Tallahassee Area Permaculture: First Offical Permablitz

Join us at N-Vision Farm,  Saturday, March 22, 2014, 9:30 a.m., for our first official PermaBlitz with Tallahassee Area Permaculture!!

N-Vision Farm

1674 Fanlew Road
Monticello, FL 
(off the est end of Natural Bridge Road)

(Follow link for map)

If you need help with specific directions call 997-3613, or email dragonwing56@aol.com AHEAD of the event date.

So what is a PermaBlitz?  It is a hands-on, learn-by-doing mini-workshop.  By applying permaculture design principles and site analysis a project is chosen and prepared for a group of people with varying levels of knowledge and experience to learn and do...a doing party!

Sissy Taylor-Maloy and Anna Lee, permaculture designers and instructors, are offering this PermaBlitz specific to sheet mulching technique and soil enhancement.  This PermaBlitz will include discussion about soil, compost, bio-brew, soil amendments, vermiculture, Humanure and Liquid Gold.

Bring work gloves, dirt clothes, bag lunch or food to share, chair, sunhat and sun screen, bug repellants, water bottle, notebook, and shovels or rakes if you have them.  And bring friends!!!  No experience needed.  Lots to learn!

N-vision is a permaculture farm using animals, manures and food sources in building and amending healthy soils.  ...Always a work in practice, creating the cycle.  Come early or stay late, but don't miss this experience!!!

See Tallahassee Area Permaculture Meetup for address and details.  

Beekeeping Shortcourse, February 22, 2014, and Bee School Beginning February 24, 2014

Thinking about getting a bee hive or two?   Already have some, but feel like you need to know more about taking care of them?   Two upcoming events will amp up your enthusiasm, and widen your knowledge about bees and beekeeping.

The Beekeeping Shortcourse hosted by the Apalachee Beekeepers Association is scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2014, at the Leon County Agricultural Extension Office on Paul Russell Road.  Click here to learn more and register.  

In addition, the UF/IFAS Panhandle Agriculture Extension Team will once again be offering a Basic Beekeeping School in February and March, beginning on the evening of Monday, February 24, 2014.  Click here to learn more and register.

Nature's Designs

A bird's nest -- a thing of beauty, but made for utility -- form follows function.  Produced from the materials at hand, no waste.  Placed with consideration for protection from the elements -- sun, rain, wind, predators.  Placed for ease of access to materials, food.  All things for us to consider in our Permaculture designs.

Eco-Goats

The Congressional Cemetery on Capitol Hill was recently cleaned up by a herd of "eco-goats" who consumed vines, poison ivy, invasive species, and weeds.  Article and video.  We now have an additional idea to add to the Permaculture presentation for a community garden at the Eastside Branch Library.  The 2013 Permaculture class proposed a food forest in a small copse of trees behind the library which is overrun with poison ivy and low brush.  A small herd of goats would be a great tool to get the area ready for planting.

 

View from library of proposed food forest site at Eastside Library

Sustaining Wildlife with Native Plants

Thanks to Permaculture Designer Pam Lister for  recommending this program. 

Beth Grant will be presenting Dr. Doug Tallamy's slideshow on his book Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants.  She will be presenting this program at Birdsong Nature Center Sunday, July 14 at 2 PM, and Saturday, August 10 at 10 AM.  Handouts will be provided.  Copies of Bringing Nature Home and Dr.Gil Nelson’s Best Native Plants for Southern Gardens will be available for purchase with all proceeds going to Birdsong.  Birdsong has agreed to forgo their usual charge for programs. Please call 229 377 4408 to reserve a seat - the room holds 20.

Restore the Desert, Feed the Hungry, Reverse Climate Change

Phil shared an amazing video about restoring desert areas with herd animals--a video which explains how human intervention in natural processes can cause vast damage to the environment, and how following nature's patterns can reverse the damage.

Catherine's Chicken Tractor

From Catherine--By popular request, I've attached a pic of my chicken tractor to give you ideas on building your own.  It is 4 x 8 and light enough to be moved by one person.   I designed this one after researching many many plans and it has proven to meet my needs completely.  Hope this inspires you.