Little Artshram

Heard of WWOOF? Well, hereʼs an opportunity to get a whiff of an exciting new opportunity to LLOOF!

What is LLOOFing? LLOOFing is: Learning Local on Organic Farms. LLOOF is organizational framework creating an educational and cultural exchange in our home-towns. And, it is debuting in Traverse City. The LLOOF project is an exciting new opportunity taking place this summer, for 16 year olds through adult aged-folks, to take part in a local, urban farming project.

What is the origin and inspiration of LLOOF?
LLOOF is inspired by the principle of exchange, and in particular by WWOOF which is a worldwide network of organizations connecting individuals with the desire to gain a first-hand experience of organic farming to hosts willing to share insights into sustainable ways of living.

Founded in England in 1971, the early organization was the initiative of Sue Coppard, a London secretary who recognized the need for city-dwellers to get away from their desks and the demand for a more practical understanding of organic farming. Originally called ʻWorking Weekends on Organic Farmsʼ, large numbers immediately responded to the concept of skills trade.

The name was later changed to ʻWilling Workers on Organic Farmsʼ, in recognition of the demand for longer stays; and more recently, to ʻWorldwide Opportunities on Organic Farmsʼ, which acknowledges the international nature of the organization as WWOOF has gradually been adopted by countries world- over, in climates as diverse as Scotland and Sierra Leone.

The difference between LLOOFing and WWOOFing is bringing the focus of experience back to “zone 0”, or to re-wire some of the broken down systems in our home-places before trekking out across the beautiful planet. We still encourage learning and experiencing world-wide adventures, but, most of us return home, and wish for it to be welcome return. LLOOFing is focused on LEARNING and applying what we learn to local exchange, right where our roots are, and where we come from.

LLOOF will begin offering exchange opportunities with the 2012 Market Garden and Oʼk CSA program. In this first-time exchange program, volunteers willing to work an agreed number of hours (Generally, five-four hour days…work hours for newly skilled workers are valued @ $9 per hour…. five days a week).

Although LLOOFers do not have housing provided for them, in exchange for their work hours they will receive:

1.) A 5 week Introduction to Urban Permaculture training, valued at $650.00, with an opportunity to continue in a full Permaculture Design Course in 2013, at a discounted rate. (See more info below)

2.) A full share in the Market Garden and CSA, valued at $350.00, which includes fresh veggies, herbs, and flowers.

3.) An opportunity to take produce, flowers and herbs grown in our urban garden farms to a weekly market for sale (after costs).

4.) A friendly and welcome invitation into the urban garden farming community in the Traverse City region, with wonderful opportunities to meet like-minded and brilliantly ordinary people who are making great change in their lives and with the benefit of growing their own good food.

ABOUT The Urban Permaculture Design training: The Introduction to Urban Permaculture Design is a prerequisite to earning a Permaculture Design Certificate through Little Artshram www.littleartshram.org.

To earn a PDC requires no less than 72 hours of class time plus a group design project, field practice and a final test. (See attached brochure on the Intro to UPD)

After the 2012 growing season, and pilot of LLOOF with a Market Garden and CSA program in Traverse City, our vision is to expand and offer LLOOF throughout Michigan, dividing into regions. Each regionʼs organization will exist independently within the LLOOF network and charge a low annual membership fee from LLOOFers in exchange for host contact details, from which LLOOFers can organize their stay directly.

LLOOF is founded by Penny Krebiehl, who continues to develop art and permaculture projects and programs for children, youth and families in Michigan, recognizing the continued need for city and town-folks to gain a deeper understanding of the benefits of practicing urban gardening, farming. LLOOF is also a means by which to share permaculture education directly linking to developing food security plans, as we learn to live a lower energy lifestyle.

CONTACT: Penny Krebiehl
penny.ok.art@gmail.com
231-922-2014

Updates on the LLOOF program and Urban Farm Project will be posted weekly, here at:
www.littleartshram.org

Introduction to URBAN PERMACULTURE DESIGN, With Guest Instructor:
Peter Bane, editor of the Permaculture Activist, and author of The Permaculture Handbook: For Town and Country.
40 hour training course (30 hours classroom, 10 hours field practice) in beautiful, North West Michigan

Place: O’k CSA Studio, in the Alley, 510 1/2 Second St., Traverse City, MI

Time: 9am – 4pm

Dates: June 23, July 14, August 11, 25, 26
Registration closes: June 15th

Discount of 10% for Registration before June 1,  2012
Regular course fee: $650
We will be meeting some dates at the Historic Barns Park community gardens, located in the Grand Traverse Commons, which are open for visits from dawn to dusk.  The Barns Park community garden is located between Red Drive and Silver Drive, in Traverse City, on the old State Hospital grounds.
Instructors: Penny Krebiehl, with guest instructor, Peter Bane, Keith Johnson and local teachers

Cost: $585 before May 31st, $650 after June 1st.
Some work trade through O’k CSA’s LLOOF program(Living Local on Organic Farms)
is available, with inquiry and application due by May 20th.                                              Contact: penny.ok.art@gmail.com

Intro to Urban Permaculture Design description: The Intro to UPD is a 5 day intensive exploration of permaculture. The Intro to UPD certificate verifies that you participated in a permaculture training course. Ten additional hours of field practice are required to earn the certificate.
Objectives:

1. To introduce students to fundamentals for sustainability.

2. To teach cooperative dynamics and positivism.

3. To learn about useful plants and ecosystems design.

4. To relate our needs to our local and global resources.

5. To study homesteading skills and off-grid technologies.

This course on traditional permaculture topics such as energy use, buildings,

This course on traditional permaculture topics such as energy use, buildings, food, waste streams and water systems will utilize current information in the media and classic truisms from voices of experience. To step into the rapid transitions that are in process, the emphasis is on social change and cooperative structures with lots of field models and hands on learning opportunities. Soil building and bioremediation techniques are at the forefront of our urban “farmlets” and referenced gardens, showcasing plants for food, medicine, craft and wildlife support.

Raising our quality of life, improving the commons, analysis of global outlooks, business ideas and healthy lifestyles will all be included. Held at Oʼk Art Studio with site visits to Traverse Cityʼs Historic Barns Park, this model at a park and in an urban neighborhood is focused on useful landscapes in public space in Traverse City. Ranging further than a weekend intensive, yet requiring less commitment than a PDC, this course offers an approachable format for those who are new to permaculture and a comfortable re-entry for those who seek further practice. Ten additional hours of field practice are mandatory. Intro to UPD certificate upon completion. Urban Permaculture Design Certificate options are available by individual arrangement.

Reading: Permaculture, A Designerʼs Manual by Bill Mollison is the main text for this course: it is not required. An Introduction to Permaculture, by Mollison is highly recommended. ALSO, The Permaculture Handbook: For Town and Country, by Peter Bane is highly recommended (more info on ordering here: http://permaculturehandbook.com/ ). Permaculture Ethics and Design Principles by David Holmgren, Gaiaʼs Garden by Toby Hemenway and Permaculture in a Nutshell by Patrick Whitefield are useful as preparatory reading but are not required.

Classroom rules of conduct: No cell phone use during class or field sessions. Students will be expected to be on time. Please wear sensible clothes for comfortable all day sitting. For field study please wear shoes that cover your feet and bring water, and a sack-lunch full of good food to nourish yourself.

The Introduction to Urban Permaculture Design is a prerequisite to earning a Permaculture Design Certificate from Little Artshram and Oʼk CSA. To earn a PDC requires no less than 72 hours of class time plus a group design project, field practice and a final test.

Contact: penny.ok.art@gmail.com to inquire about the full PDC program
which will continue through the fall and into the winter of 2013.

For info on ordering Peter Bane’s  The Permaculture Handbook: http://permaculturehandbook.com/

The Perma-Blitz on Sunday, May 6th, at one of our “farmlet” sites for the Market Garden and CSA was a great success!

Thanks to Keith, Kima, Glen and Gary for providing three urban neighborhood garden growing spaces to help expand our Urban Farm Project in Traverse City.

In celebration with International Permaculture Day, we held a Perma-Blitz at “The Peace Patch” site, laying out a fine, garden plan and putting in peas, onions, and greens. We also planned out a composting and water-catchment system, and discussed preliminary design plans for a mini-forest garden.

Folks can keep up with our Urban Farm Project progress by attending more “Blitzes” (next one is May 20th on the corner of Madison and Front St., in Traverse City) AND/OR, joining our Market Garden and CSA as a share-member or sponsor.

We are offering Full and Half-size shares of fresh vegetables, herbs and flower bouquets, as well as a Restaurant Share, beginning June 15th, through September, with pick-up on Friday’s at the spankin’ new, Peace Patch Farm Market stand on the corner of 7th and Oak St.

The Market Garden & O’k CSA, a part of the Urban Farm Project created by O’k CSA, with the support of Little Artshram, is located in Traverse City.

This is our 5th year as TC’s first Urban CSA involving area youth, young adults and a few older folks too, and we are revamping a bit to make it better than ever!

For info: 231-922-2014 penny.ok.art@gmail.com

CHECK-back! Updates on the Urban Farm Project/Market Garden and CSA will be posted on:  www.littleartshram.org

TAKING NEW GARDENERS!

Little Artshram celebrates Community Gardening at the Historic Barns Park!

Welcome to a new garden year at the “Barns Park Garden” a portion of the old State Hospital Farm!

Little Artshram is the Barns Park Community Garden manager and WELCOMES NEW, INTERESTED gardeners to rent a plot in our garden this year.  The theme of this year’s garden is “UNITY IN COMMUNITY”, and we are looking forward to a great growing year with children, youth and adult gardeners!

Plot sizes available:
FULL, approx. 30 x 24’, rental fee $100.00
1/2 size, approx 15 X 24’, rental fee $75.00
1/3 size, approx 10 x 24’, rental fee $50.00

EVERYONE in our garden community contributes at least 10 hours of volunteer hours, which is organized by the CG Coordinator at the monthly potluck meetings.

NO use of pesticides, herbicides or fungicides allowed,
only organic fertilizer.

NO dumping or adding of compostable materials to our compost teaching site or on the property. Contact Little Artshram for donations of organic, toxin-free compost, material donation.

The well used to water the gardens is non-potable and should not be used as drinking water.

Little Artshram, is a non-profit organization and the care-taker and managers of the Barns Park Community Garden.  We serve children, youth and families through our art, environmental education and community gardening projects.  Do you know how much we value our community? Here’s one way: Little Artshram accepts 100% Bay Bucks for any of our programs and projects? In addition to organizing and managing the Barns Park Community Garden, we are offering Summer Camps for children and youth, AND, co-sponsoring an Urban Permaculture training this summer and the entire fee can be paid for, by our local currency: Bay Bucks.

Find out about The Barns Park garden, by contacting our 2012 Community Garden Coordinator: Flint Horton,  231-715-1305   tccommunitygardens@gmail.com

What is an Urban Farm PERMA-BLITZ and why is there a cup of coffee laying on top of that garden?

A Perma-Blitz (often referred to as a ‘Blitz’) is an informal gathering (with coffee and tea served) involving a day on which a group of folks come together to help transform tired, worn out yards into productive and edible gardens. This Blitz is organized to benefit the Urban Farm Project in Traverse City, organized by O’k CSA, with support by Little Artshram, inviting the group to both learn new skills and carry out two, perhaps three, projects in one of the Urban Farm Projects’ back, front or side yard. This will help turn the urban farm sites from unused, neglected, or purely decorative, to productive, useful (and often attractive) annual and perennial food producing areas!

PERMA-BLITZ in Traverse City with the Urban Farm Project!

Sunday, May 6th, @ The Peace Patch Garden,
corner of 7th & Oak St.,

Drop by anytime between 1-6 pm. Blitzin’ with Soil: seed balls, soil sausages, sheet mulching a mini forest-garden, and building a backyard compost system.

Gardening IS the most sustainable form of agriculture and we ask you to join in on the permaculture fun of it!

Suggested donation to benefit the Urban Farm Project: $10 drop-by for a bit; $35 for the entire workshop.

Work-exchange hours available, Bay Bucks accepted!

NO one turned away for lack of funds!

We are simply trying to raise enough greenbacks to pay for start-up costs of the Urban Farm Project which amounts to about $1,000 and includes some fencing supplies, seeds, tubers, initial compost and soil amendments (that eventually each of these farm sites will produce).  MOST of the infrastructure for these farm-sites are found and re-used materials.

Want to become an urban farm site in this Traverse City project?  Show up this weekend and let’s talk!

More info: Penny@ 231-922-2014

FIRST: THANKS to our Earth Day Parade sponsors, so far: Oryana, The Great Lakes Children’s Museum, TCLP, O’k CSA, NMEAC, Little Artshram, Continual University, Old Town Coffee & Eatery…..and…….special thanks to our hosts: The Good Work Collective and Seed Studio/Gallery!  We couldn’t do this community event without our community supporting AND getting involved in this annual, spring parade and celebration!   THANK YOU!

Some of our BIG Earth Day Parade puppets were made by groups of children and folks of all ages 12 years ago…..like our Sun Puppet and the Otter puppet.

The Good Work Collective and Seed Studio/Gallery are hosting a two-day puppet repair and re-building workshop so that we can work together spiffing up these wonderful, old friends and make them parade-ready by Saturday!

Join us and get into the goop, bring your paint shirt OR mending and sewing supplies to help repair the masks, costumes and BIG puppets that are pulled out of storage each year.  Many hands make light work and we need “Peeper-People” (volunteers) to administer a little TLC.

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, April 25th & 26th, 3-6 PM
At The Good Work Collective & Seed Studio @
417 S. Union St., Traverse City

On Monday, April 23, from 3-6 pm, the Great Lakes Children’s Museum will host a special mask-making workshop to help children prepare for the Grand Traverse Earth Day Parade, held on the following Saturday.

This year’s parade theme is: The Great Lakes: Our Living Water and will focus on the fish of the Great Lakes, with ideas presented by the parade artists for children and their families to consider.

This workshop is offered for children and families to build a mask or headgear for the Grand Traverse Earth Day Parade, which will take place in downtown Traverse City on April 28th. This is not a drop-off workshop and children under the age of 14 will need an adult to stay throughout. Children under the age of 9 bring will require an adult to help them with their project.

The Earth Day Parade is Saturday, April 28 at 1 pm. To be in the parade, meet at Central Grade School, corner of 7th & Pine at 12 noon. The parade will run from 1-3 pm, with a community picnic & special family music concert in Hannah Park afterwards.

The parade route is: Corner of 7th and Pine St. to 8th to Union to State to Park to Front to Union, ending at Hannah Park for a Community Picnic and Family Music Concert.

This mask-making workshop is sponsored by the Little Artshram. The Museum will be closed and no admission will be charged. However, Little Artshram  suggests a donation of $10 per mask/costume for the workshop and to help support the Earth Day Parade.

For more detailed information or to RSVP your space;

(231) 510-3491

info@littleartshram.org

Hosted by Continual University and O’k CSA:

Sunday invite to view the new documentary film URBAN ROOTS at O’k CSA Studio’s backyard and join in on some of Eday parade biz:

Workshop prep @ O’k Art Studio, 510 Second Street, Traverse City, Michigan,  on Earth Day, April 22nd, from 3-7 pm, with a friendly potluck & backyard fire-pit gathering afterwards….
Urban Roots film showing @ 6:00 pm
“When everything collapses, plant your field of dreams…”

What to bring and donate to the Earth Day parade prep cause:
Single ply cardboard in BIG sheets or sizes
Old bed sheets
Masking tape
Duct tape
Hot glue sticks
yer “Lake Michigan: Our Living Waters” (parade theme) imagination
table-ware and dish to share for the potluck