Permaculture Workshop

Permaculture Workshop with Rico Zook3-Day Permaculture Workshop with Rico Zookat Neem Karoli Baba Ashram, 416 Geronimo Ln., Taos “Holistic Farm Design” Saturday, June 4-Monday, June 6This workshop will integrate hands-on experience with an in-depth introduction to what makes a farm (or any system) holistic, regenerative and resilient. We will look at the foundations of regenerative systems, as well as how permaculture principles can be applied in both physical systems, such as a farm, and in invisible systems, such as communities and organizations.Much of our hands-on work will focus on finishing the ashram’s newly-dug pond. This project will give us a direct example of systems integration and how elements on a holistic farm interlink and support each other. We will be working with the water element-shaping the earth it moves through, deciding how it will interact with the landscape, and thinking through how these decisions relate to plantings and crop production.Hands-on work may include:Designing and planting a “food forest” in the ashram orchardHand finishing (micro-shaping) the pond damSeeding and planting the dam and around the pond and overflow acequiaCreating the pond’s overflow and digging the overflow’s acequiaLinking the overflow acequia to the fields for flood irrigationWorkshop Schedule:Ockenden, Cambodia farmer training led by Rico's student, Sheet mulching, near SisophonSaturday and Sunday June 4-58 am-10 am Lecture and Discussion10-12:30 Hands-On projects12:30-1:30 Lunch1:30-3 pm Lecture and Discussion3-6 pm Hands-On Projects6 pm Dinner*Saturday Only* 8-9 pm Slide Show on “Permaculture in India”Fees:Workshop is by donation-pay what you can. Rico is donating his time and expertise and all donations go directly to benefit Hanuman’s Garden-the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram Permaculture Farm. Vegetarian lunch and dinner will be provided. For more information or to register contact anandi_manager@nkbashram.org or call 408-722-7734.Monday, June 6Community Seva Day-All Are Welcome!Come help dig, plant, build and shape. Help the ashram move forward with its permaculture plan while benefitting from the knowledge of a world leader in the permaculture movement.8-12 Morning Session12:30 Lunch2-6 Afternoon SessionVegetarian lunch will be provided.About Rico:Aapbotay, Mineral Springs, Darjeeling, talking to local childrenRico has a degree in Environmental Studies focused on Land Restoration, with minors in biology and philosophy. He spent years homesteading in northern California and working in Yosemite Nat’l Park before coming to New Mexico in 1996 shortly after the wildfire which decimated the Lama Foundation. There he worked under permaculture expert Ben Haggard, first as co-director and crew foreman of the land restoration crew and then as land manager for the next ten years creating and implementing a permaculture design for the community.For the past 8 years he has worked as a global permaculture designer, consultant and instructor. His focus has been on assisting local and indigenous cultures in preserving traditional knowledge and technologies while adapting to and becoming active members of our rapidly globalizing world. His pioneering work in India and Cambodia has earned him a large following and a full workshop schedule abroad. For more information about Rico and his work check out his website at www.i-permaculture.org.