The Education Committee produces stand-alone workshops and classes, produces education sessions at general meetings and demos and classes at the food forest workdays. We also write articles for newsletters and the website as well as for potential publication elsewhere in the community. The Education Committee also runs the annual seed swaps.
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Education
Seed Saving/Seed Sharing
A drop-off location for your extra seeds is available at the Food Forest Little Library. Tentative future locations include some community gardens, and a couple of porch locations throughout Evanston.
Please plan to share your seeds from this year’s garden with us.
We are asking that after you plant your garden, please donate your unused seeds in their original packet to Edible Evanston. We will ensure the seeds are carefully stored to protect the viability, so you don’t need to worry about that.
May 2020 news: What to do in your garden in May?
What to do in your garden in May?
Since we have had a few heavy rains, we have to wait for the soil to dry out some before we try to plant into it. Working soil that is wet will compact the structure of the soil (which harms things like root growth and water retention/ drainage). If you can hold a handful of soil, compress it in your hand and it holds together, and then crumbles apart when you tap the ball, your moisture level is just right.
Permaculture Principle #7: Design from Patterns to Details
Unlike our first 6 principles, principle 7 is the first coming from the top-down perspective of the patterns and relationships that tend to emerge.
David Holmgren’s Summary
Permaculture Principle #8: Integrate Rather Than Segregate
David Holmgren’s Summary
In every aspect of nature, from the internal workings of organisms to whole ecosystems, we find the connections between things are as important as the things themselves. Thus the purpose of a functional and self-regulating design is to place elements in such a way that each serves the needs and accepts the products of other elements.
Permaculture Principle #6: Produce No Waste
David Holmgren’s Summary
The Soil’s Microbiome
Edible Evanston Work & Learn, June 2019
Tim Sonder, education chair
I’ve heard of a microbiome recently—I thought people have those?
Permaculture Principle 4: Apply self-regulation & accept feedback
By Tim Sonder, Education Chair
This principle requires us to be open, to see and accept both the reality of the result of our actions (or inactions) and listen to and consider criticism from others.
It requires us to go back to Principle 1— and once again really observe and interact.
Self-regulation is something natural systems do without “thinking.” They must change to match the reality around them, and we can model our behavior on that natural feedback loop.
2019 Food Forest & Orchard Work and Learn Days
We have great volunteer opportunities for individuals, families and groups thru regular monthly work days that frequently include learning presentations. (We are happy to arrange other special volunteer days for groups as needed. ) A waiver will be required to participate as a volunteer. No other registration is required, but pre-registration for learn portion encouraged
2019 Educational Work-and-Learn Days Schedule
Look for additional activities on most workdays—educational presentations, sharing of food, stories, song. Including:
Permaculture Principle 3: Obtain a Yield
By Tim Sonder, Education Chair
"You can’t work on an empty stomach"
This principle can be seen as a directive to always make sure a system is providing definitive benefits. It’s like the difference between doing work and doing useful work.