2015 Earthworks Workshop from Nick on Vimeo.

Nick has opened up 3 more spots for his Earthworks Workshop next week, so if you’ve been on the fence about signing up, you better get over to his website and put in your deposit before the last 3 seats are filled.
Nick Ferguson October Earthworks Workshop

As you all know, Nick really knows his stuff when it comes to Permaculture and setting up a homestead for success. So if you want a crash course in how to design and set up your homestead for function stacking success, you don’t want to miss this event!

We will be installing swales, small ponds, hugel beds, and a market garden space.

We will teach you Holistic Small Farm Design and Layout. You will learn where to place buildings and why, what to do with water, how to install earthworks to passively harvest water and use it to your advantage. How to use animals to improve and develop your property.

Instructors are:

• Nick Ferguson (Permaculture Classroom)
• Jack Spirko (The Survival Podcast) – The largest Modern Survivalism Podcast in the world!
• Chris Prater (Jack of all Trades, Master of Most) – Beekeeper, Blacksmith extraordinaire!

Here is a walk though video of the work we plan to do

Property walkthrough before Earthworks Workshop from Nick on Vimeo.

What this workshop will cover

• Mainframe Earthworks install of the Ferguson Homestead in Saline, Louisiana
• Holistic Design of a small farm
• Plant Propagation (so you can afford to plant your swales)
• Bee Hive building with Chris Prater (a perfect winter project, get ready for bees in the spring!)
• Q&A Sessions with Jack Spirko, Chris Prater, and Nick Ferguson
• Great Food Barter, Community Building and More

Schedule – None of this is set in stone, we will adapt to any weather events and unforeseen circumstances.

Wednesday Oct. the 21st – Our Property will be open any time after 2PM. This time is mostly just for setting up campsites. We do always have a light meal and have a social gathering with beers and just getting to know each other as well. This is very informal and just hanging out for those who show up early.

Thursday Oct 22nd – (lunch and dinner provided, breakfast is a light continental style on the first day)

• 8:00 – 9:00 – Coffee and Breakfast Bars, etc. and Property/Safety Briefing
• 9:00 – 10:00 – Orientation – Walking the property and project goals
• 10:00 – 12:00 – DIGGING! – We get dirty with equipment and instruct according to what is happening. Periodically we will take a break from excavation to explain what is happening, and why.
• 12:00 – 1:30 – Lunch
• 1:30 – 2:30– Class – Learn the basics of Holistic Design, we explain and go further into the methods you just observed before lunch
• 2:30 – 3:00 – Break
• 3:00 – 4:30 – Back to Earthworks: Put into action the methods and design ideas you just learned by either sketching, or using a rake and shovel, however you feel comfortable!
• 4:30 – 5:30 – Q&A with Nick and Jack
• 5:30 – 6:30 – Seed and Plant Exchange (First Day Happy Hour)
• 6:30 – 7:30 – Dinner
• 7:30 – ???? – Drinks, Music, Barter Blanket, etc.
  Friday (three meals provided)
• 9:00 – 10:00 – Breakfast
• 10:00 – 12:00 More earthworks with various methods. We show you how to implement your own earthworks from hand, with a two man shovel, tractor, on up to a rented excavator
• 12:00 -1:00 – Lunch
• 1:00 – 4:00 – Ponds, setting levels, connecting elements
• 4:00 – 5:00 – Market Garden earthworks from mechanical implementation down to hand dug
• 5:00 – 6:00 – Q&A with Nick and Jack
• 6:00 – 6:30 – Break for Clean Up
• 6:30 – 7:30 – Dinner
• 8:30 – ???? – Drinks, Music, etc.

Saturday (three meals provided)

• 8:00 – 9:00 – Breakfast
• 9:00 –12:00 – Finish up Earthworks and illustrate any principles students had questions on
• 12:00 -1:00 – Lunch
• 1:00 -2:00 – Plant Propagation with Nick Ferguson
• 2:00 – 4:00 – How to Build Beehives with Chris Prater
• 4:00 – 5:00 – Gardening and Function Stacking with Nick Ferguson and Jack Spirko
• 5:00 – 6:00 – Q&A With Nick, Jack, and Chris
• 6:00 – 7:00 – Break and Clean Up
• 7:30 – 8:30 – Dinner
• 8:30 – ???? – Drinks, Music, Barter Blanket, etc.

Sunday

• 10:00 AM – Coffee, breakfast bars and left overs put out.
• 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM – Goodbyes please consider helping us pick up before you go. (all guests to depart by 11:00 AM)