Cleveland Permaculture Design Certification Course

6 Weekends: September 8 - November 4, 2012 (84 Hours of Instruction)
With instructors Peter Bane, Josh Beniston, Mark Cohen and local guests. 


WHAT IS PERMACULTURE?
Permaculture is an ethical belief system and practical philosophy dedicated to caring for the earth's systems and all its species, inlcuding humanity. With a set of principles and basic patterns found in nature, we relearn how to participate in our natural environment and eventually to act as designers. We draw our inspiration from nature's systems and patterns and our goal is to create harmony between the needs of the ecosystem and the needs of humanity.

For 30 years, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, two Australians who originated the concept of Permaculture, have been teaching the core principles and practical techniques of restoring some of the most damaged ecosystems and creating economic stability amongst some of the most impoverished people of our planet. They designed a curriculum, still taught all over the world, which prepares the student to participate in this important work at home or abroad.

PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATION COURSE OUTLINE
Permaculture Design Certification (PDC) courses intensively introduce students to the various fields of knowledge important for the aspiring designer. PDC students will also be introduced to an intermediate and advanced set of systems and practices used in Permaculture around the world. Major topics that will be covered include:
- Ecological Literacy and Natural Systems
- Permaculture Ethics and Principles
- Energy and Creative Descent
- Site Assessment and Design Methods
- Designing for Homes, Gardens and Communities
- Food Forestry and an Introduction to Broadscale Permaculture
- Natural Building, Natural Resources, and Landforming
- Soil Biology and Restoration, Soil Building, and Biochar
- Water Health, Living Machines, and Aquaculture Techniques
- Social Systems and Local Economies
As part of the certification program, students will develop and present their design for an existing land management project based in Cleveland. Successful review by the instructors leads to the Certificate in Permaculture Design--the internationally recognized standard for the use of the term Permaculture in professional environments.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
This course will be held over six weekends, beginning September 8th and finishing November 4th, 2012.  Additional supplemental events and learning opportunities will be available on off weekends and evenings.

Classes will be held at Family Ministry Center at Blessed Sacrament 3381 Fulton Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44109.  Overnight lodging is available on-site for a limited number of out-of-town students.

The course will also include one weekend trip to Athens, Ohio (October 27-28) to explore its well-developed local food system and visit the farmsite and intentional community of instructor Mark Cohen. Carpooling will be arranged.
Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
September 8-9
September 22-23
September 29-30
October 13-14
October 27-28 (Athens)
November 3-4

INSTRUCTOR BACKGROUNDS:
Peter Bane is a permaculture teacher and site designer who has published and editedPermaculture Activist magazine for over 20 years. He helped create Earthaven Ecovillage in North Carolina, and is now pioneering suburban farming in Bloomington, Indiana. The Permaculture Handbook: Garden Farming for Town and Country, Bane's step-by-step guide to creating resilient  households and neighborhoods, came out this June.
Mark Cohen is a permaculture designer, organic farmer, apiculturalist, mycologist, philosopher, business consultant, and co-founder of Far Valley Farm, an intentional community began in the 1980's. Mark is the Executive Director of the Belize Agroforestry Research Center, a permaculture research and teaching facility based in Southern Belize. He has been practicing permaculture and sustainable agriculture since 1977 and has taught ethnobotany, cultural ecology, systems analysis, and agricultural design both in the US and internationally.
Josh Beniston is a passionate long time student and practitioner of ecology, landscape design, and botany.  Josh has a B.S. degree in Plant Biology and a M.Sc. in Soil Science.  He has worked on ecological landscaping and agriculture projects throughout Ohio, California, and in Belize.  Josh is currently pursuing a PhD with a research program aimed at understanding and managing soil health for urban agriculture. He is a research fellow at the internationally recognized Carbon Management and Sequestration Center at Ohio State.  He and his wife Kat have operated Habitats Ecological Design for eight years.

REGISTRATION:
Tuition is $950. The fee covers over 80 hours of instruction, healthy lunch each course day, all educational materials including Peter Bane's newly published The Permaculture Handbook: Garden Farming for Town and Country, and access to all supplemental workshops to be offerred in non-course-weekends during the months of the PDC. Students completing the course will receive professional certification in Permaculture Design.
To register, please email or mail a printed copy of the REGISTRATION FORM to Nick Swetye atnick@greentri.org, or mail to:
The Green Triangle
1828 West 45th Street
Cleveland, OH 44102
A $200 deposit is due at the time of registration unless financial aid arrangements have been made.
Checks should be written to the Green Triangle.
The deadline for registration is Monday, August 20, 2012.

FINANCIAL AID:
To apply for financial aid for the PDC, please email or mail in your registration form and your financial aid request, by July 31, 2012.  The amount of aid we can offer will depend on overall enrollment.  We will contact students interested in financial aid about what we can offer in August.
FOR QUESTIONS
Please contact Nick Swetye at 330.221.4027 or Jonathan Hull at 330.559.4628 with questions about the course or to discuss financial aid availability.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS
if you know someone who would benefit from this course and would like to share this information with them or with others, please download our brochure PDF here [PDF - 641KB].
PDC SCHOLARSHIP FUND:
Donations to the PDC Scholarship Fund are a much-appreciated way to ensure a wide community of people can take part in this course.  100% of donations made will be dedicated to scholarships for the PDC.  To make a donation, send a check payable to The Green Triangle, with "PDC Scholarship Fund" written in the Memo, to:
The Green Triangle
1828 West 45th Street
Cleveland, OH 44102

All donations are 100% tax deductible and donors will receive a tax letter and receipt for any donation over $50 US

Organized by the Green Triangle and the Center for Ecological Culture 
www.greentri.org
www.ecologicalculture.org

Happenings at Downtown Farmers' Market Today, June 29

Friday, June 29, 2012 Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Join us Fridays 11am-2pm!

Today at Downtown Farmers Market! Vendor Highlights Community Greenhouse Partners Micro greens, kale, collards, sun gold tomatoes Por Bar Farms Raspberries, Strawberries, Green Beans, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Squash/Zucchini, Beets, Carrots, Okra, Salad Mix Harvest in Christ Romaine lettuce, mesclun, arugula, kale, collards, onions, garlic, beets, beet greens, radishes, and yukon gold potatoes Tea and Honey Company Lavender Lemonade ($1.00/cup) Ohio Farm Direct 100% grassfed cheese, drinkable yogurt Vendor Highlights - lunch specials!   Judy’s Oasis Fresh baked white and wheat Pita bread, hummus, meat pies and spinach & feta pies In Forno Pizza Classic (grated mozzerella, olive oil) $10 Margherita (fresh mozzerella, basil, oregano, olive oil) $12 Di Parma (prosciutto, grated mozzerella, fresh garlic, basil, olive oil) $14 Bianco (fresh mozzerella, tomato, fresh garlic, olive oil, basil) $13 Pepperoni (grated mozzerella, pepperoni) $14 Veggie (grated mozzerella, mushroom, black olives, basil, olive oil) $13 Spinach (baby spinach, fresh mozzerella, tomato, olive oil, garlic) $12 ***Wood-fired pizza featuring toppings from vendors at the market; also available by the slice w/ free drink*** Pig Lickin' Good BBQ Rib Sampler $7 Pulled Pork Sandwich $6 BBQ Chicken Kabob (served over rice pilaf) $7 Portabella Mushroom Sandwich w/ peppers, onions, provolone and pesto (vegetarian) $7 Cornbread $1 Coleslaw $1 ***Accepts all major credit cards*** The Nosh Box Rib Eye Melt***$10 Seasoned Angus Rib Eye Steak Creamy Melted Swiss American Cheese Caramelized Onions Horseradish Aioli Served on Hearty Ciabatta Caprese Panini***$8 (Vegetarian) Vine Ripened Tomato Slices Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese Basil Pesto Served on Hearty Ciabatta Bread Chicken Flatbread***$8 Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast Grilled Red Peppers Grilled Onions Shredded Parmesan Cheese Creamy Ranch Sauce Served on a Warm Chewy Flatbread Double Wide Grilled Macaroni and Cheese Sandwich***$7 Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese American Cheese Swiss American Cheese Applewood Smoked Bacon Served on Texas Toast Rosemary and Salt Tater Tots $4 Ice Cream $3 House Made Creamery Confections Ice Cold Pink Lemonade $2  ***Accepts all major credit cards***   Collards! In the cabbage family, these loose-leaf greens are high in Vitamin C and fiber and are believed to have Cancer fighting agents. Collards are very similar to kale and can be used in many of the same ways. I like to saute them in just a little bit of butter (or bacon fat) w/ garlic, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. You can also throw it in soups, smooties, or stir-fry. Here are a few more ideas: Sauteed Collards & Kale,Breakfast Tacos w/ Eggs, Onions & Collards, and Creamed Collard Greens. Make a market meal: Saute onion, garlic, carrots, green beans, zuchini, squash in olive oil until cooked through. Add kale/collards, splash of soy sauce, red pepper flakes and sesame seeds (Spicehound). Serve over cooked whole grain rice. Shown here with snow peas, but use what's available at the market! Live Music: Singer-songwriter Tracy Marie, 11:30am-1:30pm Vendor Spotlght: Community Greenhouse Partners Community Greenhouse Partners (CGP) began in 2008 after Executive Director and Founder Timothy D. Smith saw the film Fresh, a documentary about sustainable food systems that featured the Milwaukee-based program "Growing Power." After turning to his wife and asking "Why aren't we doing this here?" he gathered a team of experts and rallied volunteers from throughout the Greater Cleveland area to bring the vision to life. With the input of many, the vision has grown and morphed into what E4S founder Holly Harlan would call a true BHAG -- a big, hairy audacious goal -- but one that is well and truly on its way to becoming a complete reality. CGP is a sustainable urban farm that applies ecological design principles and engages community participation to grow wholesome food year-round, improving personal health while generating training, mentoring, and employment opportunities for our neighbors. CGP’s mission is to improve the quality of life for those around us by growing vegetables year round and selling them at low cost to urban families, employing local residents, and teaching sustainability and earth science to young people. CGP is growing food year-round in four hoop houses, which produce salad greens and microgreens along with other seasonal vegetables. CGP also has multiple large raised beds that produce vegetables during traditional farming seasons and a Forest Garden that will produce a wide array of fruits and nuts within the next five years. They will build a large-scale greenhouse complex to raise significant amounts of vegetables and fish using a closed-environment Aquaponics system and have recently begun a large-scale vermicomposting operation which feeds organic waste from area restaurants and grocery stores to red wriggler worms in order to create our own soil. Central to the mission of CGP are Aquaponics, Composting and Forest Garden projects — all areas where they practice Permaculture, an approach to designing systems that are modeled on the relationships found in nature rather than on the strictly biological concerns that form the foundation of modern agriculture. Permaculture is founded on three ethics — “care for the earth,” “care for people,” and “fair share.” CGP is committed to not only selling fresh fruits and vegetables to their local neighborhood but also teaching nutrition and the proper ways to prepare food for the table. The farm is located in the St. Clair Superior Neighborhood, an area recognized as a “food desert” due to the lack of stores selling fresh food within a reasonable distance. CGP will build a community kitchen that will teach cooking skills to increase food literacy in urban households and will work with the Diabetes Partnership of Cleveland to heighten awareness and teach neighbors how to combat and control Type II Diabetes. Using the commercial kitchen and the classrooms in the former church, CGP will also operate as an aggregator of crops for area urban farms, helping gardeners expand their marketability, offering training on season extension, and create opportunities for sales in larger markets. They will offer local gardeners and farmers the opportunity to create value-added products from their crops and will also help area farmers access economic development grants from the City of Cleveland. CGP’s Permaculture Education Center is teaching middle and high school students about sustainability and permaculture by using the Montessori technique of learning by doing, working with students on composting and soil biology projects, greenhouse and hoop house design, integrated pest and plant management and the construction of water capture systems. College interns looking for long-term urban farming experiences are also welcome. “Produce Perks” accepted: EBT users will receive “Produce Perks,” a dollar for dollar bonus (up to $10) to be spent on fresh fruits and vegetables. Produce Perks are available at area farmers markets while supplies last. Please stop by the information table tomorrow for more information or to use your card. EBT, WIC, senior coupons and debit cards are accepted. Are you interested in becoming a vendor at DFM? Emaildowntownclevelandmarket@gmail.com for more information of fill out the online application here.   Here's our complete list of vendors for the 2012 season: Por-Bar Farms: Heirloom and organic vegetables, fruits, and herbs Community Greenhouse Partners: Organic vegetables and greens grown just a few blocks east of downtown Harvest in Christ: Heirloom produce grown using sustainable methods Chaotic Farms: Chicken, turkey, and eggs Ohio Farm Direct: Organic, grassfed cheese Crystal Moon Acres: Goats milk fudge and baked goods Judy’s Oasis: Middle Eastern Cuisine, including hoomus, meat pies, falafel and prepared foods for lunch Peddler Bread: Artisan bread bakery  Ohio City Pasta: Hand-crafted pasta Rising Star Coffee Roasters: Small batch coffee roasters located in Ohio City Blaze Gourmet: Exotic hot sauce and salsas SPICEHOUND: High quality spices, herbs, chillies, and natural salts No Whey Chocolates: Vegan, whey-free chocolate candies and chocolate-covered fruit The Tea and Honey Company: Locally made teas, honeys, and other aromatherapy items BONJOUR Crepes: French crepes using locally grown and organic ingredients In Forno Pizza: Wood-fired authentic neopolitan pizza Pig Lickin' Good BBQ: Hot-off-the-grill BBQ, bottled sauces and salad dressings The Nosh Box: A mix of midwestern comfort food with a Tex/Mex kick Son of a Biscuit Bone: Organic dog treats Publish Ohio: Cleveland-area prints, postcards and photos ***Additional produce vendors will be added throughout the season*** Come hungry and enjoy a delicious lunch from one of our prepared food vendors. Just make sure you save enough time during lunch to visit all of your favorite vendors, enjoy the fresh air, listen to the live music, and maybe even picnic in the grass!

Follow Downtown Farmers Market! Facebook | Twitter | Blogspot For more information, please contact: Ashley Shaw, Market Manager Downtown Farmers Market at Public Square downtownclevelandmarket@gmail.com (440)-821-0254

GardenWalk Cleveland Fundraiser at Bremec's

On Wednesday, May 30^th, it is GardenWalk Cleveland day at Bremec’s on the Heights.  20% of all purchases on that day (excluding deliveries) will go to GWC.  

To make this fundraiser a success we need to get as many people as possible to come to Bremecs that day.  Please send the attached flyer to all of your friends and family and encourage them to come. They can bring the flyer with them but if they forget they can just get a card from one of the volunteers.  It is really up to us to make this fundraiser a success, so spread the word!!!

Bremec on the Heights was established in 2009 in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.  From plants and landscaping materials to garden décor and organic gardening resources, Bremec on the Heights is geared toward the needs of the urban homeowner.  It is located on Cedar Road just west of South Taylor on the south side of the street.  Its a small, locally-owned garden center that has a great selection of plants and garden supplies.

So come get those annuals you've been meaning to put in the ground, those bags of mulch you need to make things look good, and the seeds you need to start your veggie garden.  Thanks in advance for helping to raise funds to support this year's GardenWalk Cleveland!

Mike Walton of Tunnel Vision Hoops Testifies Before House Ag Subcommittee

For Immediate Release Belinda Prinz Communications Director Belinda.Prinz@mail.house.gov   (216) 522-4900

May 10, 2012 CLEVELAND URBAN FARMER TESTIFIES BEFORE HOUSE AGRICULTURE SUBCOMMITEE AT INVITATION OF CONGRESSWOMAN FUDGE "URBAN AGRICULTURE IS HERE TO STAY AND URBAN FARMERS DESERVE ACCESS TO CREDIT AND OTHER USDA PROGRAMS THAT TRADITIONAL FARMERS RECEIVE." WASHINGTON, D.C. - In what may be a first for the House Agriculture Committee, Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) invited an urban farmer from Cleveland to testify today before the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight & Credit of which she is the Ranking Member. Michael Walton, co-owner of Tunnel Vision Hoops and League Park Market Place in Cleveland testified at a hearing to discuss the reauthorization of the Farm Bill and USDA credit programs. "Based on testimony received, including that from Mr. Michael Walton, a Cleveland agricultural entrepreneur, it is clear that USDA does not consider the unique needs of non-traditional farmers when developing its credit programs," said Congresswoman Fudge.    "Urban farmers are legitimate agricultural producers who happen to live and farm outside of the traditional rural environment.  They are filling an increasingly important role in the economic well being of urban areas, and provide healthy nutrition for many who would otherwise not have access to it.  Yet time and time again, producers in the Eleventh Congressional District and other urban areas across this nation have expressed valid frustration, particularly with the USDA credit programs. Access to credit can make or break rural farm operations, and urban farm operations are no different.” The Farm bill is currently being updated. Congresswoman Fudge is urging colleagues on the Agriculture Committee to give serious consideration to the needs of urban farmers.

Cleveland Wwoofs!

Cleveland Wwoofs!

A one of a kind opportunity to explore Cleveland’s Local Food Movement!

Be our guest this summer – work at several of Cleveland’s up and coming nationally recognized urban farms and in return receive room and board at the one and only brand new Cleveland Hostel- Opening soon in the Ohio City neighborhood – the regional hub of local food and all things awesome!

Check out Cleveland Wwoofs Now - Follow this link:

http://www.growfood.org/farm/25608

Check out the Cleveland Hostel Now – Follow this link:

https://www.facebook.com/clevelandhostel

Please contact us today to schedule your visit!  - Thank you – Lilah Zautner, Neighborhood Progress, Inc.

Please note: Clevelanders are welcome to participate. However, to qualify for room and board your permanent address must be at least 80 miles outside of Cleveland. 

More information:

This is an amazing opportunity to be a part of nationally recognized urban farms—in the heart of Cleveland, Ohio, rated #2 in the nation for local food!!  Neighborhood Progress, Inc., through their ReImagining Cleveland initiative, is partnering with multiple urban farms and The Cleveland Hostel to provide a one-of-a-kind experience.  This volunteer adventure offers you the ability to gain experience on up to nine different farms located throughout the city ranging from industrial to residential neighborhoods.  Each farm is unique and you will be exposed to growing a wide array of crops, performing multiple tasks related to urban agriculture, and get to interact with the leaders of the urban farming movement. 

Your daily activities will vary depending on which farm you volunteer with, but generally will include: watering, planting, weeding, fertilizing, mulching, harvesting, composting, and chicken and bee husbandry.  Your ability to commit to a longer stay will allow you to experience more farms and opportunities, so a minimum stay of one week would be beneficial to all.  In addition to agricultural work, there is also a need for carpentry (sheds, fences, raised beds, compost systems), marketing and outreach (website development, print and social media and branding design), alternative building skills, and accounting.  Having a diverse skill set will be very helpful to our urban farms!

Press Release - COG-Pro.com

24 October 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

NEW ONLINE RECORD KEEPING SYSTEM FOR PRODUCERS OF CERTIFIED ORGANIC LIVESTOCK.

Eugene, Oregon

Certified Organic Business Solutions, LLC is pleased to announce the launch of a new section of COG-Pro.com specifically for producers of Certified Organically Grown livestock.  COG-Pro.com is a unique new web-based record keeping service that provides a notebook interface for keeping track of the records required for growing crops and livestock to be labeled as organic.

Certified Organically Grown Professional is the online solution to organic record keeping, including:

● Fertility Inputs                       ● Feed and Ration Inputs

● Pest Management                  ● Herd & Flock Inventory

● Weed Control                       ● Health Care Records

● Harvest Records                             ● Sales Records

● Field Plans                            ● Breeding Records

● Equipment Cleaning               ● Pasturage & Ration Records

● Seeds, Plants, Rootstock       ● Track Egg & Milk Production

COG Pro is an easy-to-use system that satisfies the USDA standard for Certified Organically Grown record keeping. All the producer’s records are in one online notebook, available from anywhere in the world. Powered by a secure online database, COG Pro makes generating reports for certification a snap. From headache to problem solved.

Companion logbooks are planned for tracking data related to Good Agricultural Practices (G.A.P.) and other food safety auditing.  Also in development are mobile apps to allow data entry from smart phones directly in the field or barn.  Expected release date for these products is first or second quarter of 2012.

Use of the COG Pro logbook is based on a yearly fee.  Access to the system is available for an introductory price of $60 per year for each module; merely $5 per month.  Subscriptions have a 30 day satisfaction guarantee with a full refund if the user chooses to leave the system within the first month.  Growers and ranchers can try the logbook out for free by logging in as a guest.

Certified Organic  Business Solutions, LLC is led by Richard Wilen, Ph.D. and a design team composed of  graphic designer Kathy Kifer and programmer Ben Brinkley.  In addition to 40 years experience in database design and management, Dr. Wilen has been involved in organic agriculture for 35 years.  The COG-Pro notebook evolved out of his experience with operating a certified organic farm for over 20 years and frustration with the limited tools available for farmers to meet the ever burgeoning requirements for record keeping.  The result is an effective, easy to use system developed by a farmer for other farmers.

Organic certification - simplified.

www.cog-pro.com

For more information email: ServiceDept@cog-pro.com
P.O. Box 50172, Eugene, OR 97405