Permaculture, Poetry & Revolution

WHO: Graeme O'Farrell is a musician, spoken word artist, permaculture designer and consultant inviting locally home-grown internationally acclaimed spoken-word artists and musicians to work with him for...
WHAT: A weekend permaculture learning retreat of theory, practice, good food and good people, including live spoken word and musical entertainment!
WHERE: Apx. 30 minutes east of downtown Ottaw...a at an environmental retreat center complete with indoor and outdoor accomodations, organic gardens, nature trails, playing fields and in-ground pool. Specific details and directions will be made available upon registration.
WHEN: June 11th-12th
WHY: Because it will be inspiring and a lot of fun, and the lives of our grand-children depend on our being informed and taking action.

REGISTRATION IS MANDATORY - Minimum attendance is required to prevent cancellation of this event, so please sign up quick. Maximum 25 spots available.

Day one will focus on the theory and philosophy of permaculture in the morning and a variety of methods we can implement that philosophy in the afternoon. Day two will briefly review what we learned on Saturday and then provide everyone a chance to explore the grounds and use what was learned in a project assignment. Everyone will be asked to work together in groups to create individual permaculture designs as if they had been hired by the retreat center to manage the site. The retreat will be information-intensive and not labour-intensive. There will be ample opportunities to enjoy the environment, relax, go for a walk or a swim, and enjoy the live entertainment. Participants with an artistic streak are encouraged to bring instruments or paints or their dancing shoes, etc.

Tentative Schedule:
Saturday June 11th: Theory
10:30 AM: Permaculture Ethics, Principles and Design Concepts
12:00 PM: Lunch Break & Video Screening
1:30 PM: Patterning, Design Methods & Priorities, Water Harvesting, Food Forest Concepts
3:30 PM: Snack Break
4:00 PM: Waste Management, Natural Building, Art & Activism, Economic Permaculture, Eco-Villages, Land Trusts
6:30 PM: Dinner Break & Video Screening
8:30 PM: Concert w/ (Artists TBA)

Sunday June 12th: Practice
9:00 AM: Breakfast
10:30 AM: Re-cap & Project Assignment Briefing, Outdoor On-Site Project Observation & Teamwork
12:00 PM: Lunch Break & Video Screening
1:30 PM: Q&A, Group Projects
3:30 PM: Snack Break
4:00 PM: Q&A, Group Projects
6:30 PM: Dinner Break & Video Screening
8:30 PM: Project Presentations, Discussion Group & Celebration!

The cost of this weekend retreat is $200 per person. You can take advantage of an early-bird rate now until May 21st of $150 per person. If you would like to arrive early on Friday and stay overnight this can be arranged for an extra $25 fee. There is a maximum of 25 spots available at this retreat and a minimum number of early-bird spots must be filled to prevent cancellation.
While ideally these kinds of educational activities would be publicly funded for the collective good, this is a grassroots entrepreneurial pursuit and therefor charging participants is necessary. In the interest of transparency, you should know that this cost helps us to pay for the following:
- All of your meals and snacks provided throughout the day (Any allergies and sensitivites will be catered to, and to the greatest extent possible all food will be organic, locally sourced, and prepared by happy well paid people.)
- Accomodations (Indoor accomodations are available on a limited basis while extensive camping grounds are available on site.)
- Covering the costs of the artists (because artists have to eat too!)
- Administration fees for the retreat center
- Ensuring that permaculture education thrives in Ontario and especially the Ottawa Valley
- Providing for the future of the teacher and his family :)

Registration is complete and your spot is reserved by making payment by cheque or paypal. If you are tight on cash at the moment you can provide half of the fee to register and the other half upon arrival. Once registered, you will receive further details and directions.

Cheques may be sent to:
Graeme O'Farrell
12 Dossetter Way
Ottawa ON
K1G 4R8

Paypal payments may be sent to:
[email protected]m

Please indicate that you are registering for the permaculture learning retreat when you make your payment.

Thank you!