DIY BIOCHAR and HYDROPONICS WORKSHOPS (full-day, only $15)

YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THE EVENT HERE: http://biocharandhydroponicswkshop.eventbrite.com

Thank the funding agency - post on their FB wall a note of thanks for offering funding for this valuable information (encourage this/other agencies to fund more events like this one!):
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chester-County-Economic-Development-Council/161629220542940?v=wall&sk=wall#!/pages/Chester-County-Economic-Development-Council/161629220542940

Organic, vegetarian lunch will also be provided to particpants (free of charge) by FOOD FOR THOUGHT, the Kimberton Waldorf School's own Garden to kitchen school lunch program

Funding for this one day workshop has generously been granted by the Chester County Economic Development Council

SAT. MAY 21, 2011, 9 am - 5 pm
This full day workshop will cover two exciting topics - learn DIY BIOCHAR and HYDROPONICS!
This low-cost, full-day workshop has been made possible by the funding agency, but... IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO PAY THE FEES TO REGISTER, BUT WISH TO ATTEND, PLEASE CONTACT us - NO ONE WILL BE TURNED AWAY DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS FOR REGISTRATION!!!

FULL DAY (BOTH SESSIONS) ONLY $15.00

or, attend individual sessions:
Small-scale, low-tech DIY HYDROPONICS SYSTEMS $10.00 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
This workshop, presented by Don Coan, Ph.D, will cover the basic principles and methods of hydroponics gardening and discuss why it is important in today’s world. Through informational materials, demonstrations, and practical hands-on activities, participants will learn about various types of hydroponics systems, non-soil media, and how to build and maintain a simple hydroponics garden. Topics explored will include: soilless media & nutrients involved in cultivating plants using hydroponics methods, advantages and benefits of hydroponics in today’s world, a
description of the components and features of several different kinds of hydroponics systems (ebb & flow, NFT, deep water culture, aeroponic, floating raft, etc.) & a demonstration of a small scale/low-tech DIY hydroponics system. Additional information will be addressed, including:

comparison of the characteristics of several common kinds of non-soil growing media (demonstration) description of different kinds of containers for growing hydroponics plants (demonstration) Discussion of the various criteria (size, location, plant selection, climate, cost, etc.) for designing and planning a hydroponics garden Hydroponics propagation and transplantation (demonstration) How to build and maintain a floating raft garden (Hand-on Activity) Building an (automated) recirculating hydroponics garden with an aggregate medium (demonstration) BIOCHAR: DO IT YOURSELF! $10.00 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Our workshop leader, EPPG member, horticulturist (permie) and Biochar maker extraordinaire - Dale Hendricks, will provide participants with an introduction to biochar, a deep look at soils and agriculture and the role they can play in productively using carbon. How biochar can be part of solutions to our current challenges with water, food, climate, energy and community will be addressed. Finally, the Biochar portion of the workshop will conclude with a demonstration and instruction on building small cook stoves to boil water and MAKE BIOCHAR (for participants to take home)!

YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THE EVENT HERE: http://biocharandhydroponicswkshop.eventbrite.com

Presenter BIOS:
Dale Hendricks has been growing and propagating plants professionally since 1975. In 1988 he co-founded North Creek Nurseries, Inc in order to propagate and grow perennials and grasses with an emphasis on natives and garden selections of natives. He has been honored with the American Horticulture Society’s Individual Commercial award and the Perennial Plant Association’s Young Professional award. He has taught plant propagation at Longwood Gardens and lectures widely. He served on the founding board of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia and as co-chair from 2004-2007. He is also served on the founding Steering Committee for the Native Plants in the Landscape Conference at Millersville University. He currently serves on the board of Community Gardens of Chester County and has recently become President of Biochar Northeast; a nonprofit that “advances the ethical use and creation of biochar.”
In 2008 he founded Green Light Plants, LLC. To consult on sustainable and fecund landscapes and to grow native, woodland and Permaculture plants renewably, organically and joyfully.
Dale lives with his family, gardens and makes biochar whenever he can in Landenberg, Pa.

Don Coan received his Ph.D in Education and Psychology from the University of Michigan. He taught social psychology and research methods at Indiana University. His career spans over 30 years evaluating federally-funded education programs and conducting institutional research studies in higher education. He retired from the California State University system in 2001. Coan has practiced hydroponics for many years. He works with the Institute of Simplified Hydroponics (Mexico) helping poor families build and maintain simple hydroponics gardens.

YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THE EVENT HERE: http://biocharandhydroponicswkshop.eventbrite.com

PLEASE PLAN TO ARRIVE AT 9 AM if you are attending the HYDROPONICS workshop and BY 1 PM for the BIOCHAR workshop