|
Biodiversity Hotspots: A Conversation with Permaculturist Gabriel Howearth
Noted Botanist and Co-founder of Seeds Of Change Seed Company
Tuesday August 26, 2008, 7pm, $5 donation
Santa Barbara Main Library, Faulkner Gallery, 40 East Anapamu Street
Co-sponsored by Santa Barbara Permaculature Network, Women'sEnvironmental Watch (WE Watch), and OlaBrisa Eco Development Company
Humans have been more actively changing the earth's ecosystems in the last 50 years than any time in human history, resulting in a huge loss of biological diversity. Thirty-five of the most biologically valuable locations from Peru, to Easter Island, Madagascar, New Zealand, Brazil and the United States have been identified as Biological Hotspots by a team of scientists from Conservation International.
Stemming the loss of species goes beyond an integrated effort to slow climate change and preserve native habitat and biological communities. We must also preserve cultivated diversity through heritage seed collection and seed banking, and rehabilitate human systems by creating urban and suburban ecological zones, establishing new and more extensive botanical gardens, and planting oases of human-made biodiversity. Knowing humans have initiated this crisis, how can we step back from a destructive path and instead secure and create a sustainable future for the Earth and its species? How can individual efforts in Santa Barbara create our own protected Biodiversity Hotspot?
We are pleased to offer an opportunity for an evening of sharing and conversation with Gabriel Howearth, co-founder of Seeds of Change, the foremost GMO free organic seed bank company in the world. Joining him will be Dr. Adam Green, assistant professor of Biology and Director of the Santa Barbara City College Center for Sustainability and Dr. Robert Bruegel, founder of OlaBrisa Eco-village development (www.OlaBrisa.com ) in southern Baja California.
Buena Fortuna, the botanical gardens of Gabriel Howearth, is a case study in the creation of biodiversity. Located on 10 acres in the desert of Southern Baja California, Howearth tends more than 4,000 different native and introduced plant species, more than the entire biodiversity of Baja.
*** Youtube Trailer for the Documentary Feature Film "HOTSPOTS", produced by Conservation International.
All the World's Problems Can Be Solved in the Garden
Thurs., Aug. 28, 7:30-9:00 p.m., Lecture, EBS 309, SBCC east campus, 721 Cliff Dr., Santa Barbara
 Imagine a world of peace, health and low-carbon prosperity. Well, we’re going beyond imagination, and are working on full implementation. Join Geoff Lawton as he introduces The Permaculture Master Plan and how Permaculture Centers worldwide are being the catalysts for change to solve the world’s woes.
Geoff will take a broad look at applying permaculture to deal with the world's challenges of waning energy supplies, depleted and contaminated soils and water, reduced biodiversity, and the dismantling of communities. Using present and past projects he will demonstrate how degraded environments can be to regenerative, productive and sustainable for human use.
Permaculture is a rapidly growing movement - a science of sustainable design systems for all human need. Don’t get left behind!
Video clip of The Permaculture Master Plan in action.
Water Harvesting
Fri., Sept. 12, 7:30-9 p.m., Lecture and Book Signing
BC Forum, SBCC west campus, 721 Cliff Dr., Santa Barbara
 Come hear Brad Lancaster lead us to a better understanding of how to design for a more sustainable use of water. He is author of the award-winning Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands, Volume 1: Guiding
Principles to Welcome Rain Into Your Life and Landscape and Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, Volume 2: Water-Harvesting Earthworks. Living on an eighth of an acre in downtown Tucson, Arizona, where rainfall is less than 12 inches annually, Brad practices what he preaches by harvesting over 100,000 gallons of rainwater a year, directing this harvested rainwater into living air conditioners of food-bearing shade trees, abundant gardens, and a thriving landscape that includes habitat for wildlife.
Sustainable Design
Sat., Sept. 13 and Sun., Sept. 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Workshop,
EBS 309, SBCC east campus, 721 Cliff Dr., Santa Barbara
Coffee and Tea will be provided. Please bring your own mug.
Spend two days with expert sustainable water systems designers, Art Ludwig and Brad Lancaster, as they work through practical and locally appropriate designs for Santa Barbara residents. We live in a drought and flood prone area. Learn how to manage water, nutrients, and energy more sustainably using simple design strategies.
This course will explore:
- Principles of ecological design and the function of wild natural water systems
- Water site assessment and mapping, surveying elevations
- Water supply systems design
- Fundamentals of grey water design
- Design clinic: Bring a background site map, photos and site assessment from your own project for possible use in this clinic
Course Logistics:
There will be a lunch break each day -- we suggest you bring food to sustain yourself and/or to share. There are several places to purchase food within a mile of the workshop site, but nothing in easy/quick walking distance.
 The workshop will consist of a mix of classroom-style presentations and hands-on demonstrations/work on the land; please wear/bring appropriate clothing for both activity types.
Helpful Preparation:
Visit the Oasis Design website for a list of complimentary reading materials. The more background info you understand (or have been exposed to) before coming, the more you will get out of the workshop.
Seeking the True Green
Thurs., Oct. 9, 16, 23 & 30, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Lectures
Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara Library (40 E Anapamu St, between State and Anacapa Streets)
Download the poster
Are you wondering what is really green? Now that almost everyone is claiming to be green we need to distinguish between true green and green washing. Join John Kelley, Co-founding member of The Sustainability Project, and other local experts to discover how to live consciously and buy wisely. Four weekly sessions will explore options for food, lifestyle, money and community.
LIFESTYLE / The Story of Stuff / October 9th / April Palencia & others
This session will cover principles of sustainability and how to use your eco-footprint to model your lifestyle choices; how to make informed choices as a consumer; and how to retrofit or remodel your home and garden in a healthy low-impact way.
FOOD / What’s THAT Growing in Your Backyard? / October 16th / Eric Lohela & others
This session will provide a brief overview of our industrial food system; an introduction to local and regional agriculture including community food-sheds; and healthy, low-impact food choices and sources.
MONEY / Are You in the Flow? / October 23rd / DeAnn Bauer & others
This session will offer information about green business practices and profits; options for green banking and investing; and ideas about alternative money lifestyles.
COMMUNITY / Options for Our Future / October 30th / Heather Allen & others
The final session will present ideas about how our community can be successfully adapted and transformed for a fossil-free future; topics will include local history, community wellness, housing, open space and mobility.
Food not Lawns
Wed., Oct 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Slideshow & Book Signing
Goleta Valley Community Center
5679 Hollister Ave # 1
Goleta, CA 93117
$10 optional fee
Fri.-Sat., Oct 10-11, 9-5 p.m. & Sun., Oct 12, 9-1 p.m., 3 Day Workshop Fairview Gardens, 598 N. Fairview Ave., Goleta
$55 optional fee
 Join Heather Flores, author of "Food Not Lawns, How to Turn Your Yard into a Garden and Your Neighborhood into a Community" for an evening slideshow, book signing and 3 day intensive workshop emphasizing the use of organic gardening practices and shared resources to build sustainable urban communities. Flores' skills in design, horticulture, education, and the arts stem from her extensive work
in permaculture, community organizing, flamenco, vaudeville, and nonviolent direct action. She brings a well-balanced blend of theoretical knowledge and applied experience to this hands-on workshop, with the goal of starting and supporting a local Food Not Lawns chapter and organizing for the upcoming International Seed Swap Day of Action on January 31, 2009.
1st Community Seed Swap
Where: Fairview Farmhouse 598 North Fairview Avenue , Goleta, CA Guest Speaker: Heather Coburn Flores ~ Author of food not lawns
Date: Sunday October 12 from 12:00-3:00 pm
* Music with The Underscore Orkestra
* Potluck (bring yummy goodness to share)
* Parking at the Christian Science Church
* Bring seeds and seedlings to swap
* Family event
By Donation
Contact Tiffany Cooper for more info
805-967-7369
programs @ fairviewgardens.org
http://www.fairviewgardens.org
More info:
http://www.foodnotlawns.com/seedswap.html
Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens
598 North Fairview Avenue (physical address) Goleta, CA 93117
P:805.967.7369 F:805.967.0188
http://www.fairviewgardens.org
Parking Directions and Map  |
