LSN Announcements - August 19, 2009

Lawrence Sustainability Network

LSN is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to learning how to live lightly and sustainably.

August 19, 2009

Visit our website and join the LSN discussion list at www.lawrencesustainability.net

Community Announcements

ANNOUNCEMENTS INDEX

This week you'll find detailed information on the following events:

Aug. 19: Permaculture Workshop
Aug. 21: Eco-Parents Activity
Aug. 25: VEGLawrence Vegan Potluck
Sept 12: Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair
Sept 12: Sustainable Homes Tour
Sept 18: 10 Billion Beats with Peace and Unity on the Kaw

Also below “Let's Collaborate on Building Sustainability!:”

LSN Outreach needs YOU! See how you can help with LSN outreach efforts!
Earn a Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship Certificate IN LAWRENCE!
Eco-Village at the Light Center seeks pioneers!

Announcement Details

August 19, 7-9pm: Workshop: Permaculture True Earth Works: Swales, Terrace, Aquatic Systems Lecture #6 in the series

Douglas County Co-op Extension Office, 21st & Harper Ave, Lawrence KS

Steve Moring of the Kaw Permaculture Collaborative (KPC) will describe the collection and dispersal of rainwater as it moves through a site and into the soil. As a major component of creating sustainable human settlements, rainwater irrigation and aquaculture mechanisms can enhance the positive weather effects, and mitigate the negative weather effects on soil erosion and soil building.

Pre-registration is required by contacting Steve prior to 15 August. An admission fee of $15.00 is requested to cover course materials. More info available from Steve Moring at (785)863-4102, smoring@grasshoppernet.com or Bill Wood at (785) 843-7058, bdwood@ksu.edu

KPC is a project of the Sustainability Action Network. If you have missed some or all of these lectures so far, the series will be repeated at Johnson County Community College this fall. For more information go to their website and look for Permaculture: Insuring Amercia's Future (XGR 3000) at <http://www.jccc.edu/home/catalog.php/fall-2009/ceclasses/XGR>

August 21, Friday, 6-8pm: Eco-Parents Activity - We're going to the Lied Center!Lied Center, University of Kansas, Iowa & 15^th St.

In celebration of the end of summer (and because we thought it would be fun) instead of having our regular meeting in August, we will host "Eco-Parents Night at the Lied Center!" Actually, it's the Lied's Outdoor Concert and Family Arts Festival on August 21st but the Eco-Parents will be there.

The Family Festival starts at 6:00 pm followed by a free concert by Amanda Shaw, a jazz-blues fiddler from New Orleans, at 7:00. We will have a table at the festival and then all of the group members who want to can sit together for the concert. If you want to join the fun, just come by the table during the festival. Speaking of which, if anyone wants to help man the table (it will be fun, we promise), has a great prize we can give away, or a fun kid-friendly activity please let us know. Before the concert starts we'll claim a spot on the lawn where everyone can sit and enjoy the concert and each others company.

Contact Kim Bellemere at ecoparentslawrence@gmail.com with questions and for more info

August 25, 2009, Tuesday, 6pm: VEGLawrence August Vegan Potluck
ECM building, 1204 Oread, $3.00

Fun, food, and friends: VEGLawrence vegan potlucks are here to provide a way to get together to share friendship, food, recipes, information, and good times. Everyone is welcome. Aug. 25th's Program: Judy, Michael, and Wendy attended Animal Rights 2009 in L.A. this summer, and Mary attended Taking Action for Animals. Judy and Mary will each give a short summary of the conferences after dinner.

Find out more at: Meetup http://vegetarian.meetup.com/481/t/if_4773306/?gj=ej4
and at www.animaloutreach-ks.org.

Hope to see you there, Judy Carman judycarman@ymail.com

September 12, Saturday, 10am-4pm: Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair
Community Building, 115 W 11^th Street, Lawrence, KS

Admission to the Fair is free. This event is hosted by the City of Lawrence Waste Reduction & Recycling Division.

Learn how to save energy, money and the environment at the 9^th Annual Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair! Throughout the day you will have opportunities to view energy conservation exhibits and to consult with experts on how their products and services can lower your utility bills and increase energy efficiency. Exhibitors will include area builders, architects, insulators, heating and cooling experts, government agencies, non-profits, and alternatively-fueled vehicle representatives. For more information, call 832-3030 or visitwww.lawrenceks.org/wrr/energyfair.

FREE compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) to the first 300 attendees sponsored by Cottin’s Hardware and Rental.

Walk, Bike or Ride the Bus to the Energy Fair Downtown! The Lawrence Transit System will offer free rides on the “T” all day Saturday, September 12^th, providing the experience and benefits of public transportation on all fixed routes. For help planning a route or for more information, visit www.lawrencetransit.org.

September 12, Saturday, 10am-1pm: Sustainable Homes Tour

The tour bus leaves from the Community Building, 115 W 11^th Street, Lawrence, KS.

This tour is brought to you by the City of Lawrence Waste Reduction & Recycling Division, the City’s Sustainability Advisory Board and the Heartland Renewable Energy Society.

Tickets for the bus tour will be available for purchase ($10/adult and $2/child under 14) on first come, first serve basis, beginning at 9:30 am on Saturday, September 12^th at the Community Building. The tour bus will depart from the Community Building at 10:00 a.m. (morning tour) and 1 p.m. (afternoon tour). For more information, call 832-3030 or visit www.lawrenceks.org/wrr/energyfair.

September 18th, 7pm-8pm: 10 BILLION BEATS WITH PEACE AND UNITY ON THE KAW

Burcham Park Shelter House on the Kansas River/ Lawrence, KS

COME EARLY>>> 5:30 to 6:45PM Come with a Pot Luck dish to share, your own table service and non alcoholic beverages, a chair or blanket and a friend. There are some picnic tables at the shelter. We will adopt the "pack it in, pack it out" approach and aim to leave the park area better than we found it.

BRING: Drums and rattles, if you don't have one bring a bucket and stick to make your own. If you have drums and rattles to share with others, please do so. Bring chairs, blankets to sit on, and insect repellent for mosquitoes.

This whole Sound with Peace, begins on a hilltop in Kansas outside Salina area, We are the Heartland of the continent. We are in the same time zone, so we will start it also, promptly at 7:00PM. We will begin to warm up at 6:45 so we will get ourselves focused and synchronized with the 4 beats/second rhythm together. Then we will stay in our hearts and drum Peace and Unity together so that each beat is our prayer, for 1 hour. Then the next time zones drummers will begin and carry our intention on and on and on, clear around our world.

See the website for more info: http://www.10billionbeats.com/intro.html

Be Part of THE SOLUTION: Let's Collaborate!

LSN's Outreach Committee is looking for ideas and organizing events related to vital sustainability topics. In the past, we've had presentations on topics ranging from "The Benefits of Herbs", "Local Food Producers & Suppliers", "Renewable Energy Breakthroughs", and much more. If you have a sustainability topic you'd like to learn about, please contact Rich Wenzel at 917-9344 or altairfour@hotmail.com or Steve Stemmerman at 841-0028.

JCCC’s Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship Certificate in Lawrence!
Course information for fall 2009
HORT 245 - Commercial Crop Production, 3 credit hours
This course is designed to familiarize Market Farmers with the plant materials and production of crops grown in the Market Farming industry. This course will help answer questions about varieties of plants to grow, establishment, growth, harvesting and post-harvesting of crop, varieties of plants to grow. Students will become familiar with different marketing options and good record keeping. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

The course number for this class is: 85382

This course taught by Stu Shafer is designed to introduce students to Market Farming. In this second year of the Sustainable Agriculture Entrepreneurship Certificate

Dates/times: Mondays 1-3:50, August 31-December 12th at the JCCC in Lawrence location, Lawrence Centennial School 2145 Louisiana Street. JCCC students use the west entrance.

More on this from an article last year: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/sep/02/farmers_trying_keep_local_demand/

More about the certificate: http://www.jccc.net/home/catalog.php/fall-2009/careerprograms/VC-SUSTAINAG

Most of the classroom courses for the certificate are offered in Lawrence and the practicum is located at the K-State farm at 35230 W 135th St Olathe, KS 66061.

Here is more information about the practicum:

HORT 272 - Sustainable Agriculture Fall Practicum 2 credit hours

Through practical experience complemented by lectures and discussions, students will gain exposure to a broad range of tasks facing the market farmer during the fall and early winter seasons. This includes production and marketing of summer crops, planning, and production of fall crops in high tunnels and open field, and marketing these fall crops. Topics include production planning, planting, integrated crop management, harvest and postharvest practices, marketing through various channels, tools and equipment, soil fertility management, and record keeping. Practicum activities will integrate with other courses in this market farming certificate program. Students will learn both conventional and organic production techniques. Entrepreneurship will be emphasized throughout. 7 hrs. practicum/wk.

Course number for this class is: 85473

Students need to enroll in both classes at the same time. If you have questions about the Farm to Market Farming class, please call Stu Shafer at 785.691.5006. If you have questions about the Lawrence location, please call Loralee Stevens at 913.469.2750 or the site directly at 785.842.1157. If you would like general JCCC information you can always call 913.469.3803 or find additional courses and the admission application atwww.jccc.edu.

Tuition for JCCC is $84 per credit hour for Kansas residents who live outside Johnson County. Full information about tuition can be found here: http://www.jccc.net/home/depts.php/001310/site/toc_costs/cr_costhour_new

Seeking Pioneers to assist with the creation of an ecovillage at The Light Center. Rental space available and possibility of buying in to shared ownership of property. Especially interested in experienced growers to help develop organic gardens, chickens, goats, etc. Contact Robin at info@lightcenter.info

The Light Center 1542 Woodson Rd. Baldwin City, KS 66006
785-255-4583
www.LightCenter.info