21 November 2010
at Forest Floor Permaculture, 1311 Prairie Ave., Lawrence KS
Present: Ben Stallings, Lori Zell, Marie Bunning, Jason Aarons, Hilary Noonan, Pete Maynard, Christine Shuck, Mike Hoey, Daniel Dermitzel, Dave Yates, Steve Moring (facilitator), Michael Almon (note taker)
Introductions and Review
After we each introduced ourselves around the circle, Steve gave a brief history and vision of the K.P.C., which is a project of the Sustainability Action Network, a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit. He then gave a review of the discussion from the August 8 meeting, and a recap of the past season activities. One of the highlights is that the Kansas Permaculture Institute is now a part of S.A.N. also, and will provide training certification within that context.
Plans for 2011
Apprenticeships – We discussed apprenticeships that would rotate among several permaculture sites such as Prairie Lovesong Farm, Vajra Farm, Forest Floor Permaculture, Karlin Family Farm, and the K.C.C.U.A. Food Forest. Such an apprenticeship could be part of a Permaculture Design Course leading to certification.
K.C. Permaculture Guild – Now that Sara Shmigelsky has moved away, the group is dormant. Hilary Noonan volunteered to try to restart it.
P.D.C. Course – Steve is planning a Spring course. It could be sixteen sessions spread out over weeks as done previously, an intensive weekend, or a typical 10-day session. But if it includes field trips, it’s easier if they are spread out, and the practicum seems easier during Summer months. The certificate will be issued through the new Kansas Permaculture Institute.
Grants – Now that S.A.N. is 501(C)(3), we will more easily qualify for grant funding. The idea is to apply for a block grant for various sites, through S.A.R.E., S.B.I.R., or others that we may identify.
Workshops – These would be informal, collaborative learning efforts in: cold frames, solar food dehydrators, rain barrels, high tunnels, etc. We could do these during the winter, inside somewhere such as at the Karlin’s, if they are willing.
Seasonal tours – We want our Summer tour to reach out more widely beyond the Lawrence area. We could include Pete Maynard in Leavenworth, Linda Hezel in Kearney MO, and the K.C.C.U.A. Food Forest in K.C. Kansas. We also may do a single-site winter tour, if it works out.]
Crop Mobs – Crop mobs have been effective several places around the country. We had a brief taste of it last Summer, but it wasn’t sustained. For it to work, it needs to be egalitarian so that participants commit to helping at the farms or gardens of each other in equal share. Participants set a calendar and choose a sequence of sites to mob. Tasks need to be planned in advance, and be something that benefits from the intensive labor of many.
Food Forests – Several are in the works. Two that are in process with a S.A.R.E. grant are at Vajra Farm and Prairie Lovesong Farm. Steve has designed both, and the second involves swales constructed last Summer, and trees and nitrogen fixing plants going in this winter and next spring. Forest Floor Permaculture was established some years back with canopy and shrub layers, but is now incorporating swales and nitrogen fixers and ground covers. The K.C.C.U.A. Food Forest is being planned by Daniel Dermitzel with a grant from Together Green of the Audubon Society. He will be planting this winter and spring.
Growers’ Land Consortium – This is an ambitious food security effort to acquire farmland near the Lawrence perimeter, and make it available to land-locked urban growers needing garden space. A few folks have discussed it for a couple years, and a meeting is scheduled for 9 December at the Lawrence Public Library. To make it work, four key elements must be coordinated: possible sites to buy, a legal structure of how folks participate and share responsibilities, a business plan to make it financially viable, and the finances found to buy the site(s).
Organization Issues
Kansas Permaculture Institute – The purpose of the K.P.I. is to be a certification agency within S.A.N. It allows for multiple teachers, but who are using consistent curriculum and standards. So far, those of us who want to participate as instructors are: Steve Moring, Michael Almon, and Ben Stallings. Ben is beginning to teach short courses in Emporia where he lives, and Michael has begun an apprenticeship program at Forest Floor. The K.P.I. already has an advisory board, but others are welcome to volunteer.
Websites – Both S.A.N. and K.P.C. are revamping their websites. Send content and comments to for both sites. Ben said it would be very useful if the sites had event calendars. The sites are at http://www.sustainabilityaction.net/ and http://www.kawpermaculture.org/.
List-serve – Sometimes the list-serve gets inundated with partially relevant posts, and usually comes from just a few persons. Is this too much, or do folks feel okeh deciding on their own when to hit the big “D” button? Steve will send messages to the few who are posting too much.
Collaboration and Outreach
We would like to work more with other organizations like Transition Kaw Valley, the K.C. Permaculture Guild, and Transition K.C. Youth education is another area that we would like to expand into.
Reskilling – This means that most urban dwellers have lost most of the practical life skills that their grandparents knew extensively, and could not survive in the face of energy and/or food disruption. This includes folks who have chosen condo living, and those powerless from socio-economic factors. People will need access to resources and skills to use them, and the learning curve will be steep. Transition training addresses this need, but it requires the marketing of the situation to target audiences. Some public institutions are beginning, such as the K.C. Food Policy Coalition and the Douglas County Food Policy Council.
Upcoming Conferences – Kansas Rural Center “Cows, Carbon, & Carrots”, 20 November 2010, in Emporia KS. Great Plains Growers Conference, 6-8 January 2011, St. Joseph MO. K.C.C.U.A. Annual Meeting, 29 January 2011, Kansas City KS.
Next Meeting
We will meet again on February 12 at the Delaware Street Commons.
