 CLASSES, WORKSHOPS
AND RELATED EVENTS
 URBAN PERMACULTURE 101 AND POTLUCK LUNCH, Jan. 29, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., The Growhaus, 4751 York St., Denver. How can our urban areas become sustainable in their use of food, energy and water? What kinds of fruits and vegetables grow best in Colorado's climate? How can we set up our social institutions in ways that mimic the diversity and resilience of natural systems? In this full-day intensive workshop, urban permaculturist and GrowHaus Director of Operations Adam Brock will provide a comprehensive overview of the permaculture paradigm as it applies to urban areas. Through an engaging mix of lecture, group work, and hands-on activities, we'll explore the following topics: The ethics, principles and design process that form the heart of Permaculture; recognizing patterns of sunlight, water, wind and soil and how they affect the landscape; unusual edible plant species that are well-adapted to growing conditions in the Front Range; specific techniques for incorporating permaculture principles into your home and garden; Permaculture's application to urban social and economic systems; Permaculture-related resources and activities happening along the Front Range. Please bring a sack lunch or potluck dish to share. Online registration $48.46; day of registration $55. FREE for residents of Elyria-Swansea!
 THE CORPORATION CONVERSATION/ RELOCALIZATION GAME, Jan. 29, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Gill Foundation, 315 East Costilla Street, Colorado Springs. Transition Town Manitou Springs is offering a day-long workshop that will allow us all to come together and have an investigation and conversation related to the influence of 'corporations' in our lives: personally, collectively, culturally, economically. Along with informing ourselves more fully about corporations and corporate influence, we will be playing a group game I like to call "The ReLocalization Game." We will take the list of Fortune 100 corporations (Walmart, Exxon Mobil, etc, etc) and examine what products and services they are providing to our community. We will investigate to see what value and what cost these services and products are bringing to our communities. We will then experiment with seeing if we can eliminate the product or service being provided and 'relocalize it,' that is, to replace the same service or product locally. Call 720-838-7131 for more information.
 WINTER HOLIDAY PARTY/POTLUCK, Jan. 30, 4:00 - 8:00 p.m., 314 Crystal Hills Blvd., Manitou Springs. Sponsored by Pikes Peak Permaculture and Transition Town Manitou Springs, at the home of Karen Kanode and Jim Stellick. All are welcome! Please bring a dish to pass around. Please label your dish appropriately: vegan, a meat dish, non-gluten etc. We want to honor everyone's tastes, preferences and diets. Drinks will be provided (if you would like alcoholic beverages please bring them). Please bring your own place setting and silverware. Host will provide coffee/tea and cups. Bring a re-gift (book or movie as suggestions) if you want to participate in a re-gift exchange! Please call 720-838-7131 if you need more information or directions.
 BEEKEEPING ESSENTIALS, Feb. 1, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York St.,Denver. In this intensive beginner class, discover the ins and outs of beekeeping and the knowledge and supplies you'll need to get started in this fascinating and rewarding hobby. Margael Meister, founder of DenverBee, will cover equipment, selecting an apiary site, bee races and breeds, disease and pest management, hiving packages, four season management, swarm catching procedures, flower anatomy, and pesticides and insecticides. Gain the confidence you need to become a backyard beekeeper! Please register online or call 720-865-3580.
INTRODUCTION TO PERMACULTURE, Feb. 3, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., Boulder Meadows Community Room, 4500 19th St., Boulder. Sandy Cruz, Barbara Mueser (The Garden Muse) and Jason Gerhardt will present an overview of the permaculture approach, show slides of their sites, and discuss how permaculture may be of benefit to the community. Co-sponsored by Transition Colorado, Real Earth Design, and High Altitude Permaculture. FREE! Donations welcome.
 BECOMING A SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR, Feb. 4., 1501 University Blvd., Boulder. A CU Boulder Environmental Center Sustainable Practices course, providing students with the knowledge they need to create a sustainability position inside an organization and become sustainability managers themselves. Students learn about basic sustainability topics: waste reduction, energy efficiency, water efficiency, environmentally preferable purchasing, alternative energy, renewable energy credits, alternative transportation and more. Pre-registration is required. This course is designed for the working professional who desires practical training in sustainability, or would like to work in the sustainability field. Complete 10 courses and receive a CU Boulder certificate in Sustainable Practices. Call 303-492-7438 for details.
 PERMACULTURE INTRODUCTION, Feb. 5, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Louisville Library, 951 Spruce St., Louisville. Sandy Cruz (High Altitude Permaculture), Barbara Mueser (The Garden Muse) and Jason Gerhardt (Real Earth Design) will present an overview of the permaculture approach, show slides of their sites, and discuss how permaculture may be of benefit the Louisville community. FREE! Donations welcome.
 A PERMACULTURE POTLUCK, Feb. 6, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m., Lyons Farmette, 4121 Ute Highway, Lyons. Please join us for a winter permaculture potluck at The Lyons Farmette! Share some yummy food, enjoy a brief introduction to permaculture and learn about our upcoming Permaculture Design Certification course! Permaculture Design Course graduates will be there to tell you why they took the course. Check out course information here. Erin Schey and Laura Ruby (with many special guests and lecturers) will be bringing the 2nd Annual Lyons Permaculture Design Course course to The Lyons Farmette March 18th - April 3rd, 2010. Please call Erin at 303-823-2352 or email farmettepdc@gmail.com for more information.
 TRANSITION SINGLES, Feb. 9, 6:00 p.m., Boulder Meadows Community Room, 4500 19th St., Boulder. Finally, a group for singles with something more in common than just being single! Are you concerned about challenging events in the future or even tough times? Do you want to have more "like-minded" friends for social events? Or maybe be able to meet a potential partner, someone who understands your values? Transition Singles is a network of "transition aware" people looking to further their contacts to create a sense of well-being, security, and friendship during times of flux and change. New friends that share your interests in sustainability may be comforting as we charge into the great unknown ahead. This will be our first meeting. Optional potluck for those interested. Come out, share some food, and meet your people. All ages welcome and appreciated. RSVP to transitionevents@skybeam.com.
 POST CARBON CENTURY: FROM GLOBAL CRISIS TO COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, WITH DANIEL LERCH, Feb. 9, 5:00 p.m., Environmental Design Building, Room 134, CU-Boulder Campus; Feb. 10, 6:00 p.m., MBA Suite, CU Denver Campus. Daniel is Program Director of Post Carbon Institute, the author of Post Carbon Cities, and the lead editor of The Post Carbon Reader, a collection of original essays on the 21st century's interconnected sustainability crisis. Daniel has worked with urban sustainability and planning issues for nearly 15 years in the public, private and non-profit sectors, and is one of the few experts specializing in local government responses to global fossil fuel depletion. Part of the University of Colorado College of Architecture and Planning Spring Lecture Series.
 WATERSHED TO WATERWISE STRATEGIES, Feb. 9 & 16, 1:30 - 5:30 p.m., 1505 University Blvd., Boulder. A CU Boulder Environmental Center Sustainable Practices course. This class will address watershed catchment and delivery systems, current water use patterns in the West, water in the city, water on the site, water reuse at small and large scales, rainwater capture, urban forest functions, values, climate appropriate plant selections and more. Pre-registration is required. This course is designed for the working professional who desires practical training in sustainability, or would like to work in the sustainability field. Complete 10 courses and receive a CU Boulder certificate in Sustainable Practices. Call 303-492-7438 for details.
 TURNING HOPE INTO ACTION: THE PATH OF SACRED ACTIVISM, WITH ANDREW HARVEY AND GUESTS (online video course), Feb. 9, 16, 23; Mar. 2, 7:00 p.m. MST. Hosted by Andrew Harvey, famous around the world for his inspirational talks and deep commitment to a life of engagement. In this exclusive online course, Andrew will show us how to share his passionate experience of the Divine as we devote ourselves to helping others. He will introduce you to Sacred Activism through the lives of five exemplary practitioners and brilliant teachers who are working in the world with divine force and passion: Adam Bucko, Diane Berke, Heather Murphy, Carolyn Baker (Feb. 23), and special guest bestselling author and legendary teacher Caroline Myss. In a series of one-on-one interviews with Andrew, they will share what they learned from their extraordinary personal journeys, and encourage you to take your own Sacred Activism to a new level of inspiration. You will be part of this unique event, watching the live video stream and asking your questions directly to these pioneers. Click here for full details and to register.
 DIRT! THE MOVIE: PERMACULTURE FILM SERIES 2011, Feb. 10, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., Boulder Meadows Community Room, 4500 19th St., Boulder. With Paul Stamets, Andy Lipkis, Janine Benyus, Fritjof Capra, Wangari Maathai, Wes Jackson, Alice Waters, John Todd, Vandana Shiva and more. ALSO showing, "BACKYARD FOOD PRODUCTION, Part 1: Water Systems." FREE (donations welcome). Sponsored by Transition Colorado, Real Earth Design, and High Altitude Permaculture.
 RAISING, KEEPING AND LOVIN' CHICKENS, Feb. 12, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Lyons Farmette, 4121 Ute Highway, Lyons. What is better than having your own back yard flock and getting fresh eggs every day? (Well, okay, there are actually a few things, but chickens are still pretty great!) We have many varieties of chickens here at the Farmette. We'll give you the chicken basics: Getting them as chicks and then what to do next. I'll also cover information about feed, care, legality, predator proofing and more. We also go out and visit the "girls" and take a look at different coops. $10 per person. Please RSVP to betsyburton@mac.com. Payment is required to reserve a space in this class. Please send your check to The Lyons Farmette, P.O. Box 312, Lyons, CO 80540.
PERMACULTURE: THE GROWING EDGE, Feb. 12, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., New Belgium Brewing, 500 Linden, Fort Collins. Free screening. Learning about the first Permaculture Design Certification Course offered in the Fort Collins area, Mar. 12 - 27. Discussion with lead instructor Kelly Simmons.
 GARDENING 101, GROWING WITHOUT CHEMICALS, Feb. 13, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., George Reynolds Branch Library, 3595 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder. What to plant when, pests you may encounter and what to do about it, avoiding pesticides/herbicides/chemical fertilizers, cultivars we recommend, solutions to water conservation, how to mitigate wind, hail damage. What has worked for us. And, alas, what has not. Mimi Yanus, Niki Hayden, Tracey Parrish, Boulder Culinary Gardeners.
DIRT (THE MOVIE), Feb. 13, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., The Link Rec Center, 1295 Reed St., Lakewood. The Movie Dirt, local food, exhibits and a conversation on local food and urban farming in metro Denver and Jefferson County. Proceeds from donations will go to build a four season growing center at 1875 Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood. This site will teach others how to grow local food in winter, summer, fall and spring using hoop house, cold frames, hoop covers for season extension and solar power. Learn and teach others what you learn. Together we can return the metro area to the fullness of our agricultural roots. 720-231-8337 for more information.
 STARTING YOUR GARDEN FROM SEED: TIPS AND TECHNIQUES FOR INDOOR SEED STARTING, Feb. 13, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Lyons Farmette, 4121 Ute Highway, Lyons. Ever wanted to get a jump-start on your garden by starting seeds indoors? Join Erica Althans-Schmidt for an exploration of seed starting beginning with the story behind the seed and basic germination terminology. Determine what your perfect seeding system should be and what tools you'll need to get the job done. Learn how to calculate the ideal start time for different seeds and the basic techniques for starting seeds indoors and caring for them through germination. Discover why things go wrong and what you can do about them. And finally, learn how to harden off your seedlings and watch them flourish in your garden! The first 12 people to sign up will receive Beauty Beyond Belief wildflower seeds for their gardens! Erica Althans-Schmidt has been gardening all her life, beginning in her mother's flower gardens as soon as she could toddle around. During college she studied environmental science with an emphasis on plant ecology and biology and learned the science behind growing things. Now she works in her mother's business, Gwynne's Greenhouse & Gardenshoppe, and spends her winters dreaming of plants and her springs seeding perennials, annuals and biennials for the Greenhouse. $15 per person. Please RSVP to betsyburton@mac.com. Payment is required to reserve a space in this class. Please send your check to The Lyons Farmette, P.O. Box 312, Lyons CO 80540.
 KIDS & PARENTS COOKING TOGETHER: QUICK & EASY BREAKFASTS, LUNCHES, SNACKS, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m., Wednesdays, Feb. 16 - Mar. 9, Erie Community Center (#7551.102). Featuring Kitchen Coach Mary Collette Rogers. Together you and your child will learn about healthful eating. Get on the same page and introduce your child to lifelong skills in wholesome and healthful eating. An educational experience you and your child are sure to enjoy. Ages 9 and up. Erie resident $89; non-resident $111. Register online. Questions, 303-443-0353.
 RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE WITH SEASON EXTENSION AND FOUR-SEASON GARDENING, Feb. 19, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Lyons Farmette, 4121 Ute Highway, Lyons. Learn how you can use sustainable Permaculture gardening strategies to enjoy a longer harvest. The workshop is taught by Jeff Graef and will include instruction on year-round indoor salad & herb window-sill gardens, starting seeds inside, & selecting cold-tolerant plants. Learn about selecting effective garden locations, building soil in place using Permaculture techniques, and effective wildlife protection. Discover the power of season extension using row covers, and low-cost cold frames and low-cost greenhouses. Jeff Graef lives in Denver, and is an avid Permaculture practitioner and designer. His non-profit business, Earth Rebirth, provides educational services, consulting and design in Permaculture. Jeff ran a solar design and energy education business for seven years, worked for the Nebraska State Energy Office for 13 years, is a Journeyman Carpenter and worked in the biofuels and biomass energy fields for 15 years. He is experienced in food preservation and storage and gardening in a variety of climates. Jeff is a certified Permaculture Teacher and has completed the Basic and Advanced Permaculture courses, Jeff has earned a BA in Solar Design and Energy Education and an MS in Higher Education. $25 per person. Payment is required to reserve a space in this class. Please send your check to The Lyons Farmette, P.O. Box 312, Lyons CO 80540.
GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS/CULTIVATING POLLINATORS, Feb. 20, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., George Reynolds Branch Library, 3595 Table Mesa Dr., Boulder. Why native plants are important in any garden. How to find those that fit your soil and water conditions. Why pollinators, both domestic (honeybee) and wild (bumblebee), are important. How best to help them thrive in your garden and why they are endangered. Instructors to be announced. Boulder Culinary Gardeners.
 BROOMFIELD COMMUNITY CONTRA DANCE AND DRUMMING CIRCLE, Feb. 20, 3:00 - 8:00 p.m., Crescent Grange, 7901 W. 120th Ave., Broomfield. Drumming Circle 3:00 - 4:15 p.m.: Free. Bring any percussion instrument and join the fun. We will also drum for a while during the dance break at about 6:30PM. Contra Dance: $10 at the door. Lesson 4:15 p.m. Dance from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Teacher: Don Studinski. Caller: Duffy Boyule. Band: Balance & Swing. Great fun dancing. No experience necessary! Live band! Dancing is where the JOY is. Sponsored by CFOOTMAD (Colorado Friends Of Old Time Music And Dance) in cooperation with Transition Westminster/Arvada/Broomfield (rebuilding community resilience and self-reliance) and Crescent Grange. Curious? Check out Contra dancing on-line at www.cfootmad.org.
 STARTING YOUR GARDEN FROM SEED, Feb. 22, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York St., Denver. Few things excite a gardener more than "birthing" new plants for their gardens, especially if the plants are exotics, unusual or heirlooms. Second-only to the creation of new plants is the financial benefit of growing your own plants, whether flowers, herbs or vegetables. This class will demystify the seed-starting process for the novice gardener, as well as exploring unusual seeds for the more advanced gardener. We will cover simple botany and the process of best practices for successful seed germination, successful transplanting, and seed collection and storage. Please register online or call 720-865-3580.
30-MINUTE MEALS: KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HEALTHY ON A TIGHT TIME BUDGET, 10:30 a.m. - noon, Tuesdays, Feb. 22 - Mar. 22, Erie Community Center (#7529.102). Nutritious meals made in 30 mins. or less, it can be done! Join Healthy Eating Coach Mary Collette Rogers and learn how to plan for and prepare well-balanced meals for your family with minimal time commitment. Perfect for the family on the go or those who don't like to spend too much time in the kitchen. Hands-on class: make a light lunch then share together at the end of class. Parents can take advantage of on-site child care. Erie residents $94; non-resident $118. Price includes light lunch and copy of Take Control of Your Kitchen. Register online. Questions, 303-443-0353.
 FOOD JUSTICE WORKSHOP, Feb. 26, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m., The GrowHaus, 4751 York St., Denver. Everyone deserves a healthy meal. But for many communities across the country, healthy food isn't affordable or even available. Residents of these so-called "food deserts" are forced to rely on cheap processed foods high in sugars and fats, resulting in epidemics of diet-related illnesses... such as obesity, diabetes, and coronary heart conditions. Food justice is a growing movement to address these conditions through a variety of means, including public policy, urban agriculture, healthy markets and corner stores, and nutrition education. In this workshop, we'll be examining the issues of food justice from a variety of angles, from the local to the global. Through interactive activities and discussions with local food justice leaders, you'll learn about the day-to-day reality of living in a food desert, and find out how you can get involved here in Denver to make our food system not only more sustainable, but more just, as well. Online registration: $27.37 (http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1164746789/efbevent). Day-of registration: $35. FREE for residents of Elyria-Swansea!
 PLANNING AND LEARNING ABOUT A POLYCULTURE GARDEN, Feb. 26, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Lyons Farmette, 4121 Ute Highway, Lyons. Learn about a poly culture garden that provides food for the soil, for wildlife, and you. Class will discuss microclimates, seasonal timing, companion planting, edible natives. Dave & Lina have owned and operated Urban Oasis, Inc since 1999. Their company started on the premise that we could build better, more sustainable landscapes. That idea incorporates edibles, natives, adaptable plantings and progressive property creations. They started our careers in Environmental Science and applied that knowledge to the earth that we maintain and utilize for food and pleasure. David has lectured for colleges, taught classes and has been published as a leader in the expanding field of Urban Ecology. Lina has been studying as a Native Plant Master for 4 years in addition to building edible gardens for our clients and studying the numerous benefits of our local herbs and plants. $15 per person. Please RSVP to betsyburton@mac.com. Payment is required to reserve a space in this class. Please send your check to The Lyons Farmette, P.O. Box 312, Lyons, CO 80540.
 BEE KEEPING CLASS, Feb. 27, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Lyons Farmette, 4121 Ute Highway, Lyons. Come on down to the Farmette on for a presentation on backyard beekeeping. Our instructor, Ben Rodman is a Lyons resident with his wife Jasmine Lok. He has been a sideline beekeeper since 2004 and has been performing structural colony rescue and removals for several years, is a moderator of the online beekeeping forum Beesource.com, and is an award-winning meadmaker and home brewer. We'll discuss equipment choices, management styles, colony inspection, the life of a colony and bee biology, and of course honey and other colony products. We'll have equipment, books and protective gear to examine, and depending on interest participants can get together on orders for bee equipment and packages of honeybees for Spring! $20 per person. Please RSVP to betsyburton@mac.com. Payment is required to reserve a space in this class. Please send your check to The Lyons Farmette, P.O. Box 312, Lyons, CO 80540.
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DOCUMENTARY PREMIER 
MORNING SESSION, 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Workshops: Relationships in the Long Emergency; Seasonal Cooking in the Dead of Winter; Food and Faith Communities; Food Security in a Chaotic Economy
Keynote speakers: "The Economic Prospects for Food Localization," 
MORNING SESSION, 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
PERMACULTURE THROUGH THE SEASONS, Mar. 12 - Oct. 9, Boulder.
2011 WILLOW WAY PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE, Apr. 15 - Oct. 9, Willow Way Permaculture Herb Farm, 6481 N 63rd St., Niwot.
PERMACULTURE DESIGN THROUGH THE SEASONS, Pikes Peak Region, Southern Colorado, Apr. 16 - Nov. 20.
NORTHERN COLORADO REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM ASSESSMENT PRESENTATION, Jan. 26, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., Commissioners' Hearing Room, Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder.
BOULDER COUNTY AGRICULTURE FORUM (BCAF), Feb. 1, 5:00 p.m., The Plaza Hotel, 1900 Ken Pratt Blvd., Longmont (INVITATION ONLY).
COLORADO AGRICULTURE BIG & SMALL CONFERENCE, Feb. 16 - 17, Adams County Fairground (Brighton), Waymire Dome Complex.