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Permaculture
Land Apprenticeship Program
May through August, 2009
Lama Foundation, Taos, New Mexico, USA
A Permaculture Experience Facilitated by International Permaculturalist
Richard Rico Zook
The Land Apprenticeship Program is designed to provide the participant with real
life hands on experiences of creating and maintaining the many varied and diverse
systems that together constitute sustainable human habitation. While strongly
focused on the physical we will also investigate the many different aspects and
nuances of invisible structures. From communication skills to moving projects
through the approval process to facilitating learning experiences the apprentice
will gain valuable experiences of 'working' invisible structures to create physical
manifestation
The components of the Land Apprenticeship Program will consist
of 'classes', hands-on work, design/project proposals, field
trips, teaching experiences, and
an independent project.
'Classes' will be meetings with Rico and apprentices (at times
including other Lama people) where we discuss, learn about,
do exercises, see slides and films,
hear presentations, and interact with guest presenters regarding the wide
and varied subjects related to permaculture and sustainability.
These classes will
include Lama land orientation (existing systems, history, design, etc.),
learning processes focused on sustainability and permaculture,
design processes for
land systems, garden design, planting/cropping at Lama, community level design,
land
management, and general check-in about how the apprenticeship program is
proceeding. These classes will be longer and more frequent
during the first month or so
of the program (orientation, forming the team, integration with kitchen and
community,
garden planning and responsibilities, etc.), than less so until we have one
per week.
The hands-on aspect of this program will occupy most of the participants
time. For the apprentices this is the foundational intent; real life experience
in
creating land based systems that are relevant to environment and culture
which contributes to the sustainable survival of a functioning community.
This work
will include, but not be limited to; land stewardship, maintaining and
expanding diverse food production systems, growing food, maintaining
and repairing
existing land systems, designing and installing new systems, and educating,
supervising,
and working with summer stewards and other volunteers who are interested
in working with the land. For a more complete list of subjects covered
and work
to do see
below.
Design and project proposals will be based in and grow out of
apprentices interaction with Lama's land and community. These
proposals will be a reflection
of what
the apprentices understand the needs of the Foundation are, as well as,
what their own insights about what will benefit the land and community.
These
designs will vary in scale from greywater systems to production through
off site marketing
and income utilization. Though many of these designs may not be implemented
during the program's duration all will form a resource base that Lama
will access and
manifest as need and funds allow. These proposals will be subject to
the Lama approval process as is appropriate to the proposal's
scope and scale
prior
to any physical work being initiated.
Field trips are opportunities for us to learn about and facilitate
the inter-linkings that are essential to any truly sustainable
site and community.
Without these
mutually beneficial relationships with one's regional and global communities
within which one lives actual, functioning and enduring human existence
is impossible. Through these excursions apprentices will be building
these relationships
so
that Lama Foundation is a more integrated, functioning and contributing
member of the regional community. Field trips may include: interactions
with people
and programs focused on urban and bio-regional sustainability in Taos
and Santa Fe, visiting functioning permaculture businesses, visiting,
interacting,
and
assisting other permaculture and sustainability sites, consultancy
at private sites, facilitating learning experiences off-site,
and just exploring
the
amazingly beautiful cultures and environs of northern New Mexico. Field
trips will occur
as is appropriate to happenings and timings regarding retreats at Lama.
Field trips will be open to other Lama people as is appropriate to
the trip, is
agreed to by the apprentice team, and as space is available. People
joining contribute
to the purchase of gasoline. Preference will be given to those who
are assisting with stewarding the land.
Teaching experiences will be times when the apprentices design
and facilitate learning experiences to communicate the many
aspects and
components of
permaculture and sustainability. These programs will be lead by the
apprentices and supervised
by Rico. Participants will be Lama community members, visitors (especially
during visitor days), outside groups as approved by Lama and any
Lama retreats where
this is deemed appropriate by Lama and retreat organizers. These
teachings may also take place off site from the Foundation.
An independent project will be chosen by an apprentice that is
of interest and has importance to them. The purpose of this
is that
the apprentice
is engaged on a deeper level, they feel that they are personally
contributing to Lama,
and
they have the experience of working on a project from design to
installation.
The program is grounded in Lama's existing Summer Steward Program.
The apprentices will have similar responsibilities as the stewards,
except
with less involvement
in maintaining Lama's non-land based systems and a more specific
focus on developing and caring for Lama's approximately 108 acres.
Due to
the program's
breadth
and depth the apprentices will commit to an additional 8 hours
of work per week for
an average total of 40 hr/wk. It should be understood that this
hourly figure is an estimate and will fluctuate, as is to be
expected with
a program intimately
linked and responsive to the local environment. As such expect
to have more filled weeks during the beginning of this program
as we
form the
team, learn
about the
site, and prepare and plant the many gardens at the Foundation.
As the weeks progress and the gardens grow our time relaxes till
once
again
the busyness
of autumn harvest picks up the pace in preparation for winter.
Apprentices need to be in good physical condition. As is explicitly
expressed in this program description, apprentices will be
engaged in the very
rewarding and demanding tasks of creating and maintaining the
physical systems for
appropriate and sustainable human habitation. The Lama Foundation
is located at 8,200 feet
in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. It is a wilderness site.
Apprentices will be given a camping site. No indoor accommodation
will be
available. Even
in summer the nights may be cool to mildly cold.
All of this, the apprentice, the work and the site conditions,
are held within the embrace of the Lama community. A community
dedicated
to the
empowerment
and evolution of human consciousness. A community that engages
in creating a supportive
and enriching environment where individuals have the opportunity
to explore, play and grow. It is not a perfect place or community.
It
is a community
committed to an honest exploration and understanding of the
human condition in all it's
crazy, beautiful, mysterious manifestations.
During program duration Rico and apprentices will document
activities, designs, projects, etc. to create a record
that participants
will have of there learning
and work to take with them. Upon successful completion
of the Land Apprenticeship Program a certificate will be awarded
in
recognition
of your achievements
and contributions.
Due to Rico's international commitments he may be required
to depart New Mexico as early as !st September. This
will have minimal
impact
upon program.
All
arrangements will be made for the easy completion of
program through 15th September.
Subjects covered and potential
work
to do will include:
Permaculture Concepts: Pattern Literacy and Application,
Observation and Site Analysis, Zonation, Applying the
Principles
Soil: Nurturing and Building, Indigenous Micro-Organisms,
Composting, Vermicompost
Water: Harvesting, Storing, Irrigation, Cycling, Grey
and Blackwater, Living Water
Food Production: From Bed Preparation to Harvest and
Delivery, Annual and Perennial, Techniques and Strategies
Gardens: Design, Systems, Cropping Patterns, Microclimates
Structures: Design, Siting, Natural Building, Integrating,
Systems, Microclimates
Edges: Designing, Utilizing, Windbreaks, Bunds, Paths
and Roads
Design: Methodologies, Process, Client Relations, Community
Scale, Individual Projects-design to implementation
Facilitating the Learning Process: How People Learn,
Designing the Process, Designing the Environment, Forms
of Communication,
Games,
Exercises,
Actually Doing It
Community Processes: Mindful Communication, Facilitating
Group Process, Consensus Decision Making
Animal Systems, Appropriate Technologies, Invisible
Structures, Alternative Economics, Bio-Regionalism,
Urban Permaculture,
Peak and Post Petroleum,
Globalization, Permaculture and The Majority World,
International Work
FACILITATED BY RICHARD RICO ZOOK
Rico first came to the Lama Foundation soon after the 1996 fire
that devastated it. As foreman of the land restoration crew he
worked with many others to assist and speed up the processes
by which the land heals and evolves. Several years later he became
the land manager. Over the years he expanded the gardens and
food production systems, designed and installed a variety of
land based systems (water, soil, structure siting, systems, and
integration with landscape, road siting and erasing, path design
and construction, etc.), was a founding member and instructor
of the Build Here Now natural building and permaculture colloquium,
and taught permaculture and sustainable techniques and strategies
to a variety of people and forums. He was a member of the team
that over a two year process created the Lama Permaculture Site
Plan Tool. After an absence of three years Rico returns to assist
Lama in it's ongoing effort to live sustainably and become a
resource for those who wish to learn the concepts and skills
necessary for this.
Rico currently divides his time between Northern
New Mexico and India, with stops inbetween.
He is an International Permaculture
designer, consultant, and instructor working with private clients,
small farmers, villages, local organizations, and NGOs (non government
organizations) to create site and culturally specific solutions
to the many challenges facing us in this globalized world. While
in New Mexico he lives on six acres a short walk from the Lama
Foundation.
Rico is a graduate of Sonoma State University,
from which he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree
in Environmental Studies focused
on land
restoration, with minors in Biology and Philosophy.
DETAILS
DATES: May 15* - September 15, 2009
SPACES AVAILABLE: 4
FEE: us $2,200
REQUIREMENTS: Permaculture basic certification
or equivalent**
Commitment to stay for full duration of
program
A quality pair of hand pruners and a hori
hori (soil knife)
DEPOSIT REQUIRED to reserve space
Full Payment upon arrival
*tentative, may begin a week earlier,
check Lama website
**to be considered and decided
by Rico
Fee covers all meals, tent site,
course activities and materials
There will be a one week vacation
scheduled by apprentice team
For Application and More Information
about the Lama fFoundation
go to
www.lamafoundation.org
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