We are pleased to announce that there will be eight scholarships available thanks to a donation from the Madison Area Permaculture Guild. You can apply for one of the scholarships through the link below. Scholarships will be filled on a first come first basis and the planning team will review your application and then contact you within a week of submission to notify you if you were selected.
The Convergence Schedule is Live!
Wisconsin Permaculture Podcast Episode 2
Episode 2 of the Wisconsin Permaculture Podcast is up and ready for you to listen. In this episode I interview Gretchen Mead, Director of the Victory Garden Initiative. We cover her background, the Victory Garden Initiative she started in 2009 and the story telling technique she uses in her work to engage and empower stakeholders. All episodes can be listened to on the "Podcast" page of the website.
Pictures from the Site of the 2015 Convergence
This is just a quick post to let everyone know that I have added some pictures of Peg Cadigan and Wes Weinhold's property to the "Location & Contact" webpage on the website. The pictures show you the wonderful scenery you will experience while attending the convergence.
Wisconsin Permaculture Podcast Episode 1
The first episode of the Wisconsin Permaculture Podcast is ready to go! In this episode I interview John "Little John" Holzwart. We discuss the sessions he will be leading at the convergence, workshops that he offers through out the year and the small business Moonwise Herbs which he and his partner Linda Conroy run.
Permaculture Voices Podcast interviews Zach Weiss
If you are looking for an excellent podcast covering topics in the Permaculture world you need to check out the Permaculture Voices Podcast. Diego Footer has done an outstanding job with this podcast which accompanies you on a journey to dig deep into Permaculture and the people making it happen.
This podcast is associated with the Permaculture Voices Conference that has been held each of the past two years. I (Drew Carlson) attended the conference in February and besides being a much appreciated warm spell (San Diego), it was one of the most powerful events I have experienced.
At times it was overwhelming as I had choose between four or more excellent sessions. The sessions I attended opened my eyes, reinforced my ideas and deepened my understanding of what needs to be done. During the sessions, presentations and activities, I was surrounded by 500 other people who share a deep passion for Permaculture and being the change they wish to see in the world. At night we would share our experiences, visions and discuss strategies on how to move forward.
Zach Weiss of Elemental Ecosystems and Holzer Permaculture was at the conference and I had the pleasure of getting to know him better. Zach gets it. He shows a passion for all aspects of Permaculture: earth care, people care and fair share.
I will be organizing workshops at Strause Family Farm moving forward into the future and I am honored to have Zach leading the first of many. In this first workshop, Sepp Holzer style Earth Stable, participants will learn how to build a Sepp Holzer style earth stable.
The workshop will be $250/person and is happening on August 8th and 9th prior to the convergence. Lunch and dinner will be provided on Saturday and lunch will be provided on Sunday. There will be space available for camping on site and some rooms are available at a local residence (only a few) for those unable to camp. There are also motels and hotels within 15-20 miles from the farm.
For more information regarding the workshop please visit the webpage.
Pre-Convergence Sepp Holzer Style Earth Stable Workshop
We will be offering a pre-convergence Sepp Holzer Earth Stable workshop on August 8th-9th. Zach Weiss from Elemental Ecosystems will be leading the workshop. We will build an earth stable from start to finish using boulder, locust trees and an EPDM liner. It looks like cost will be in the $250 dollar range and if enough people sign up we will have a couple of scholarships available. There will be a limited number of spots open so keep an eye out for more information as I get it together. Stay Tuned!
Photo Source: permies.com
Session Listing is Up!
Event Schedule from the 2014 Wisconsin Permaculture Convergence
We have recently added the listing of sessions that will be offered this year at the Convergence. We are very excited about the workshops and presentations being offered this year as many of them are different from last year. The Convergence will be held on a rural farm but we will be offering session that focus on the urban environment as well.
I would like to extend a big thank you to all of the people who submitted proposals and we look forward to learning from you, our wonderful session leaders. For details regarding the sessions please check out the "Sessions" webpage.
Deliberate Living Systems
We would like to send a shout out to one of the supporters of the Convergence. Deliberate Living Systems mission is to improve lives through landscapes. They provide Landscape Analysis and Design and Consulting Services with specialties in Permaculture and Arborist Consulting. Located in Medina County, Ohio, Deliberate Living Systems is an important component in the Permaculture movement. Make visit to their website www.deliberatelivingsystems.com to check out their services along with an excellent blog and additional educational media.
Raffle!
We are planning on putting together a raffle to happen during the Convergence. We hope to line up items as well as services such as design consultations. If you would like to contribute anything to the raffle please send us a message on the contact page.
Planning Team Meeting
We will be having our next convergence planning team meeting this Thursday. This is an important meeting as we will be reviewing submitted presentation proposals. I have skimmed the submissions and they look wonderful.
Once we have the presentations chosen, presenters will be contacted to work out details regarding time slots and other specifics. If you have been thinking about submitting a proposal please do so now. Presenters will be provided with a basic media package that includes digital copies of a poster along with other marketing materials to help promote the convergence.
Stay tuned because things are going to start to heat up!
Care Tent
We will be setting up a Care Tent at the convergence this year. This tent will provide first aid and will assist with medical needs during the convergence. The Care Tent will be headed up by Day Host-Jablonski who is a medic and herbalist. This will be one of the upgrades for this years event and will help to ensure people feel comfortable while attending.
Planning Team Meeting
We will be having our second planning team meeting tomorrow night in Madison. If you are interested in helping out with the convergence please contact us. Contact information can be found on the contact page located here.
Carpooling
In order to facilitate carpooling to the convergence please see our Facebook page or the this carpooling site.