Permaculture Water Systems Intensive with Andrew Millison & Don Tipping

This will be a very special course with Andrew Millison & Don Tipping

Come learn how to "Be the Beavers" focusing on the art and science of directing and securing water for smart use in this 3 day weekend workshop learning to design water systems for the permaculture homestead / small farm or mini-farm. The intensive is located at the Siskiyou Seeds home farm in Williams Oregon, which is in it's 24th year of intensive co-development with the local geography.

In many areas of the Pacific Northwest the climate is a combination of a winter rainforest and a summer desert. So the ability to catch and store water when it's abundant for use when it's scarce is a valuable capacity for ourselves as humans and for supporting biodiversity.

Siskiyou Seeds has developed many water catchment and planting strategies to be climate resilient. We will explore these in depth along with hands on practical experience with the following:

• Gravity Flow water systems
• Making and using an A frame level
• Using simple surveying equipment to layout swales, ditches and ponds.
• Design mapping including calculating water requirements.
• Designing & Constructing a swale using a farm tractor
• Rainwater catchment
• Planting strategies for deeply rooted perennials

We will be based at Siskiyou Seeds but doing elements of the course at a neighboring property (Terra Lumin) which is more of a blank slate under development, with an opportunity to rehabilitate old systems and infrastructure.

Don Tipping is the lead instructor who brings over 30 years experience in organic farming, seeds, permaculture and enthusiastic on-farm education. Don has been farming and offering hands on, practical workshops at Siskiyou Seeds Farm since 1997. Siskiyou Seeds is a small, certified organic farm in the Siskiyou Mountains of SW Oregon that produces fruits, vegetables, seeds, flowers and herbs, while raising sheep, poultry and people. The farm has been designed to function as a self-contained, life regenerating organism with waste products being recycled and feeding other elements of the system. Lauded as one of the best examples of a small productive Biodynamic and Permaculture farms in the northwest by many, Siskiyou Seeds helps to mentor new land tenders. Siskiyou Seeds grows and stewards a collection of over 700 open pollinated flower, vegetable and herb seeds and is constantly breeding new varieties that we distribute nationally. Don is active in the Seed Stewardship movement and educates regionally on seed saving through the Seed Academy, the Student Organic Seed Symposium, seed schools and numerous conferences. He currently sits on the board of non-profit Seeds of Light that is developing educational programs and workshops aimed at growing humans through their head, heart and hands.

Andrew Millison: is an agent for change who has built a worldwide following through his multimedia storytelling and online educational programs. He is the founder of Oregon State University’s Permaculture Design program, where he has been an instructor since 2009 and has educated tens of thousands of students. His popular YouTube channel boasts hundreds of thousands of subscribers with tens of millions of views, where he documents the most impactful ecological projects on Earth and presents them in both an artistic and technical manner. In recent years he has documented epic permaculture projects throughout India, Egypt, Mexico, Senegal, Spain, Cuba, and throughout the US. As a Permaculture designer, Andrew has designed and consulted on projects since the late 1990’s around the US and the world, specializing in large scale water design.

WHERE: Williams, Oregon. A 30 minute drive from Grants Pass. Participants are invited to camp on onsite at Siskiyou Seeds - If you prefer there are also some Airbnb's close by including the Pond House at Pacifica (a 420 acre local land trust) where a group of students could comfortably stay together. It's also very possible to drive in from Grants Pass, Medford or Ashland. The nearest airport is Medford, Oregon.

WHEN: 3 day Event begins Friday, June 7 @ 9:00 am and runs through Sunday, June 9 at 5pm. The event is 9 am through 6pm with dinner to follow and a more open, salon type format after dinner. People traveling from out of town can arrive Thursday eve to set up camp - please let the event host know!

WHAT: We invite you to join us for a 3 day intensive training in permaculture water systems. Lead instructor Don Tipping, founder of Siskiyou Seeds brings over 30 years experience in organic farming, seeds, permaculture and enthusiastic on-farm education. Guest instructors include Andrew Millison (of OSU online premaculture course fame), Jonah Mesritz (co-founders of the Emerald Village in San Diego, CA and land stewards of Terra Lumen), Jessica Plancich ( co-founder of the Emerald Village in San Diego, CA, land steward of Terra Lumen, & Fierce Grace Consulting/Seeds of Light,)

WHO: Gardeners, farmers, permaculturalists, homesteaders, those interested in ways to grow a positive future. No prior experience is necessary, however, some gardening familiarity will be helpful.

HOW: Includes delicious organic meals from the farm, camping, showers, instruction, handouts, field trips and a deeply nourishing dive into co-creating regenerative culture. Breakfast ingredients are provided but done self serve (or group coordinated) in our Seed Barn, whereas lunch and dinner will be spectacular farm based catered meals. If you are traveling from out of the area and would like to camp on Thursday (6/8) night please email don@siskiyouseeds.com to pre-arrange that. Participants are invited to camp, or sleep in their vehicle, or arrange local accommodations. We have outhouses and a bath house here.

Course Fees: Full Price - $600 (if able to pay the full price you enable us to welcome more people through scholarships.) Includes instruction, tours, excellent organic meals and camping.

Early Bird Discount: (until 5/09/24) - $550

Farm Tour only: Friday, 6/7/24, 9 am - 1 pm. - $40

SCHOLARSHIPS: No one turned away for lack of funds. We offer a limited amount of scholarship opportunities. We welcome help with course logistics. The hope is to eliminate any barrier for folks who want to participate. Please send an email sharing a bit about why attending this course will benefit your journey to become a seed steward to don@siskiyouseeds.com to apply.