Emerging/Updated Agenda

We are pleased to be able to bring you an update on the agenda.

We are organising this gathering around the principles:

a) everyone has something to teach and everyone has something to learn

b) whoever come are the right people 

c) the law of two feet - nothing is mandatory, be where you need to be, the schedule is to guide us but no one is policing you on where you have to be and at what time

Thus we asked in registration questions that allowed us to get a sense of what people are looking to learn more about, what conversations are starting to bubble up and who might be the right people to host or lead these areas.  From there - we've asked a few people to step in and host workshops on the Saturday and more of this are likely to be planned as we get closer.  

Therefore - this is an update to the agenda but not the final one (there is not likely to BE a final agenda until the event is over...)

Friday:

2pm onwards - Arrival and settling in: we invite you from 2pm onwards to join us, find a place to settle in and begin to make yourself at home

3pm -  Composting toilet workshops and set up:  those interested are welcome to join us in setting up the toilets for the weekend as well as to share, discuss and learn about different models of toilets that can be used in different kinds of situations and levels of permanence or need.

7pm- Potluck Supper: we'd ask everyone who will be coming in time to eat, to bring something to share with the group.  We do have a BBQ and other cooking facilities (stove, oven, grill) that can be used.  We also have *some* refrigeration space available to keep things cool.

Saturday:

Breakfast - is a do it yourself-er although we will provide coffee, tea, water and eggs.  

8:15-8:45 Laughter Yoga with Holly Minor

9-10 Farm Tour - a walk around the main quarter section (or two) of the farm

10:00-11:30 - Connecting and Converging - getting to know each other better

11:30-1pm Doug Weatherbee, Keynote from the "Soil Doctor" on the Soil Food Web and working within it

1pm - Lunch

1:30 - Breakout into different workshop topics, there will likely be two rounds of 3 parallel workshops, each around 2 hours each.  Topics right now:

Introduction to Holistic Management - a goal-setting and decision-making framework that has developed around sustainably managing grasslands and pasture. Hosted by Andrew Paul

Chickens in your Backyard - as big or small as that yard might be

Permaculture on a larger/farm-size scale - what does bio-intensive look like when the space doesn't force you to be intensive? what would you do with 2-3 quarter sections of land? Hosted by Vance Barritt

Home-scale water conservation, collecting and distributing Hosted by Jeff and Juli Gilles

Growing in Urban spaces: lawns into gardens, vertical gardening, and beyond... Hosted by Rob and Michelle Avis

Homemade Ice Cream making - one for the kids of every age :)  Hosted by Connie Barritt

7pm - supper, campfire and time to hang out (bring your musical instruments, poetry, unique talents and any things else to entertain yourself and others!)

Sunday

Breakfast - is a do it yourself-er although we will provide coffee, tea, water and eggs.  

8:15-8:45 Laughter Yoga with Holly Minor

9:00 - Community Conversations:  there are already some interesting conversations that are being offered up to be held but we are NOT going to schedule these as conversations are also about what is needing to be talked about at the right time.  We'll host a simple process that allows individuals to put forward conversations they want to host and then allow those conversations to happen.

To give you a look into what's already bubbling in the brains and hearts of the participants signed up, look at these wicked questions:

-  what are creative ways to get more people on the land? 

- how to/can you "build" community? 

- how do we move governments to make meaningful policies toward transition? should more permaculture designers become politicians?

- how do we start conversations about population in ways that are less threatening to people, and that speak to Albertan's (and other less-populated regions)?

11:00 - Converging and Closing

1pm - Lunch


2-4pm - Native Prairie Walk  with local naturalist Gail Hughes

Departures - as you desire. :)

As we've said - the agenda will emerge and shape to the community and we're very excited to see what happens!

Updated fees and making the event accessible

Hi everyone - if you've looked really closely... you'll see we have edited the fee structure to be $100 for the weekend.  However this means we need to cap the attendance at 50 people otherwise our logistics change and the costs would go up.

We really don't want finances (or transportation out to our place to be a barrier for participation) - so if you really want to come out but are running into challenges - let us know and we'll see what we can arrange to get you here.  The important thing for us is that the community comes together and connections deepened so we'll do our best to find balance in making sure the event is a success from all angles.

Thanks