September 6 - 12, 2010
Pine Ridge Lakota Reservation, SD

This forest workshop is offered in an indigenous setting on the Pine Ridge Lakota Reservation in South Dakota. Our workshop has a strong hands on component. We will be designing and planting a food forest on a sustainable homestead site on the reservation that will provide food for a Lakota family.

During the workshop, you will learn how to install a beautiful forest garden in your yard that mimics that natural ecologies of the forest and provides for human needs. Enjoy abundant, healthy, fresh food harvested from your yard almost year round (with root cellar and cold frames at Pine Ridge). We can grow an abundance of food through observing natural systems and applying these patterns to our gardens.

You will camp out at the homestead site, experience living on the reservation, and have opportunities to interact with the Lakota community.

You will learn:

• How to prepare soil so that it increases in fertility
• How to choose plants for your forest garden
• How to keep plants healthy and productive organically and with minimal work
• How to design your garden so that it flourishes and maintains its health
• How to get a good yield in the first year and increase your yield into the future.

Be sure to bring clothing for warm and cool weather as it is variable in Sept.

For more info contact: Cory Brennan, at mailto:[email protected]

September 17 - 19
South Seattle Community College, Seattle, WA

This year we are forging an exciting new pathway in an urban setting by converging at South Seattle Community College. Camping and home stays will be available. With an 87 acre campus and cabins at nearby Camp Long, this will be an experience of an oasis in the city. Not only are the SSCC gardens and meadows waiting for us, you will find warm and fuzzy interior spaces as well.

Mark Lakeman, activist architect and urban placemaking guru, will be our keynote speaker this year! Mark has been an instigator of Portland's City Repair and the annual Village Building Convergence there. Other presenters include: Michael Pilarski, Jenny Pell, Marisha Auerbach, Jonathan Scherch, Kelda Miller, Nala Wala, Rick Valley, Chuck Estin, Josho Somine, Dave Boehnlein, Albert Postema, Deston Denniston, Paul Wheaton, Tom Allen, Laura Sweany, and Art Donnelly.

The Cascadia region's Transition Towns initiatives will be integrating their own summit into the Convergence. SCALLOPS (Sustainable Communities ALL Over Puget Sound) will hold a presence as well. We are very pleased to be making this year's NW Convergence a truly regional event!

We are building this event as we go. We welcome with open arms all those interested in permaculture, as well as those working in permaculture. Tickets for the 2010 Convergence are $65 through August 1, $85 August 2 through Sept 15, and $100 at the door. Many work trade and volunteer opportunities are available. As in years past, we are asking you to pitch in and do your part to help by volunteering for a couple of hours during the event and bringing your fabulous homegrown food to share.

Check out: http://nwpermaculture.org for registration and other details.