EARTHWORKS FOR FARM RESILIENCE
With Warren Brush
December 6-10, 2017
San Luis Obispo | California
Join international educator, Warren Brush, with a dynamic teaching team, in San Luis Obispo, California. Learn about earthworks and hydration strategies for ecological farming, land restoration, water harvesting and earth reparation for agroecosystem stability...
Worldwide, topsoil erosion averages 30 to 40 tons per hectare (2.5 acres) a year or 30- to 40- times faster than the replacement rate of topsoil. The need for people is growing daily with hands-on skills in hydrological restoration and the integration of farming utilizing the principles that lead to ecological stability. Whether you are working on your own landscape, farm, or as a consultant, this course will grow your skills in the appropriate design and construction of structures that will reduce erosion, increase productivity, harvest & store water, and create resiliency in the ecologies that sustain us.
The program offers an overview of:
- Ethics and principles of permaculture as applied to land restoration and regenerative design
- Land component identification
- Natural patterning in farm application
- Water harvesting, drought-proofing and erosion mitigation systems applications
- Natural patterning classification and an introduction to Fluvial Geomorphology
- Earthworks & soil renovation techniques and machinery applications.
- Planting structures and guild development
The following systems will be explained and participants will be able to assist in surveying, mapping and construction of various elements of:
- Swales
- Soil Armoring
- Dams
- Anti-evaporation structures
- Water flow harvest structures
- Keyline Plow
- Erosion mitigation structures
A major component of this course will be hands-on skill development where we will develop on-site earthworks with large earthmoving equipment:
- Landform discovery and mapping
- Water flow calculation
- Use of survey equipment
- Soil testing for earthworks
- Construction flagging
- Working appropriately with equipment operators
- Equipment overview and application
- Large swale development and systems linking
- System planting and commissioning
- Dam surveying
- Additional hydration strategies
Tuition Cost:
$895 Early Bird Special until October 1, 2017
$1050 after October 1, 2017
Contact:
For more information or if you have any additional questions, please contact Kelly at kellycmetcalf@hotmail.com.
