Past Courses

Instructors: Kevin Bayuk, David Cody, and Michael Flynn
October 17, 2009 - 9am-4pm
MA Center in Castro Valley, CA

Topics include:

Reading the landscape:  We will explore the prototypical topography of the temperate humid landscape with special consideration for hydrology and contour.  As exercise we will see how the land of the MA center property map onto the prototypical forms.  We will learn about the various options for integrating dams/ponds and infiltration swales and drainage into the landscape.
Planning Earthworks:  We will explore various methods, from high tech to low tech, to find contour on any site.  As exercise we will calibrate an A-frame and mark contour on an area of the MA center land.  We will brainstorm together all the types of earthworks and when they might be appropriate.  Additionally, we will learn about vegetation schemes that may be appropriate for Earthworks focusing on the example of a infiltration swale on the MA Center land.
Keyline Design:  We will spend time discussing keyline systems, describing the design, planning, earthworks, vegetation schemes and rotational grazing schemes as appropriate. 

Prepare for hiking and some work on the landscape.  Wear protective shoes and layer as appropriate.  There will also be a combination of lecture, facilitated group brainstorm and small group exercise. 

Cost:

$30-75/person ~ includes vegetarian lunch prepared by the MA Center

Registration:

Email michael[a]commonvision.org or call 831.588.9914

October 2-4 at MA Center in Castro Valley, CA

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.  In this workshop Darren will be bringing his immense experience in water design, pasture regeneration, and species selection to the MA Center to work with participants to create a working design that:

• Rapidly improves soil fertility for the new orchards.
• Connects rainwater catching earthworks across the landscape
• Employs Keyline design strategies for orcahrds, paddocks, and reforestation 
• Uses cow grazing to improve soil health.
• Plants trees within grazing patterns.
• Develop a productive and marketable agroforestry system

Michael Philips is author of The Apple Grower, a definitive guide to growing organic apples holistically. Michael's knowledge of fruit trees, orchard management, companion plants, and soil science has helped him to become well spring of information and inspiration for orchardists and backyard gardeners alike.  He integrates the intuitive knowledge of our great-grandparents with the fruits of modern scientific research and innovation. Michael shares his breadth of wisdom woven theough personal stories in a way of amplifying a passion and inspiration for growing fruit trees and 'abetting Nature's way'.  Using the MA Center orchards, Michael will bring participants on an ecological journey that explores how we can create an optimal “forest-edge- ecosystem” perfect for fruit trees. 

• Walking through the orchard season
• Moving beyond organic: The holistic appoach
• Creating a diverse, healthy orchard ecosystem 
• Managing  understory  plants, nutrients, and beneficial microorganisms.
• Using plant medicines and compost teas to boost tree immune resistance
• Evaluating strategies for the existing and new hillside orchards at the MA Center
• On site Apple Harvesting and Juicing

In this course you will learn to:

For the second year, Common Vision went out to the National Forest to plant thousands of forest trees. There has never been a more important time to plant trees and join together in service for the future.  Spend some time in nature and give back to the earth! Check out the slide show from 2008's planting adventure adventure.

In this 3-day course, world-reknowned Permaculture designer Geoff Lawton will teach on-the-ground permaculture strategies in the context of a 100-acre reforestation and orchard expansion project at the MA Center in Castro Valley, CA. The course will include several of Geoff's famous slideshows and hands-on participation in creating a water-harvesting, food forest on a grassy hillside. Students will walk the landscape with Geoff and learn how to site small ponds, build swales, design keyline systems, stabilize the landscape, and take an ecological approach that transitions from "planting trees" to "designing eco-systems".  All proceeds will be donated to Amma's Greenfriend's Tree Planting projects in the US.

GEOFF LAWTON is director of the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia, a master of haresting rainwater in the landscape, and a frequent co-teacher with Bill Mollison. He has been invited by governments, NGOs, businesses, and communities in 27 different countries to teach, restore damaged ecosystems, and direct sustainable design projects. See how Geoff has used permaculture to Green the Desert.  
The MA CENTER is the US headquarters for the activities of international humanitarian and spiritual leader Mata Amritananda Mayi, known as Amma.  > Learn more about Amma.  
GREENFRIENDS is Amma's international environmental initiative that has planted a half million trees throughout India and the world in the past decade.

> View slide show and learn more

 

After returning from our fifth annual tour planting 1000 fruit trees in urban schools across California, we asked ourselves how else can we give back to the earth? Plant more trees, we thought. The weekend will be a festive celebration of life, spring, and stewardship of our beloved planet. Join Common Vision to plant 1,500 trees on five acres of National Forest. Forest base camp is in Alder Springs, less than 3 hours from the Bay Area, Ukiah, and Grass Valley, located southwest of Chico. 

Weekend Includes: ~ Tree planting  ~ Organic vegetarian meals  ~ Forest camping  ~ Campfire singing  ~ Yoga classes

Daily Acts Sustainability Tours showcase examples of abundant bioregional living including: local organic farms, Permaculture gardens, green and natural buildings, vegetable oil powered vehicles, and many other leading ecological solutions that anyone can apply! In the spring of 2008, Common Vision will be joining forces with Daily Acts to create a planting experience that is certain to open minds and hearts to the potential and possibility for permaculture design in the North Bay Area. This daylong planting adventure will include travel onboard one of Common Vision’s vegetable-oil powered buses, transforming numerous Petaluma yards into food forests, drumming, grafting your own fruit tree, organic lunch, a Common Vision theatrical performance, and a powerful celebration of Spring. 

In the Winter and Spring of 2003 and 2004, Common Vision had the opportunity to run an Ecological Design course through Pomona College.   Students from Pomona, Pitzer, and Scripps Colleges came aboard the Common Vision bus for a Permaculture Design Certification Course.  For the remainder of the college semester, the students worked with a San Antonio Continuation High School class 5 days a week to develop a gard en and garden-based learning experience.  The high school students made compost, built and prepared garden beds, brewed biodiesel, constructed a cob bench, and grew vegetables and fruit trees.

Both college and high school students received credit towards graduation.  Many of the college students took the inspiration and experience from this course and have become ecological designers, educators, and practitioners.       

In January 2004, Common Vision ran the world’s first veggie-oil-powered mobile permaculture design course PDC.  Eight students from Pomona College, a media team, and two permaculture design teachers lived aboard The Lioness.  For 11 days, students learned the 72-hour Permaculture Design Curriculum at exemplary sites across Southern California.  The course included sites and teachers that could best facilitate projects and demonstrations to illustrate different aspects of the PDC curriculum.

In the Winter and Spring of 2002-03 , Common Vision ran its first permaculture design course. Twelve students from three colleges around Claremont, CA joined Common Vision for 7 weekend intensives.  Students experienced numerous sites and teachers across Southern CA and Mexico that highlight different aspects of sustainable design.