Join Us for a 5 Day Course in Methods of Earthworks, Appropriate Technology and more...
Focusing on Land Restoration, Water Harvesting and Biological Stability
When: December 3-7, 2014
Where: Casitas Valley Farm, Carpinteria, California
Cost: $750 includes instruction, camping (if needed), and a catered lunch each day
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 with handson
skills in landscape restoration and drought-proofing is growing daily around the
world. Whether you are working on your own landscape or as a consultant, this course
will grow your skills in the appropriate design and construction of structures that will
reduce erosion, increase biological productivity, harvest & store water, and create
resiliency in the ecologies that sustain us.
Join international teacher and broad acre consultant, Warren Brush of Quail Springs
Permaculture and Casitas Valley Farm, for this intensive five-day learning journey where
you will get the opportunity to experience broad acre water harvesting surveying,
design, and construction of well proven Earth-Working Technologies for land
restoration, drought-proofing, and regenerative systems establishment.
The program offers an overview of:
o Ethics and principles of permaculture as applied to land restoration
and regenerative design
o Land component identification, natural patterning classification
o Water harvesting & drought-proofing methods, systems and
applications
o Earthworks & soil renovation techniques and machinery applications
The following systems will be explained and participants will be able to assist in
surveying, mapping and construction of:
o Swales
o Dams
o Hugelkultur
o Keyline plow
o Gabion systems
A major component of this course will be hands-on skill development in the following
where we will develop on-site earthworks with professional large earthmoving
equipment operators and their machines:
o Landform discovery and mapping
o Use of survey equipment
o Soil testing
o Construction flagging
o Appropriate earthworks system application
o Working appropriately with equipment operators
o Equipment overview and application
o Large swale development and systems linking
o Hugelkultur and swale integration
o Dam development and partial construction
o Keyline plowing for broad acre application
o System planting and commissioning
Casitas Valley Farm, developed with the founders of QUAIL SPRINGS
PERMACULTURE, is located just six miles from the Pacific Ocean near the small town
of Carpentaria, 8 miles south of Santa Barbara, California. On this fifty acre working
farm, we are working to be a regenerative example of land stewardship combined with
an economically viable broad acre farm that is deeply involved in the local food
movement and in the international permaculture movement. Our farm has a multitude
of enterprises including all organic: 1600 avocado trees, 160 apple trees, 300
persimmon trees, a heritage pig operation, free ranging chickens, and many other
plantings, an organic cheese creamery, a roadside farmstand, event venue and we host
permaculture and related programs year round.
Warren Brush is a mentor, storyteller, a certified Permaculture designer and teacher, as well as
a husband, a father and a grandfather. He has worked for over 25 years in inspiring people of all
ages to discover, nurture and express their inherent gifts while living in a sustainable manner.
He is co-founder and a tender of Quail Springs Permaculture, Regenerative Earth Enterprises,
Sustainable Vocations, Wilderness Youth Project, Casitas Valley Farm and Creamery and his
Permaculture design company, True Nature Design. He works extensively in Permaculture
education and sustainable systems design in North America, Africa, Middle East, Europe, and
Australia. He has devoted many years to mentoring youth and adults to inspire and equip them to
live in a sustainable manner with integrity and a hopeful outlook. His mentoring includes
working with those who are former child soldiers, orphans, youth, young adults, families
and indigenous peoples worldwide. He teaches courses including: Permaculture Design
Certification, Permaculture for International Development, Earthworking for Resiliency,
Rainwater Harvesting Systems, Ferro-Cement Tank Building, Spring Rejuvenation, Compost
Toilet Systems, Water for Every Farm, Drought Proofing, Ecological Restoration, Cultural
Mentoring, Introduction to Permaculture Systems, Food Forestry, and Origins Skills among
other offerings.