"THE GLEANERS & I": DINNER AND A MOVIE NIGHT @ CRMPI, June 8, 6:00 - 10:00 p.m., Colorado Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute, Basalt CO. Join us at CRMPI for our first dinner and a movie night. We will start with a delicious and simple dinner prepared using food grown at CRMPI and whole grains, followed by a movie and discussion. We will end the evening with a tour of the Phoenix greenhouse and a visit to the night-blooming jasmine. Parking is limited so please car-pool or contact CRMPI about ride-sharing. Suggested donation is $15/person. Click here for details, email jerome@crmpi.org, or call 970-927-4158.
PERMACULTURE FILM SERIES, June 9, 7:00 p.m., Boulder Meadows Community Room, 4500 19th Street. CANCELLED, RESUMING NEXT MONTH!
HANDS ON AQUAPONICS, June 11, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., The GrowHaus, 4751 York St., Denver. Join us for a hands-on aquaponics intensive workshop providing valuable information and skills. The cost of the course will help cover the system materials required to build an IBC aquaponics system. This class will provide participants the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of aquaponics in a living classroom environment at The GrowHaus, a non-profit urban farm and marketplace in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood. The course will include a brief classroom lecture and hands on construction building a personal aquaponics system using an IBC container. It is recommended (but not essential) that participants have previously attended the Introduction to Aquaponics workshop. Details here.
HERBAL FIRST AID KITS FOR HIKING, BIKING, AND CAMPING, June 11, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver. In this class we demonstrate how to easily and inexpensively put together an herbal first aid kit for home, car, hiking/biking or camping. Contents include "herbal bactine", an all purpose wound healing salve, bug spray, poison ivy/oak remedy, herbs to stop bleeding, remedies for burns, pulled muscles, infections and more. Everyone takes home a bottle of anti-bacterial/antiviral tincture which can be used internally or externally, a jar of wound and rash salve and an extensive handout with recipes, a trauma cheat sheet and list of resource for supplies. For more information: www.botanicgardens.org, 720-865-3580.
HIGH ALTITUDE GARDENING with Diane Badertscher, June 11, 1:30 p.m., Harlequin's Gardens, 4795 N. 26th St., Boulder. Gardening above 6000' has its own challenges. There are certain plants and certain strategies that can improve your successes. Diane lives and gardens at 8000' and can help you. More info at www.harlequinsgardens.com/classes/.
LEADER LEARNER GARDENING, June 11, 10:00 a.m. - noon, Crescent Grange, 7901 W. 120th Ave., Broomfield. Come to our Community Garden! Experienced gardeners are available for questions and demonstration of Permaculture gardening techniques. Learner gardeners can team up with Leaders and share in the team produce. Weather permitting. Organized by BeeYond Gardening.
PLANT WISDOM JOURNEY, June 11, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Willow Way Wellness. Meet at block south of Alpine & 4th, Boulder. We will slow down to the pace of the rhizomes. Take time to ponder the stamens and pistils. And listen with all of our senses. Because that is what the carriers of plant wisdom have done through the ages. We will overview the most influential plant gurus that have come down to us from the ages, and experiment with their pathways for germinating bonds with the plant people. This workshop is the first stage in the 2011 WW Shamanic Plant Communication Training. Registration $60. Click here for details.
OPPORTUNITIES AND TRICKS OF XERISCAPE with Mikl Brawner, June 12, 1:30 p.m., Harlequin's Gardens, 4795 N. 26th St., Boulder. There are advantages to gardening with less water, and tricks that will improve your success. Mikl's xeriscape experience of over 20 years has taught him tricks that will cost you a lot less than it cost him. More info at www.harlequinsgardens.com/classes/.
BACKYARD CHICKEN KEEPING, June 12, 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver. Join us for an introduction to raising backyard hens. Topics covered will include: Choosing the perfect chickens (best breeds and how/where to purchase); chick care; housing and fencing; feeding; common chicken challenges; all about the eggs; financial considerations; livestock permitting process. The instructor will bring her pet chickens to class for a demonstration, and she will host a separate open house at her urban farm in NW Denver. For more information: www.botanicgardens.org, 720-865-3580.
ONLINE INTRODUCTION TO AQUAPONICS WORKSHOP, June 13 & 15, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Learn about aquaponics online at the time and place that is most convenient for you. View as two live interactive online sessions on June 13th and 15th from 6:00pm - 8:00pm MT, or as a recording with email chat sessions as needed. This class will provide participants the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of aquaponics-a sustainable food production method that incorporates aquaculture (growing fish) and hydroponics (growing plants in a soil-less media) in a recirculating system. Click here for details.
OUTDOOR LIVING IN COLORADO, June 15, 6:30 - 8:30 pm., Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver. Imagine relaxing by the fire in an outdoor living room, a tranquil cascade in the background under the star lit Colorado evening... Come discover many of today's ideas for creating outdoor living spaces. We will highlight many local projects and look at transforming your landscape into kitchens, living and dining rooms and outdoor lounges. A plethora of photos will highlight design ideas and materials choices. For more information: www.botanicgardens.org. 720-865-3580.
PLANTS FOR PERMACULTURE, PART 1, June 16, 4:30 p.m., Harlequin's Gardens, 4795 N. 26th St., Boulder. Alison Peck will discuss woody plants for food, medicine, habitat and more, based on 25 years experience. More info at www.harlequinsgardens.com/classes/.
DEALING WITH THE UNLIMITED GUESTS (PESTS) OF THE GARDEN, June 16, 6:00 p.m., Louisville Public Library. Carol O'Meara will return to discuss what pests and or diseases to look for in our gardens, how to prevent them or best deal with them. We grow our own veggies for better health, so learn how to deal with unwanted pests all the while keeping your garden healthy. Sponsored by Transition Louisville.
MINDFULNESS IN NATURE AND CONTEMPLATIVE HIKING RETREAT with Margaret Emerson, June 17 - 19, Syzygy Community House, Rollinsville. This yoga, meditation and hiking nature retreat will be limited to 10 participants and there are only a few spaces left! This 3-day retreat is meant to be a nurturing, perhaps life-affirming experience that will give you tools to further your contemplative practice at home. The retreat will build upon exercises and lessons from Contemplative Hiking Along the Colorado Front Range. The retreat will include group work and discussions as well as adequate time for participants to journal, rest, meditate or do yoga on your own, or socialize. Click here for more information and registration: http://contemplativehiking.com/upcoming-workshops/.
ORGANIC GARDENING, June 18, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver. Are you concerned about the use of pesticides in your garden? Do you want alternatives to chemical controls of insects and weeds? Then this class is for you! Learn about organic products that can be effective in managing insect pests. Learn how to recognize and identify beneficial insects and make practical decisions on whether to purchase and release beneficial insects into your personal garden. For more information: www.botanicgardens.org, 720-865-3580.
FOREST GARDEN WORKSHOP, June 18, 9:00 - 4:30 p.m., Colorado Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute, Basalt. Learn how to create your own edible landscape with the concept of Forest Gardening. Using fruit trees, berry bushes/shrubs and underlying annuals, create microhabitats that support both human and natural needs. Learn to turn your yard into a living garden at the oldest forest garden demonstration site in the U.S. Workshop costs $50 (includes materials and lunch). Meet at the Basalt Library at 8:45 a.m. to carpool. To RSVP or for more info email jerome@crmpi.org or call 970-927-4158.
ALL NATURAL SKIN CARE, June 18, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver. See how easy and inexpensive it is to make your own facial steams with herbs, cleansing grains and creams, wonderful masques, including alpha hydroxy, herbal toners and astringents, and a rich creamy moisturizer that contains far more nutrients and anti-oxidants for your skin than anything available commercially. You'll also learn how to make a profoundly healing cream for damaged skin and premature wrinkling. Learn a few tricks for blemishes and how to make a creamy, healing lip balm. Take home an extensive handout, bag of steaming herbs, a month supply jar of moisturizer and a pot of lip balm. After using the moisturizer from class you and your skin will never again be satisfied with anything less. For more information: www.botanicgardens.org, 720-865-3580.
PLANTS FOR PERMACULTURE, PART 2, June 18, 10:00 a.m., Harlequin's Gardens, 4795 N. 26th St., Boulder. Alison will lead a tour of her mature permaculture landscape at Nyland Cohousing. More info at www.harlequinsgardens.com/classes/.
LEADER LEARNER GARDENING, June 18, 10:00 a.m. - noon, Crescent Grange, 7901 W. 120th Ave., Broomfield. Come to our Community Garden! Experienced gardeners are available for questions and demonstration of Permaculture gardening techniques. Learner gardeners can team up with Leaders and share in the team produce. Weather permitting. Organized by BeeYond Gardening.
MAKING HERBAL PREPARATIONS with Garima Fairmax, June 18, 10:00 a.m., Harlequin's Gardens, 4795 N. 26thSt., Boulder. Turn plants into effective herbal teas, infused oils, salves, lotions & tinctures. Hands-on learning: leave with samples. Garima is a certified herbalist; her company: Wild Sage Skin Care. More info at www.harlequinsgardens.com/classes/.
DENVER AWAKENING THE DREAMER SYMPOSIUM, June 18 and 23, 2:00 - 6:00 p.m., Green Spaces Colorado, 1368 26th St., between Walnut & Larimer, LODO Denver. Join others bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on planet earth. Tickets and registration here.
KNOWING AND SUPPORTING BENEFICIAL INSECTS, with Carol O'Meara, June 18, 1:30 p.m., Harlequin's Gardens, 4795 N. 26th St., Boulder. If you know the good bugs, you can relax and let them do their work. If you also support them, you will have less to do. Carol is a Coop. Ext Agent and an excellent teacher. More info at www.harlequinsgardens.com/classes/.
GREENHOUSE WORKSHOP, June 19, 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Colorado Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute, Basalt. Grow tropical bananas in the Rockies? That's right. Learn how to grow your own food year-round, even tropical fruits, using Climate Battery technology. Learn the intricacies and design of greenhouse growing with an emphasis on perennial polyculture and making the most of your space. Learn how to stack functions to make your greenhouse more effective and efficient. Or, if you don't have a greenhouse, just come to see how this low-tech greenhouse design produces papayas, bananas and other tropical goodies at 7,000+ feet above sea level. And eat a couple Papayas while you're at it. Workshop costs $50 (includes materials and lunch). Meet at the Basalt Library at 8:45am to carpool. To RSVP or for more info email jerome@crmpi.org or call 970-927-4158.
BOULDER COUNTY AGRICULTURAL TOURS, June 21 & Aug. 9, 5:15 - 8:30 p.m. As part of the Cropland Policy Outreach, Boulder County Parks and Open Space and Colorado State University Extension in Boulder County will be hosting two Agricultural Tours this year. The tours will highlightthree different farms each time, representing field and forage crops, vegetable crops and livestock. Farmers will give a brief talk and will be available to answer questions. The goal of the tours is to show residents the spectrum of agricultural production systems, issues, challenges and opportunities on open space lands. Each tour will cost $5 per participant. Please register online here.
INTRO TO WORM COMPOSTING, June 22, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Growing Gardens Greenhouse, 1630 Hawthorne Ave., Boulder. Vermiculture (worm composting) is an efficient and year round method to composting your kitchen scraps, and plant leftovers. Learn how to set up your own bin, this can be done indoors in an apartment, garage, basement, or under your kitchen sink. The worms do all the work and you will lower the volume of garbage generated in your home and you will have beautiful compost to use in your garden or indoor plants. Instructor: Zala Habibi is a dedicated Community Gardener and Master Composter she has been teaching and composting with worms for many years. Cost: $35 includes materials. More information at www.growinggardens.org/ or 303-443-9952.
BACK-YARD BEEKEEPING with Julie Finley, June 23, 4:00 p.m., Harlequin's Gardens, 4795 N. 26th St., Boulder. Learn honeybee culture and the plants that support them. Visit our Top Bar hives to learn a great system for natural and small-scale beekeeping. Julie buzzes with 15 years experience. She's a honey. More info at www.harlequinsgardens.com/classes/.
MEDICINE FROM WEEDS, NATIVE AND LANDSCAPE PLANTS, June 25, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Feed Denver Urban Farms and Markets. Plant walks and talk. Let's roam about and meet the 'wilder' healing plants growing in your backyard and neighborhood. Simple plant identification, wild-crafting and earth stewardship guidelines will be discussed. Mary O'Brien has been working with plants in some form for most of her adult life. She has taught herbal medicine, led edible and medicinal herb walks, built and maintained a medicinal garden for a local botanical park and made herbal products for local distribution. Her emphasis is on using native and locally grown plants for medicine. Her teaching has now expanded into permaculture and creating personal healing gardens.
MEDICINAL AND CULINARY HERB WORKSHOP, June 25, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute, Basalt, with Mary O'Brien and Jerome Osentowski. Mary has been studying and practicing herbal medicine since 1987, completing the Chartered Herbalist program with Dominion Herbal College and studying with various teachers. For 16 years she lived in Steamboat Springs and worked as an EMT, massage therapist and energy worker while teaching, leading edible and medicinal herb walks, building and maintaining a medicinal garden for the local botanical park and making herbal products for local commerce. Her emphasis is on using native and locally grown plants for medicine rather then bringing in plants from other bioregions. After recently returning from the Peace Corps in Kenya, she is now expanding her learning and practice into Permaculture design. Cost: $50, including course materials and lunch. Please email jerome@crmpi.org or call 970-927-4158 to reserve a space. Camping is available for overnight stays.
LEADER LEARNER GARDENING, June 25, 10:00 a.m. - noon, Crescent Grange, 7901 W. 120th Ave., Broomfield. Come to our Community Garden! Experienced gardeners are available for questions and demonstration of Permaculture gardening techniques. Learner gardeners can team up with Leaders and share in the team produce. Weather permitting. Organized by BeeYond Gardening.
LOCAL FARMER AND FOOD ARTISAN ROAD TOUR, June 26, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m., Ideal Market, 1275 Alpine Ave., Boulder. Our goal for our road tours are: inspire personal relationships between small local businesses and our customers; educate consumers about the diversity and quality of local foods; promote the many benefits of "eating locally" including fresher food, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and maintaining agricultural lifestyles and heritage; support Whole Foods vendors by helping them sell their local products.
CANNING DAY FOR COMMUNITY FOOD SHARE, June 27, 6:45 a.m. - ~3:00 p.m., LDS Cannery, 3233 Fraser St., Aurora. Community Food Share invites you to volunteer for the upcoming Cannery date. We need a total of 22 people to staff the Cannery for the work day, canning a truckload of apples into applesauce. We will process between 3,000 - 4,000 lbs. of apples into approximately 2,500 cans of applesauce for distribution by Community Food Share in Boulder County. We are in for a ton of fun, hard work and a memorable experience! Drivers also needed. Contact Luther Green, Cannery Volunteer Coordinator, cannery@communityfoodshare.org, 303-494-1269, or Sue Erickson, Volunteer Manager, 303-652-3662.
PLEIN AIR ART WORKSHOP, June 29, 4:30 p.m., The Lyons Farmette, 4121 Ute Highway, Lyons. Learn to paint outside! This class will be held in the late afternoon and will be taught by renowned Boulder artist, Teri Gortmaker. The class will be open to all skill levels and will conclude with a potluck dinner by the creek. $15 per person, $10 for BCAA members. 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.
GROW GREAT GRUB, with Gayla Trail, June 30, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver. Starting from her new book and over a decade of experience growing edibles on her city rooftop, Gayla shows inspiring and practical ways to grow organic food-from common vegetables and herbs to the wonderfully weird-in small and difficult spaces. Gayla Trail is a writer, photographer, and graphic designer with a background in Fine Arts, cultural criticism, and ecology. She is the author, photographer, and designer of two best-selling books on urban gardening: You Grow Girl: The Groundbreaking Guide to Gardening (2005) and Grow Great Grub: Organic Food from Small Spaces (2010). Visit her at www.yougrowgirl.com. For more information: www.botanicgardens.org, 720-865-3580.
CENTRAL ROCKY MOUNTAIN PERMACULTURE INSTITUTE'S 25th