Upcoming Pittsburgh Permaculture Workshops- register now!

Michelle | April 8th, 2011

Hey all, please check out the next 2 workshops to happen at the Hazelwood Food Forest. Hope to see you there!

~~Grafting with Troy Hottle~~- CANCELLED

April 17^th 11am-1pm (yes it’s a Sunday)

Learn the basics of grafting for pome fruits and stone fruits. You will learn how and when to graft in addition to multiple techniques for attaching varieties of the same fruit to a single tree.

Since 2008, Ohio native Troy Hottle has lived and worked in Pittsburgh. Troy received his Permaculture Design Certification under Josh Beniston, soil scientist and owner of Habitats Landscaping, Mark Cohen, founder of Far Valley Farm and The Belize Agroforestry Research Center, and Peter Bane, founder and editor of Permaculture Activist. . Troy has travelled to more than ten different countries studying the social and biological systems which shape and create the ecosystems of the world. He has met with dignitaries such as the Minister of Education of Bhutan and Maldives’ Minister of the Environment discussing social and environmental issues. Recently, Troy works for GTECH Strategies, managing the reclamation of vacant land within the city. In 2009, Troy founded the PittsburghPermaculture.org website and in the following year cofounded Pittsburgh Permaculture. He has taught several permaculture workshops and courses including some of those offered by Phipps Conservatory. Troy is also a Penn State Master Gardener.

CANCELLED DUE TO LOW ATTENDANCE

Mushroom Logs with Matt Peters

May 7^th 12-2pm

Workshop attendees will learn-by-doing how to grow Shiitake mushrooms on logs. Materials provided, and logs will be available for purchase.

Workshop facilitator Matt Peters has been growing shiitake mushrooms since 1997, and will share his experience with you in this hands-on two hour workshop.

Cost: $10 to attend or $35 to attend and bring home a finished log (retail value of log ~$40)

Food Forest Rain Barrel Demo & Work Day

Michelle | March 22nd, 2011

Spring is finally here! Let’s celebrate by getting our hands dirty at the Hazelwood Food Forest. We need to capture and retain water on the site especially until the young trees and plants are established. This first workday of 2011 will focus on setting up a gutter and downspout for the shed so that we can hook up to a rain barrel. We will also be doing some spring clean-up. Handy folks are especially needed to help put up the gutters!

Following the work day, Luke Stamper of the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association will explain and show us how to install a rain barrel as well as answer participants’ questions. Luke helps to manage the Rain Barrel Initiative inside the Nine Mile Run Watershed and is quite experienced with installing rain barrels.

Join us at 10:00 am and trade some work for the demonstration/class. Or come at 11:00 am just for the demonstration/class for $5.

Planning to show up? Sign up here

Register Soon for Introductory Herbal Medicine Workshop!!

Michelle | March 4th, 2011

Explore the Use of Herbs to Promote Wellness (Right Here in Pittsburgh!)

With Leslie Alexander, RH (AHG), Co-owner of Restoration Herbs

11am – 3pm, March 26, 2011

Stephen Foster Community Center, 286 Main Street 3^rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Program

An Introduction to Medical Herbalism What is a medicinal herb and when can we use herbs safely and effectively? Important questions! There are hundreds of medicinals, some of which can be found growing in the cracks of Pittsburgh sidewalks! In this workshop, Leslie focuses on principles integral to herbalism, including information on where and how to safely harvest medicinal herbs that grow in our open areas. She will touch upon other key issues pertinent to the general use of botanicals to promote well-being.

Lunch Bring your own lunch and join Michelle and Leslie as they talk about herbs and health. Get lucky, bring a mug and come ready to sample herbal teas.

Herbal Medicine Chest If you open your medicine cabinet, are its contents alarming? Have you been thinking about safer, more natural means of addressing digestive issues, or cholesterol levels? Ever wonder what other ways there are to get rid of a headache besides the every-ready Tylenol or aspirin? Need to find ways to boost your energy levels so you can enjoy the day and get a good night’s sleep? If these and other questions have run through your mind, or if you have an aversion to pharmaceuticals, then join the discussion and begin to build an effective herbal medicine chest for yourself.

Cost: $40, includes classes and sampling of herbal teas (please bring your own lunch).

Space is limited. Pre-registration required.

Register here

About Leslie

Leslie M Alexander is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist’s Guild. She is the resident medical herbalist at Restoration Herbs in Franklin, PA. Leslie received a B.Sc. from Fairleigh Dickinson University (Environmental Sciences) and a Ph.D. from Heriot Watt University (Marine Biology). After working for several years in academia, while focusing her work on environmental factors affecting health, particularly children’s health, Leslie retrained as a Medical Herbalist. Born in northern NJ, Leslie has gardened for decades without the use of chemicals. She lived and worked for many years in England and Scotland and enjoyed the European influence these years allowed. Presently, she is a resident of Franklin and co-owner of Restoration Herbs. She divides her time between working with clients to restore health and well-being, the herb gardens at Restoration Herbs, preparing herbal medicines and community and herbal education, focusing on medicinal and culinary herbs. She enjoys the outdoors, laughter and Tai Chi.

Presentations about medicinal herbs are for educational purposes only and not intended as a guide to self medicate, treat, cure, prevent or diagnose any disease or condition.

This workshop is sponsored by Michelle Czolba of Pittsburgh Permaculture.

Pittsburgh Permaculture