[Scpg] FWD: The Carbon Economy - what it is, why it's important and how we can be involved

[John Calvert]

  *
Carbon Economy Courses - Intensive Practical Series
OCT 19 - DEC 11, 2009
**Location:  Near Santa Barbara, CA
**Convenors:  Quail Springs & Orella Ranch

**http://www.carboneconomysb.com*


    *The Carbon Economy - what it is, why it's important and how we can
    be involved
    *

*"....We have a breakdown in the Carbon cycle as much of the Carbon in 
our soils has be excised to the air and seas. Generations of farmers 
have found that their biggest crop -- topsoil, has been lost, more 
recently due to the manipulation of soil carbon levels by artificial 
nitrogen application. Our entire land-based systems are becoming Carbon 
poor.  Yet, we have a unique opportunity to revitalize our communities 
and societies through the building of a Carbon rich landscape.  We have 
the technical means to do so, we just need support.  Largely that 
support comes from localization: marketing & value-adding our products 
locally and directly to gain the support for building Carbon rich 
systems and be paid to do so.*

*Waiting for Carbon Trading payments or other 'money from thin air' 
schemes will not build a Carbon rich economy: people and communities 
doing it ourselves will...*

*What would a Carbon Economy look like? What would Carbon rich 
landscapes and farms look like?  These answers and more will be found at 
the upcoming Carbon Economy Course in Santa Barbara which pulls together 
the world's leading Carbon Economy practitioners: people who are 
devoting their lives to building Carbon rich agricultural systems and 
economic structures and who have the proven and practical know-how to 
have producers and their advisors do the same in an economically robust 
manner. We look forward to your participation in this important event 
this Fall 2009 in the Santa Barbara area....." *
*
- Darren Doherty, Carbon Economy Courses originator*


    *The Courses*

*The Carbon Economy Courses offer approaches that not only benefit the 
environment -- yet also materially and financially benefit the farmer, 
rancher, land manager, citizen and community.   October 19 thru December 
11, 2009 brings an all-star lineup of instructors, farmers, scientists, 
and land managers to the Santa Barbara area to share their experience 
and knowledge with fellow farmers, ranchers, business people and 
citizens from around the region and nation.*

/"We've been growing 100% organic pistachios for 18 years in Santa 
Barbara County and selling them in local farmers' markets and throughout 
the U.S. Our business depends on the health of our soils and 
environment. These courses... offer an important opportunity for the 
farming and agricultural community to stay on the cutting edge of the 
quickly evolving world of soil health, environmental protection and 
financial health of family farms."/ - Gail and Gene Zannon, Santa 
Barbara Pistachio Company, California

/"The funny thing is that many people still don't know that livestock 
are the best tool we have to manage these rangelands...We've see 
riparian areas (creek and river bankds) on every single ranch grow in 
health as measured by vegetation cover, cleanliness of the water, 
perennial plants...so now we have a beautiful expanding wetland; we have 
oak trees that were not there...we have lots of diverse vegetation and 
perennial grasses."/ - Joe Morris, TO Cattle Company, California


*READ MORE...
*

*http://www.carboneconomysb.com
*


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