Offered: September 6 & 7
Location: Commonweal Garden
Suggested Donation: $25 (no one turned away for lack of funds)

Special Guest
Michael 'Meka" Bunch, international natural builder

Activities Include:
Cob Building / Natural Plasters and Paints

Join us for a natural building work party and help complete our intern village in anticipation of the winter rains. Whether you are new to natural building or interested in gaining more experience with natural building techniques this is a great opportunity to get your hands in the mud and to work and learn along side Michael 'Meka' Bunch.

Penny and Meka will be leading the work days with a focus on earthen plasters and cobbing. There will be basic intstruction and plenty of hands-on learning.

Highlights include:
+ Learning how multiple mediums work together from local materials
+ Making and applying natural plasters, paints & finishes for interior and exterior surfaces
+ Learn how these techniques are easily applied to your own home

OFFERED: March - November 2008
LOCATION: Commonweal Garden
INSTRUCTOR: Matt Berry

Wild crafting provides a unique bridge between Permaculture and Nature Awareness. Matt Berry, who has been practicing and teaching primitive skills and nature awareness for over a decade, blends his passion and expertise in field biology, primitive skills, horticulture and Permaculture. After spending some time with Matt, you may never look at the weeds in the corner of your garden or the oak trees in your neighborhood the same way again!

This year, we offer a series of seasonal Wild Food Walks, as well as, day long skill intensives. These classes will not only help to build your wildcrafting skills, but also deepen your connection with the natural world.

Classes are intended for adults, however children are welcome at a reduced fee if accompanied by a parent.

Turning Water Scarcity into Water Abundance

Date: Sunday, September 7
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Location: Commonweal Garden
Cost: $10

Join Brad Lancaster for an evening talk, slide-show and book signing in celebration of his new book Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands, and Beyond: Vol 2, Water-Harvesting Earthworks.

Rainwater Harvesting Earthworks are one of the easiest, least expensive, and most effective ways of passively harvesting and conserving multiple sources of water in the soil. Building on the information presented in Volume 1, Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, Vol 2, shows you how to select, place, size, construct, and plant your chosen water-harvesting earthworks. It presents detailed how-to information and variations of a diverse array of earthworks, including chapters on mulch, vegetation, and greywater recycling so you can customize the techniques to the unique requirements of your site. Returns come in the form of beauty, food, shelter, wildlife habitat, and passive heating and cooling strategies, while controlling erosion, increasing soil fertility, reducing downstream flooding, and improving water and air quality.

Brad Lancaster has been active teaching, designing, and consulting on the sustainable design system of Permaculture & integrated rainwater harvesting systems since 1993. He lives what he teaches on a thriving, award-winning eighth of an acre urban Permaculture site he created in downtown Tucson, Arizona.