SV-NC 2010 Module Descriptions

Intro to Sustainable Vocations: Permaculture and Green Economies | Aug. 1-3 | Stone House in Mebane

Sustainability doesn't happen in silos.

This module will serve as a sort of Open House, laying a foundation for and providing a sampling of the integrative, popular education training modules to follow. 

Join us for any part of these three days for a suggested donation.  Hear community educators and practicioners teach about permaculture, economics, community, entreprenuership, cultural & personal growth.  Share a meal.  Give input.

What does a Green Economy that is equitable look like?  Lets find out.  With local educators, practioners and entreprenuers, we will explore what permaculture practices offer the process of growing diverse and sustainable livelihoods, economies and communities. 

Permaculture is a conscious integrated design system based on ecological principles that create resource efficient and productive human environments.

We look forward to learning with everyone.

**Register online here.

Justice: Racial, Social, Environmental & Food | Aug. 4-5 | Mebane & Chapel Hill

There is no sustainability without justice.  

This section will begin with a morning, working in the garden at the Stone House.  We will work aside each other, sharing skills and stories.  Dismantling barriers and assumptions we may have arrived with, we will become grounded in the place, the landscape and present with the people we are with.

We will explore feelings of oppression, identify systemic practices that perpetuate inequality, and observe injustice as it relates to food, culture, class and environment.  

The second day, we will explore 'environmental justice' and visit projects where inspiring young people and community groups are bringing socially responsible and sustainable practices to their community.  

**Register online here.

Sustainable Local Food Systems | Aug. 6-8 | Mebane & Durham

You are what you eat.

In the this section we will explore fundamental elements of a Sustainable Local Food System.  

Land: Assessing, Accessing & Tenure
How can we make decisions now that will ensure that local people may continue to produce good local food on local land for generations to come?

Self-Care & Nutrition
How to cook and eat well for a reasonable price.  Food preservation skills.   Practicing being responsible for our own health.

Markets & Marketing
How markets work, evolution toward ethical markets, brand positioning and finding your niche.

Farmers' Market panel
A discussion with the areas leading local farmers markets.  What makes a good market? How to start a market as an entrepreneurial venture.  Examining different models.  

Urban Food Systems Mapping
Learn appropriate ways of assessing community food assets, use mapping as an organizing and educational tool and identify potential enterprise niches.

Farm Enterprise Pathway panel
A conversation with different local farmers, about how they started and sustain their farm enterprise.

**Register online here.

Community & Cooperative Enterprises & Entrepreneurship | Aug. 9-10 | Carrboro & Durham

No more business as usual.

This section will examine the overlapping benefits of community-based and cooperatively modeled businesses.  How equity is organized, difference in the atmosphere, contribution to local economy and ability to grow community.

Tours and talks will include examples of urban homesteads, decentralized mini-farms, cooperative grocery, cooperative housing and community-financed restaurant.  Learn about local economies and the steps for transitioning a town into a sustainable community.  

Emphasis will be placed on entrepreneurship and how its expressed in each project

**Register online here.

Built Environment: Green Building, Manufacturing & Renewable Energy | Aug. 11-12 | Chapel Hill & Pittsboro

One built his house on sand, the other on rock.  When the rains came...

This section will examine sustainable practices and trends in building, manufacturing and energy.

We will work with natural materials in a wood shop and experience craftsmanship.  Learn green building practices from local builders and architects and learn the important decisions they've made along the way.  

We will learn practices for energy conservation and efficiency and perform an energy audit.  Learn what happened to local manufacturing and about opportunities to create and fill new market niches.  Demonstrate renewable energy systems and learn pathways to vocations in the field.

**Register online here.

Onsite Design/Build Service Project & Celebration | Aug. 13-14 | Mebane

The best way to learn is to do.

&

If it isn't fun, it isn't sustainable!

This section will allow us to put to practice much of what we've learned.  In service to one of our partners, we will design and build, on site, an edible forest garden.  This will be a two day project, with lots of hands on-learning opportunities, coupled with plenty of celebration, think food, music and dance.

Let's get our hands dirty :)

**Register online here.