Earthworks for a Water Resilient Landscape 2022

Join us for a unique permaculture design earthworks experience! This workshop will give you firsthand insights into design considerations and principles based on clients objectives. We will explain stages of the design process, from observation, working with the client, through to the final design and real live implementation on the property over the weekend. 

This workshop will cover reading the landscape for water retention and management. Diving into, Mapping, ponds, swales, reed-beds, terraces, key line design, implementation cover cropping and guild planting. This will be a hands-on workshop/installation, with earth moving equipment and lasers!

OUTLINE:

• First part of Day one will be at Inspiration Farm. It will include introductions and an overview of the design considerations and the scope of the project. A site tour assessing information on, water, soils, access, structural positions, slope, orientation, zoning and sectors. A site tour to see an established system
• Day One part two, we will demonstrate how to work with earthworks machine operators to achieve desired permaculture design goals.  Exercises in designing watersheds and a variety of strategies used.
• Day two we will fine tune aspects of the project and install cover crop and some of the food forest guilds. This workshop is intended to help you to become a more confident earthwork installer. You will get familiar with the equipment and strategies used to efficiently get the job done.
• WHAT YOU CAN LEARN: Site Observation Skills, Site Assessment Process, Design Evolution Process, Earthworks Process, Design and Work Methodology, Site Restoration with Cover Crops and Guild Planting considerations.

PROJECT BRIEF: This workshop will implement a permaculture master plan by converting old pasture with invasive grasses into a diversified food forest. The project will encompass 5 acres. The long-term goal is to provide opportunities for the local community and visitors to reconnect with each other and nature while cultivating more harmonious and resilient relationships.

Lead Instruction by Brian Kerkvliet co-steward of Inspiration Farm and a 15 year Permaculture practitioner, designer, consultant. A Student of Geoff Lawton in design methodologies and earthworks for Permaculture projects. Brian has designed and installed numerous projects around the county.

Hello, & thanks for your interest in the 2022 “Designing a Water Retention Landscape” event.  My name is Hunter Wolf Lydon, and I have been a student of Permaculture since 2013.  After taking 2 PDC courses, a rainwater harvesting design workshop with Watershed Management Group in AZ, and studying soil through the SoiI Food Web School, I’ve realized the importance of soil and water.  I feel they are quite important for our survival, which is why I want to host this class and help develop a site where all creatures can relax, eat & enjoy themselves.

I’ve been stewarding the site we’ll be working on for the past 2.5 years. Spending that time observing, building soil, and planting vegetation that need little attention.  It’s a 5 acre parcel that’s quite wet, even standing water in some spots most of the year; however, dry in areas, for a portion of the summer.  The land is slightly sloped from both the East and West with a swale that splits the parcel in half.  Most of the soil is Whatcom Labounty clay, with some silty loam as well.  It’s been a pasture for as long as the neighbors can recall, with almost no trees or shrubs other than what I’ve planted.  It’s basically a blank canvas making it a great site to install earthworks that will direct and hold more water. 

I had the privilege of attending last year’s earthworks course and it was fantastic.  Brian Kerkvliet most certainly knows how to teach this material and is, in my opinion, a master in the field.  This is a great opportunity to learn valuable land stewarding information as the environment around us gets increasingly challenging, and water management becomes more important.

Thanks & we hope to see you in August. Hunter

For information on the course please contact Brian at Inspiration Farm or call 360-319-2029

For information on camping, food, the project site please contact Hunter