Hello Everyone!
Almost one whole month into 2021. Whew. This has been one up and down and all around ride the last 11 months. I hope you and yours are all safe, healthy, and finding some joy amongst all of the intensity of it.
Except for Guild Tree, Shrub, Plant and Log sale last May we have pretty much been on a hiatus. The pdc and teacher’s training last year were cancelled. Well, now we are trying to get up and running through a Zoom Expanded acct. I have and a Discord platform account that Sue H. got us onto. We are testing that platform for usability. For sure it will allow any registered members to use it as their own leisure. So, want to have a platform to talk permaculture with a friend or two? You would easily be able to use this. Do you want to start a Permaculture Book Club on a certain book? You can use this without anyone else having to host it. Zoom of course requires a host and most likely will have to be used for a PDC online and meetings. Its bandwidth seems far greater. We are testing all of this right now.
Speaking of PDC, we are developing a new format for offering up the PDC. It will be more of Units or Badges (pieces of the PDC curriculum) that you can do one at a time. There will also be more elective choices on topics that many want to dive into more, but the PDC in 72 hours can’t really do that. You would be able to take units/badges as you have time and availability with a certain number of the units being mandatory with a few electives of your choice. We are working out the details from the work that Sue Hessel did for her graduate study in the SISL program at Edgewood College. We will have a variety of teachers presenting and overseeing these Badges. At least 4 people who were certified through the teacher training course will teach plus some other very qualified and experienced teachers. Marian and I will lessen our role as teachers but support the transition of this and all of the people who wish to lead and teach.
I know you probably are yawning at this point, but I wanted to be transparent and update you on what is going on now and into the future. If you are interested in talking about this let me know.
It looks like we will do a two long weekends Tree, Shrub, Plant and Log Sale this Spring those dates are yet to be set. It would take place again at Sue’s property. You’ll be able to take a look at her new and continuing developing ponds that she and Drew put in last year. Pretty incredible.
I want to remind people that an online version of the Garden Expo is coming up with some interesting presentations. One is of Scott Johnson’s Walapini greenhouse that he built. We were supposed to tour this last Summer and of course that wasn’t possible, so this is your change to see in virtually and hear Scott talk about it. Here’ a little link to see what a walapini is. https://morningchores.com/walipini/
I am presently inventorying all the books we have to sell through Chelsea Green. I will get those lists out to you and they will also be available to purchase in the spring at the plant sale.
We would like to start to have monthly meetings again, but virtually. Here is a link to a survey we would love for you to fill out so we can find a good time for as many people as we can who are interested.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXKJll35tCEhaP0STd_koVhfNJ9PiamGbdJwoZAXXHBeghAw/viewform
Thanks so much!!
Kate Heiber-Cobb
Founder MAPG
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