Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Agroforestry & Forestry Short Course 9/11 - 9/15

Learn forest ecology and management techniques for eastern woodlands from Farming the Woods co-author Steve Gabriel and renowned forester Mike Demunn along with guests for this five-day course.

The Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute (www.FingerLakesPermaculture.org) and Wellspring Forest Farm (www.WellspringForestFarm.com) are offering a Forestry and Agroforestry Short Course from Sept 11 - 15.


Begin each day at Wellspring Forest Farm (www.WellspringForestFarm.com) learning basic concepts in ecology and management and spend each afternoon traveling to many local sites with some of the most remarkable trees and forest ecosystems in the Finger Lakes Region of New York.

As we visit local old growth and heritage forests and farms we will practice tree ID, stand assessment, marking, and felling techniques. We will also visit Angus Glen Farm where Brett Chedzoy manages cows, sheep, and goats who graze amidst the trees (silvopasture) and inoculate and harvest woodland mushrooms at Wellspring Forest Farm.

The course will be co-taught by co-author of Farming the Woods, Steve Gabriel and renowned Finger Lakes forester Mike Demunn.

The experience is designed for woodland owners, famers, extension professionals, permaculture practitioners and homesteaders who seek a better understanding of the intricacies of management in northeastern woodlands. Come build your skills in forest mapping, stand assessment, tree selection, and low-impact tree removal.

 Video and Audio


 LISTEN to STEVE talking about Forestry and Farming the Woods on the Permaculture Voices Podcast:
 

WATCH STEVE talking about Farming Mushrooms and Permaculture:
INHABIT: "Farming the Woods" with Steve Gabriel from Costa on Vimeo.


 LISTEN to MIKE talking about Forest Ecology and Management:


About the Instructors


mushroomlogharvest600x300Steve Gabriel is an ecologist, educator, author, and forest farmer who has lived most of his life in the Finger Lakes region of New York. His work reconnects people of all ages to the natural world while offering strategies for sound management and restoration of productive landscapes. With over a decade of experience in environmental education, forest management, and farming, he co-founded the Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute and currently works for the Cornell Small Farms Program on agroforestry research and education. Along with wife Elizabeth, he operates Wellspring Forest Farm in Mecklenburg NY, where they produce shiitake mushrooms, duck eggs, and maple syrup. He has co-authored a book called “Farming the Woods” with Cornell University professor Ken Mudge.



Michael DeMunn is a widely recognized forester and conservationist in the Finger Lakes region. He has been practicing ecological forestry for three decades and has worked for the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and the Soil and Water District, and for industry as head forester for a large lumber company. Michael is also a founding member of the Finger Lakes Land Trust and is their forestry adviser. He has been involved with establishing numerous nature preserves and has done forest improvement through timber management on thousands of acres and with countless landowners in the area. He was given the name Da’ Ha’ da’ nyah meaning “he protects the forest” by his Seneca Hawk Clan mother when she adopted him as her son.

Register for the course

The base tuition for the course is $450, which includes instruction, materials, and local, organic lunch for each day of the workshop. You can stay in a local hotel or B&B (look for accommodations in Watkins Glen, Trumansburg, or Ithaca) or camp onsite for $10/night ($50 for the course). Camping facilities at Wellspring Forest Farm include a simple camp kitchen, compost toilet, outdoor shower, and pond for swimming.


 To register, please email name, phone, and number attending to farmers@wellspringforestfarm.com

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Finger Lakes Site Tour Aug 21 & 22!

We are excited to be a part of the 2nd Annual Finger Lakes Permaculture Tours on August 22!

Our farm will be open to visitors from 1 - 4pm. Here is the full run-down of events:

Movie: Friday, August 21st

6:00 p.m.
Viewing of the film “INHABIT” followed by discussion with filmmaker Costa Boutsikaris (our farm is featured in the film!)

Inhabit is a feature length documentary introducing permaculture. The film presents a vast array of projects, concepts, and people, and translates the diversity of permaculture into something that can be understood by an equally diverse audience. It is a call to action and a glimpse into what’s possible and what kind of projects and solutions are already underway. See the trailer at inhabitfilm.com

Location:
Schuyler County Cooperative Extension
323 Owego St., Montour Falls, NY 14865

Tour: Saturday, August 22nd 

                       
Wellspring Forest Farm (Mecklenburg, NY) wellspringforestfarm.com

10-acre permaculture and agroforestry inspired farm and homestead producing shiitake, oyster, stropharia mushrooms, maple syrup, duck eggs, pastured lamb, and establishing elderberry & paw paw plantings. Off-grid solar, rainwater catchment, yurt, cob oven. Open 1 - 4pm.

 MORE INFO: http://fingerlakespermaculture.org/programs/2015-program-listing/finger-lakes-permaculture-tour/