Permaculture Intensive with Darren Doherty

Darren Doherty (Australia) is one of the world's most experienced Permaculture Design professionals and teachers.    A prolific designer, Darren has developed over 1100 properties across 4 continents and has co-taught with Bill Mollison & David Holmgren (the co-originators of Permaculture) and Geoff Lawton.  Darren will be bringing his immense experience in water design, pasture regeneration, and species selection to the MA Center to demonstrate how to:

• Rapidly improve soil fertility for the new orchards
• Exploring the food forest / orchard edge
• Connect rainwater catching earthworks across the landscape
• Use Keyline design strategies  
• Graze cows to improve soil health.
• Plant trees within grazing patterns.
• Develop a productive and marketable agroforestry system
• Hand-on design and keyline ploughing
• Designing low-tech water systems for orchards, pasture, and reforestation
• On-site Permaculture consultancy strategies

The MA Center is the US headquarters for the international humanitarian and spiritual activities of an Indian saint, Mata Amritanandamayi (known as Amma).  The 180-acre grounds also serve as an educational hub for the Bay Area through demonstration of exemplary sustainable practices in reforestation, water catchment, and orchardculture.   Drawn by the site's beauty, accessibility by public transportation, and the center's uncompromising dedication to using all proceeds to fund international humanitarian aid projects, hundreds of volunteers have joined together in service here to plant the orchards and reforest the hillsides.

Costs:

Tuition includes delicious organic lunch, dinner, and snacks
$400 ~ Course Tuition
$350 ~ Early Bird Discount (register and pay by August 20th)

Accomodations:

Camping / Orgnaic Breakfast Package: $25/person for Friday and Saturday night.
Common Vision will be hosting camping at Anthony Chabot State Park campsite.  The camping package will include organized carpools and shuttles to and from the campground, organic breakfasts, and likely night-time music/slide shows/movies/treats and morning yoga classes.  Participants provide their own sleeping gear, tents (optional), & marshmallows.  Children up to 13 are free.  For more information please contact us at: info@commonvision.org. 

If you do not want to camp, there are many hotel options in the San Ramon and Castro Valley area. 

Location:

M.A. Center, 10200 Crow Canyon Rd, Castro Valley, CA 94552.
Driving directions: > Click here

Travel:

In efforts to minimize  carbon footprint and the cost to participants, the M.A. Center and Common Vision are creating a contact list of people looking to share rides based on the information provided below.  We also will be coordinating pickups and drop offs between the Castro Valley BART and the M.A. Center.  Disclaimer: This service is purely to assist course participants in connecting with other participants to share rides.  The M.A. Center and Common Vision are not responsible for your travel experience.

Registration:

> Register now!