Join us for a jam-packed workshop lead by Kim & Chris Chisholm and assisted by Kelda Lorax. Kim & Chris have been converting the remaining 1 acre of Kim's grandparent's old land back into a productive mini-farm for the Wolf College campus. Chris will offer experience from his rural childhood and 20 years of professional experience in the field, while Kim will draw from her historical connection to the land, her wildlife science degree and poultry experience, and her permaculture design training.

See below for costs ranging from $45 to $65 for this inspiring workshop which includes the following itinerary:

12:00 Permaculture Pot-Luck & Seed Exchange: New participants and workshop alumni are invited to join permaculture design graduates with a dish to share in our library of nature books and self-sufficiency guides. In addition, we encourage you to bring at least one seed pack and exchange some seeds with others during the lunch hour.
12:30 Permaculture Principle #5 – Renewable Resources: After a quick overview of permaculture and its principles, we will focus on #5 which states that we “use and value renewable resources and services” meaning that we “make the best use of nature’s abundance to reduce our consumptive behavior and dependence on non-renewable resources.”
1:00 Reducing the Carbon Footprint: During this time, we will tour the Wolf College home office and do an energy audit, taking inventory of the progress we have made in comparison to when the house was constructed in 1901, and of the renovation improvements that lie ahead. During the tour, participants will share ideas based on their own energy conservation renovations done at home, giving one another ideas for future improvements.
1:30 Biochar & Carbon Sequestration: Next, we are going to sequester some carbon! Learn to make biochar, and learn to plant a tree in our "carbon sequestration circle" to ensure that it will sequester the most carbon, remembering to “biochar” it at the end of its lifespan.
2:00 Forest Gardening & Fruit Orchard: Take a tour of our project-in-process where we are converting our carbon-producing lawn into a carbon-sequestering forest garden / fruit orchard, and share ideas so we can proceed forward more productively.
2:30 Chickens! Next, head to our chicken coup and learn pick Kim's brain regarding all she's learned in regards to avian care, safety, health, illnesses (including the current threat of avian flu). Discuss strategies for time management and other cost-saving system improvements to make backyard flocks financially beneficial.
3:15 Veggie Gardens & Greenhouse: Check out how we designed our veggie garden, three-sisters corn/squash garden, and our new greenhouse for the greatest benefit within our permaculture design.
3:45 Composing System: Pros, Cons, Choices & Solutions.
4:15 Herb Garden & Medicinal Plants: Take a tour of our herb garden and learn about beneficial culinary and medicinal plants for home and market.
5:00 Making Biodiesel: Head into our shop and help us use a nifty kit to make biodiesel for our car! We'll also discuss the pros and cons of biodiesel and other alternative fuels in relation to carbon emissions.
5:30 Living On An Acre: Finally, let's assess the reality of "living on an acre" and how close we can come to self-sufficiency this year, and in the future.
6:00 Questions: Throughout the workshop, we encourage questions, plus suggestions on future topics you’d like to learn or practice in this workshop series, with answers from experienced permaculturists in attendance,

Cost & Registration:

• $65 the first time you attend one of our Sustainable Homes & Gardens workshops;
• $60 for a second friend/family member, or the second time you attend;
• $55 for a third friend/family member, or the third time you attend;
• $50 per additional friend/family member, or the fourth time you attend;
• $45 if you hold a Permaculture Design Certification, for children too young to benefit from instruction, and for continuing attendances from your fifth time on.

To register, rsvp here and use PayPal, or call us at[masked] with a credit card, or send a check to the Wolf College,[masked]th St SW, Puyallup WA 98371

Please Bring:

• If you attend the noon potluck, bring a food dish to share and at least one packet of seeds to exchange.
• Scissors & Paper Bags for harvesting.
• Gardening or work gloves.
• Hats and clothing appropriate for the weather.
• Waterproof or rubber boots.
• Your favorite field guides on herbalism, gardening, permaculture, etc.

Background:

It is the Year of Carbon here at the Wolf College as we focus on addressing climate change at the local level. Our goals are to 1) reduce personal carbon emissions by renovating our houses for energy conservation, plus changing our transportation means and habits; 2) sequestering as much carbon out of the atmosphere as possible by planting trees that take the greatest amount of carbon out of the atmosphere as possible, plus jumping on the anti-coal-train movement to help the northwest put a plug in coal consumption; and 3) educating the greatest number of friends, family and community members as possible about climate change, carbon footprint reduction, and carbon sequestration.