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The Nick and Nick in the title would be Nick Ferguson and Nick Burtner.  The two are joining forces to put together an incredible earth works course.  Today they both join us to discuss the coming course and earthworks and permaculture in general.

Nick Burtner of Working With Nature

Nicholas Burtner is a permaculture practitioner, advocate, consultant, and teacher. After a greater calling in 2011, permaculture found Nick and infused him with an endless passion that has led him to travel many places learning, spreading, and practicing permaculture and natural living and healing ever since.
Nick has attended internships at the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia under the leadership of Geoff and Nadia Lawton as well as obtaining a permaculture design certification from Geoff Lawton and Bill Mollison.

He has also attended the Earthship Academy for natural and recycled building techniques in Toas, New Mexico, under the guidance of Michael Reynolds.  After very worthwhile learning and on-the-ground experiences, Nick opened Working With Nature Learning, Research, and Healing Center in late 2012. The center has both an urban and a rural demonstration/educational site which offers hands on experiences as well as class room learning.

He teaches classes and speaks about permaculture and sustainable living all over Texas and is open to travel for out of town classes and/or consultancies. You can see Nick’s list of permaculture credentials at the Worldwide Permaculture Network.  His website is WorkingWithNature

Nick Ferguson of Permaculture Classroom

Nick Ferguson is a passionate and active permaculturist who is currently building his property into a Permaculture school called Permaculture Classroom.  Before earning his PDC and Earthworks Course certification  from Geoff Lawton, Nicholas grew up gardening, and his extended family was heavily into alternative agriculture.

His grandfather Jerry Fridenstine was a teacher at many Acres USA conferences and worked closely with icons of sustainability like Charles Walters (Acres USA), Dr. Arden Anderson, Dr. Phil Callahan (Secret of the Ghost Moth), Dr. Reams (soil health & radionics), Dan Skow (Reams soil analysis), Dr. Christopher Bird (The Secret Life of plants, and The Secret Life of Soil) and many others.

Nick was home educated with a heavy emphasis on biological systems and ecology.  He then went on to college where he studied Biology, Ecology, and Genetics, but with the state of the economy in ’08 and the dwindling job market, he decided to cut bait and get out before getting too far into debt. He went on to develop valuable real life skills while he worked in urban landscaping and horticulture for several years.

Nick now manages and cares for a multi-million dollar estate  outside of a nearby metropolitan area. Nicholas’ real passion is teaching sustainable living systems and design, and for this reason he is building a Permaculture demonstration site, school, and sustainable farm.

Resources for today’s show…

• The Year 1204
• Members Support Brigade
• 13Skills.com
• Join Our Forum
• Walking To Freedom
• TSP Mint
• TSP Gear
• Back Yard Food Production – (sponsor of the day)
• Fortress Defense Consultants – (sponsor of the day)
• Permaculture Voices – Conference I Will Be Speaking At
• Working With Nature – Nick Burtner’s Site
• Permaculture Classroom – Nick Ferguson’s Site
• The Earthworks Course – Remember MSB Members Get 200 Dollars Off, login to the MSB and go to the benefits page to get the discount.

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air.