribute to this historic and exciting 
process.

Holistic Management can be considered a form of permaculture for ranchers.  
It is a method of working with the energies and laws of nature to improve 
soil health and the biodiversity of rangelands and pastures and increase 
grazing and wildlife capacity while increasing annual profits and enhancing 
livelihoods.  Also covered is optimal rainfall usage, using herd animals to 
regenerate prairie, methods of reversing desertification, increasing food and 
water security and enhancing family relationships.  Whether you are a rancher 
or not, you will walk away from this course with a knowledge of principles 
that apply to any system – how human systems can enhance nature instead of 
harming her.

Keyline design is a method of capturing and controlling water, aerate soil 
and bring fertility and abundance back to degraded drylands quickly, while 
providing enough water to continue to build and regenerate a full, diverse, 
mature ecosystem.  It can be done on a small or large scale.  HM and keyline 
are responsible for regenerating thousands of acres of degraded and abused 
land, creating carbon sequestration, rich wildlife habitat and food systems 
such as agroforestry.

Two of the most experienced and well respected instructors/designers in the 
US will be teaching this course.  Between them they have decades of 
experience and walk their talk, using the principles on their own successful 
ranches.

Your course fees will help fund a keyline plow and other key expenses of 
getting this project implemented.

July 21-25 intensive

Opportunities for apprenticing and volunteer work after course.

Course fees: $795, includes materials

For more info write: cory@permacultureguild.us

Instructors:

Kirk Gadzia owns and operates Resource Management Services, a training and 
consulting firm located in Bernalillo, NM.   He is a certified Educator with 
Holistic Management International.  Kirk has over 25 years experience 
teaching the concepts of Holistic Management and has taught over 250 Holistic 
Management training seminars and workshops internationally.

The focus of his work is a holistic approach to agriculture and life, whereby 
land, animals, crops, wildlife and other resources are planned into the 
operation and financial picture.  The model for making this work is mimicking 
natural systems and balancing life style with long and short term goals. The 
decision making processed used to achieve this balance is called Holistic 
Management.

Kirk works directly with producers to achieve profitability in their 
operations.  He has extensive international consulting experience with many 
large ranching and agricultural operations throughout the United States and 
overseas.  In addition, Kirk also provides customized training and consulting 
to a wide variety of public and private business and conservation 
organizations.  Kirk is co-author of the National Academy of Science 1994 
publication entitled Rangeland Health, and is working to improve rangeland 
health monitoring techniques in a wide variety of environments.

Years of assisting people on the land helps Kirk approach the course in an 
interactive, hands-on style.  His courses are known for their relaxed 
atmosphere, open dialogue and practical real-life examples.  He is uniquely 
qualified to help you achieve your own distinctive learning objectives.

Abe Collins is a grazier in St. Albans, Vermont.  He founded New Soil Matrix, 
Inc, and co-founded Carbon Farmers of America, a Vermont farmer-owned company 
that introduced the idea and practice of accelerated topsoil formation to 
numerous farmers and policy makers around the world.

Abe’s focus for the last 15 years has been studying and developing management 
tools to rapidly build new topsoil and reverse desertification.  He has 
carried that work through New Soil Matrix to enable farmers and policymakers 
to scale and monetize topsoil formation while cost-effectively meeting the 
environmental services needs of cities.

Abe worked with Native American communities focused on land restoration 
through the 1990’s.  Much of this time was spent working with the Black Mesa 
Permaculture Project (BMPP) while living on the Navajo Nation.  Through this 
work and practical trials Abe laid the foundation for New Soil Matrix 
decision-support software and ground-tested numerous soilbuilding tools.

From Abe:

“By combining Planned Grazing and subsoil (keyline) plowing we can convert 
subsoil to topsoil at astounding rates. The resulting robust photosynthesis 
and rapid decay of pasture roots transforms atmospheric carbon dioxide into 
stable humus in topsoil. If enough of us farmers embrace soilbuilding, we can 
reduce atmospheric CO2 from current levels to near pre-industrial levels 
within ten years. In other words, we can stabilize climate-change as a 
by-product of profitable, ecological farming._This discussion will go beyond 
using less hair-spray, driving less and the Kyoto protocol; we will address 
and examine policy and citizen action that can harmonize people, land, water 
and atmosphere. Energy and fuel issues will be tackled. Together, farmers and 
our conscious customers can restore biodiversity, build deep topsoil and 
stabilize CO2 levels. The choice of our legacy to future generations is 
before us; this presentation will give you new and empowering
 information to incorporate into your farm and daily life.”