We are becoming acutely aware of our problems, but not always sure how to solve them! Join us for an amazing event for these times, with two speakers who actually come with solutions.
Earth Repair! Ecological Restoration & Bio-Remediation to Heal the Planet
with Leila Darwish and Tom Duncan
Evening Talk - Friday, February 22, 2019
joined by a panel of community members
Moderator - Paul Relis
6:30-9pm
Admission $10 (full time students with i.d. free)
Two Workshops, Saturday, February 23
$30 each (two for $40)
Leila Darwish 9:30am – 12:30pm
Bioremediation 101: Empowering Communities to Deal with the Legacy of Our Toxic World
Tom Duncan – 1:30 – 4:30pm
Restoring Waterways with Floating Islands & Wetlands
All Events: Antioch University
602 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Friday Talk, pay at the door, No reservations required
Saturday workshop, reserve and pay on Eventbrite
Join Santa Barbara Permaculture Network as we host Leila Darwish and Tom Duncan as they share their international work and expertise with ecological restoration using bio-remediation, the process of detoxifying, restoring and revitalizing the land and water by working with nature.
A Community Event Hosted by
Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
Part of the Santa Barbara Permaculture Network Civics 101 for Climate Change series
Co-sponsors: Santa Barbara Permaculture Network, Antioch University, Community Environmental Council (CEC), Blue Sky Biochar, & the Santa Barbara Independent
Learn More:
Millions of acres of land have been contaminated by pesticides, improperly handled chemicals, dirty energy projects, toxic waste, and other pollutants in the United States and Canada.
Technology has provided humans with an unparalleled standard of living, but in the process has left a severely degraded and contaminated environment in need of recovery. With the health of our land, waterways, oceans, and human health at risk, how do we navigate out of these toxic times, both our past legacy, and what we will face in the future.
Join Santa Barbara Permaculture Network as we host Leila Darwish and Tom Duncan for a two day event as they share their international work and expertise with ecological restoration using bio-remediation, a process of detoxifying and restoring the land and water by working with plants, fungi and micro-organisms.
Leila Darwish is the author of Earth Repair, A Grassroots Guide to Healing Toxic and Damaged Landscapes, who’s original focus was on oil spills, as she came from the Tar Sands region in Alberta Canada. Shocked by how ill prepared both government and oil companies were for cleaning up oil spills, Darwish was prompted to educate herself with a deep dive into the world of bioremediation.
With a mission to empower citizens and communities to organize, scale up, and respond effectively to all kinds of industrial disasters where dangerous chemicals are released into the air, water and soil, Darwish embarked on a career as a grassroots bioremediation educator and consultant. Darwish wants all citizens, especially those in the most vulnerable communities, to have the knowledge and skills needed to protect their families and homes from exposure to harmful toxins.
Tom Duncan’s bioremediation work takes the form of man-made constructed floating islands and wetlands. With all kinds of pollutants entering our waterways, including urban runoff, stormwater sediments, heavy metals from industry, and agricultural pesticides and fertilizers causing deadly algal bloom, these floating wetlands help restore ecological function by filtering and purifying with the use of microbes and plants.
An entrepreneur devoted to the health of the planet, Duncan created the AquaBiofilterTM Floating Wetlands & Island technology, to clean up polluted lakes, water bodies, rivers and estuaries. In addition to cleaning the water, floating islands optimize habitat for wildlife, and provide additional areas for food production for growing populations.
Both events takes place at Antioch University, 602 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101. No reservations are required for the Friday evening talk, please pay at the door. For the Saturday workshop, reserve and pay on Eventbrite. Leila Darwish’s Earth Repair book will be available for purchase at both events. For more information, Margie@sbpermaculture.org, www.sbpermaculture.org; 805-962-2571, or Facebook Event Page
Talks, Workshops & Bios:
Friday Evening Talk & Community Panel - 6:30-9pm
Leila Darwish & Tom Duncan, Keynote Speakers
Panel moderated by Paul Relis, cofounder of the Santa Barbara Community Environmental Council (CEC), & Senior Vice President, CR&R Environmental Services, leaders in Anaerobic Digestion (AD), converting organic waste to 100% Renewable Natural Gas.
Workshops Saturday, February 23: Antioch University Campus: Reserve and Pay on Eventbrite
MORNING WORKSHOP with Leila Darwish: 9:30-12:30pm
Bioremediation 101: Empowering Communities to Deal with the Legacy of our Toxic World:
From supporting communities recovering from environmental disasters such as oil spills, to transforming urban lots to grow healthy local and accessible food, how can we work with the power of living systems to bring healing and regeneration to the sometimes toxic and often damaged lands and waters that sustain us?
This workshop is an introduction to the wild and regenerative world of bioremediation, diving into both toxic realities and radical remedies. It will explore ways to work with the many micro-organisms, fungi, and plants that are some of the planets finest and oldest disaster responders, alchemists, and healers.
The workshop will cover the how to's for microbial remediation (bacteria), phytoremediation (plants) and mycoremediation (fungi). It will also share important self-care practices (both herbal supports and protective gear) for earth repair practitioners working and living in contaminated environments. Finally, we will brainstorm ways to use bioremediation rooted in earth care and solid community organizing to support frontline communities responding to natural and environmental disasters, from the aftermath of wildfires to oil spills.
AFTERNOON WORKSHOP with Tom Duncan: 1:30 - 4:30pm
Restoring Our Waterways with Floating Island & Wetlands Bioremediation Technologies:
What are manmade floating wetlands and islands used for? How are they constructed, and with what materials? Are they good for both small home and urban gardens, but also large scale farming? What developments are taking place around the world with floating island and wetlands technologies that might help Climate Change? Can we bio-mimic nature’s wetlands to effectively clean up our environment?
Join Tom Duncan, founder of AquaBiofilterTM Floating Wetlands & Island technology, as he shares his years of experience and expertise designing wetlands systems large and small, for cleaning up toxicity, growing food, and providing enhanced wildlife habitat, both above and below the waterline.
We will explore case studies, technology, and share ideas on wetland project implementation in catchments. Also conversation about new ways for raising funds to restore the commons. An amazing opportunity to learn from one of the most experienced people in this field, please bring your questions!
Speaker Bios:
Leila Darwish:
Leila Darwish is a community organizer, author, bioremediation educator, permaculture designer, and disaster recovery worker with a deep commitment to providing accessible and transformative tools for communities dealing with the toxic contamination of their lands and waters, and responding to natural and environmental disasters. Her work is rooted in environmental and social justice, inspired by the power of community action and regenerative earth repair. Leila published her first book Earth Repair: A Grassroots Guide to Healing Toxic and Damaged Landscapes (New Society Publishers) in 2013, and has taught numerous bioremediation and oil spill response courses in communities across North America. She has a Master’s of Disaster Resilience Leadership from Tulane University in New Orleans. Learn more: http://earthrepair.ca/.
Tom Duncan:
Since 2000 Tom Duncan has been building aquaponics systems in small and large scale aquaculture systems across Australia and China. His projects include the largest aquaponics systems in the world, covering in some cases, many acres of aquaculture pond and lake with edible plants. In 2004 Duncan and a team of scientists demonstrated that polluted lakes across Asia could be completely restored, while also preventing future toxic algal blooms.
Tom Duncan invented the AquaBiofilterTM Floating Wetlands & Floating Island technology to clean up polluted lakes, water bodies, rivers and estuaries. Tom proved in the field and through quantitative modeling, that dedicating just 1% of farm and urban catchments to floating wetland ponds, would eliminate toxic algae blooms in lakes, rivers and estuaries. This protects the marine waters, gulfs and bays that receive run-off. Floating wetlands remove nutrients, suspended solids and pollutants, mopping up impurities and releasing clean water to rivers and oceans. Duncan served as Chairman of the Green Building Council of Australia for two years, developing the new Green Building Rating Tool.
In addition to AquaBiofilterTM Tom is also the founder of Liquid Token, a fintech platform for impact assets and natural capital. He has experience across sectors including environmental technology and large scale restoration, investment and finance, technology and policy. Learn more about Tom Duncan’s work and projects: http://www.ecoplan.net.au/about/
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(805) 962-2571
P.O. Box 92156, Santa Barbara, CA 93190
margie@sbpermaculture.org
http://www.sbpermaculture.org
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