Gino Antonio, host and one of the instructors for this class, is co-founder with Molly Antonio of Pollen Tracks/Pollen Circles, a native-based organization dedicated to service and environmental stewardship.
Molly Antonio, class hostess
Using materials found onsite or brought in from nearby, participants learn to restore landscapes large and small.
This class is held on family land on the Navajo Reservation. The land and facilities are used to spread ecological knowledge among locals and visitors alike.
Smallest change for the big effect on the land
Working with simple and elegant solutions guides the group through restoration process of fragile arid landscape. One rock dam is placed on contour to impede rain runoff, to collect topsoil, seeds, mulch and to create a miniature water catchment/seed bank on a gentle slope.
Ample time on hands-on practical learning, come prepared for participation.
Hands-on learning in real conditions.
Native plants return once soil is restored
Larger scale installations teach students how to work with broadscale restoration methods, suitable for any landscape.
Land and Watershed Restoration in Native Country (Navajo/Dine) - Practical Permaculture Training
WHAT IS IN THIS CLASS?
This is a five-day permaculture workshop on land remediation and watershed restoration, that includes working with forest, grazing- and farmland. The class is held on the Navajo Reservation near Window Rock, Arizona. Students participate in designing, discussing and implementing various restoration techniques applicable for small and large scale dryland restoration. This class is recommended for land owners, dryland farmers and ranchers, land restoration specialists, students of ecological design and biology, watershed management specialists, and permaculture graduates interested in dryland sustainability.
DATES:
August 11 - 16 (arrive August 10 - leave August 17), 2012
This class is open to all who are interested in drylands permaculture, ecological restoration and in working cross-culturally with indigenous and non-indigenous people
The days are spent in classroom discussion and practical work on the land, examining past mistakes and successes; learning principles and practical applications of building soil, increasing biodiversity, arresting soil erosion, and harvesting rainwater and surface runoff to sustain plants, animals and the local community. From building small erosion control structures, to planting, thinning, mulching, digging swales, spreading seeds, sculpting the land this class provides a wealth of knowledge on broadscale land restoration from a permaculture perspective. This class may be eligible for CEU for landscape architects, please inquire with us and your local licensing board for details.
This is a rich experience for all participants working in a complex and rich setting. The goal of this restoration project is to further work on creating a demonstration site, to bring animals and plants back and, in the words of workshop host Gino, ‘to restore the land and hope at the same time for local people’. We work with Navajo elders to gain their perspective on care of the land and to understand the necessity of ceremony in that process.
TOPICS COVERED
- Working with Nature, Principles of designing for sustainability
- Pattern Understanding and Reading the landscape
- Identification of the landscape forms and processes that created the shape of the land today
- Understanding the erosion and deposition processes with an emphasis on historic damage that can be seen today
- Watershed form and process, scaling between small and large watersheds on the landscape
- Sweet spots on the landscape, oases of species diversity and water storage
- Using sediment deposition as a tool to grow plants and store water
- Types of restoration structures using rocks and wood, where each structure is placed on the landscape
- Prioritizing restoration by location, time and effort
- Understanding restoration over time, degradation took hundreds of years, restoration cannot happen overnight
- Creating a restoration design in a team, using local materials and supplies to restore a small watershed to proper function and ecosystem health
INSTRUCTORS
The workshop is led by Scott Pittman and Steve Vrooman. Gino and Molly Antonio of Navajo Reservation are the hosts of this class. Students will also work with Navajo Elders, and local community members to begin the restoration process on the land and beyond.
Scott Pittmanhas been teaching permaculture courses since 1985 in over 18 countries on four continents, working with indigenous peoples in South and Central Americas. Scott is known for his foundational work in establishing permaculture in the US Southwest, for which he received a Community Achievement Award from the Permaculture Institute of Australia. Steve Vrooman is the owner of Keystone Restoration Ecology focusing on environmental restoration and the design of riparian and wetland restoration projects. Steve is a practitioner of Induced Meandering, a stream restoration and erosion control technique. The Induced Meandering technique is based on a philosophy of ‘let the water do the work’. Gino and Molly Antonio are founders of Pollen Tracks/Pollen Circles, a native-based organization that weaves culture, adventure, service and environmental stewardship into an indigenous holistic learning experience. Drawing from the Navajo philosophy of wellness, which includes addressing the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual aspects of the individual, Pollen Circles finds creative ways to bring individuals, culture, elders, and the environment together to facilitate introspection, awareness, and expansion.
ACCOMMODATIONS
All participants camp on the land, and participate in food preparation and care of the place. Simple cook shack, composting toilets, and a classroom are available. Come prepared to work on the land and participate in class room activities. PLEASE NOTE: it may be very hot and windy during workshop dates; adequate preparation on the part of attendees is essential. We will email you a list of things to bring once you are enrolled.
CLASS FEES: $775 ($800 if using PayPal). Fee includes: instruction, three meals per day, camp-style lodging (in your own tent), access to all facilities.
REGISTRATION/PAYMENT: Your payment is your registration. Course non-refundable deposit of $300 secures your space in the class. Full payment is due one month before class starts. We accept payments by check (see mailing address at the bottom of this page), money order and PayPal/credit card.
Due to high credit card processing fees, credit card/ PayPal payments are subject to additional fees. Please submit your Essay at the time of payment.
LAST DAY TO ENROLL three days before the class start date. This class tends to fill up quickly. If enrolling late, please call AND email us to register.
CANCELLATION REFUNDS: We don’t issue program refunds unless the program is canceled by us. Please plan your attendance accordingly!
CONTACT US For additional questions about this program, please contact , Registrar
