At this time in past years, we'd be gearing up to host our 2-week fall Permaculture Design Course at Quail Springs. This year is, however, not like other years (if you hadn't already noticed.) Instead, we're busy developing an online version of our flagship program. It's different, and we're going to miss having the PDC class out here in November, but we're excited about the potential to reach people we haven't been able to reach in the past, and for the chance to continue offering permaculture education even when it's not possible to gather in person.
We've been filming sessions with our core teachers, and we'll be spending the fall putting the final touches on the course experience. Stay tuned for more details, but the plan is to launch the course in March 2021. Reply to this email if you want to be added to the waiting list and be first to know when it's open for registration.
Quail Springs is producing the online PDC in collaboration with the team at Commune. We're so grateful for their generosity in sharing their talent and expertise in online course production with us, and for so gracefully navigating the challenge of filming during a pandemic. Quail Springs also received a Small Capacity Building grant from the Santa Barbara Foundation specifically to help us develop an online version of our PDC -- deep thanks to the Foundation for the ongoing support!
We've been able to expand our watershed education and outreach work in the valley recently, thanks to a grant from the Department of Water Resources, by way of the Cuyama Community Services District. Along with a series of educational videos, infographics, field trips and botanical drawing classes to raise awareness of watershed health and watershed issues, this grant paid for a beautiful public mural on the outside of the Family Resource Center in New Cuyama, based on the infographic below (Water Cycle of the Cuyama Valley). Check it out next time you're in New Cuyama!
The staff at the County office have also been extremely gracious in guiding us as we try to find the best way to fit our square peg into a round hole. Wish us luck!
There have been some very heartening developments in the past year that we hope will act as a tailwind in this effort to permit our earthen buildings, not the least of which being the adoption of the Cob Code Appendix in the International Residential Code for 2021! Read more about this good news, what it means in practice, and the next steps toward making cob building accessible to all in this blog post.
Speaking of cob buildings, have you seen our sweet little Farmhouse (featured in the drawings above)? Check out the virtual tour below, and visit the Quail Springs Patreon for Part Two, where Sasha gives a tour of the house's special features including the rocket stove, earthen floor, and glass bottle details.
As summer comes to a close, we're wishing you bountiful harvests, good health, and meaningful connection with people you love. Speaking of connection, we so enjoy hearing from you — please reach out and let us know how you're doing!
In gratitude for water, fruits, vegetables, and each other,
All of us at Quail Springs
