Ashcroft Summer Food Forestry with Richard Walker

Space is limited, and the last workshop sold out in 5 days, so please register early. 

22 of 25 Spots Left

"Organized, jam/packed, weekend with good balance of information and exploration--well facilitated and teachers well sourced"

Pollen Heath - Builder - Gabriola Island, BC

 Still need more convincing?

Here's a few reasons why taking this course will be the course to add to your planting skills and life....

1 - Course Instructor, Richard Walker

Richard started as an organic farmer in Alberta. Not an easy task in the early 70's in conservative Alberta. He applied his organic farming skills to 3 acres of bare horse pasture where 25 years later stood a lush self-sustaining forest garden. With over 400 nut trees, seven stories of food, fiber, fuel and medicinal bearing perennial plants and vines, this is a, if not the, premier food forest in Canada. 

Having converted a degraded piece of land into an abundant mix of rare, unique nut, fruit and medicinal plants from all over the world, he is one of Canada's most experienced food foresters. We are incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to learn from Richard. He's a practicing gardener, plant breeder and herbalist.  

His food forest was and is so successful that as students we can save years of trial and error by learning from him. This course attracts some of the leaders in the fields of permaculture, organic gardening, food forestry, urban homesteading and sustainability. The wealth of knowledge brought by the course participants will add to this unique opportunity to learn, share and network with others involved with regenerative land care. 

"Richard gives information for our canadian climate, when he showed pictures of his food forest in the snow, I knew I was in the right course. Richards knowledge of food forestry was everything I was hoping for - incredible.
If you are going to be establishing a food forest of any size, I would highly recommend spending some time with Richard Walker."

Bruce Cayford - Electronics Technician - Walkerton, ONT

2 - Dragon's Eye Nursery 

 If Richard made a small half back-lot food forest with 10 years of succession and success that would be something (yea Geoff Johnson of Victoria's Spring Ridge Commons Food Forest fame!)... but he accomplished a little more than that. In 25 years he experimented and succeed in creating not only a self-sustaining food forest but also two businesses that were supported by that forest, Dragon's Eye Nursery and his own herbal dispensary. 

Here's a real world example of permaculture, organic gardening and food forestry not only producing food for the assembler but also viable income. Next time someone tells you that making a living at growing plants is only for large factory farms and Monsanto (first ask them to never say the M word again) and then tell them the story of Richard Walker. 

You of course will be able to tell them the full story because you'll have taken the course... if there's space left. :) 

3 - Bio-Regionally Specific. 

So you've liked what you've read thus far but now you’re thinking, like most prospective students, "But Richard's from interior BC, it's a desert out there, he won't have any good suggestions for the coastal interior." 

Oh contraire dear reader, in a recent workshop Richard demonstrated his experience by not only helping interior BC food foresters, but also Albertan (both Edmonton and Calgary region), northern Saskatchewan and drum roll please.... Vancouver Island and mainland BC food foresters as well. 

Like permaculture, the principles that Richard instructs are applicable to all regions. His $100 tips for 100 years of gardening help extend growing seasons by getting fruit and nut trees to bear in half the regular time, are simply incredible. 

4 - "Food Forests as Medicine: An MD's perspective"

Dr. Karin B. Kilpatrick M.B.ChB (Cape Town) C.C.F.P. (Canada)

This year we'll be adding a little extra something for our students.

Karin Kilpatrick MD. will talk about the importance of food autonomy in the psycho-social and physical health of peoples throughout history and especially for us today. Drawing on her experience as a MD in South Africa and 25 years of family medicine practice in Canada she will use clinical case histories to deomonstrate the medicinal power of whole foods, "super foods" and herbaceous plants from her and Richard's own food forest. Expect to be amazed at the amazing anti-infective qualities of Spilanthes, the powerful hormone modulation of Maral root and Chasteberry, and the... well we don't want to give it all away. :)

Karin will tie together her experience of treating patients from her food forest by seeing the patterns of mutual co-operation between the systems in our bodies like those of a forest itself. It will be an evening not to be missed and included in your weekend workshop. If you're interested in attending this evening keynote but won't be joining us for the full workshop (a pity indeed) sign up for her keynote here.

5 - Student Feedback

It's one thing for me to tell you why Richard's workshop is worth every single penny but it's quite another to hear it from student of his past Workshops:

"After the first hour I felt as though I not only got my money's worth, I felt like I had won the lottery" - Erin Rafuse

Click here to read students' testimonials of the last workshop on instructor Richard Walker, facilitator Javan Kerby Bernakevitch and Permaculture BC.

6 - Ashcroft, BC - A community focused on permaculture, wellness and personal connection.

"Ashcroft provides a serene setting for exploring topics associated with Food Forest Gardening.  The community supports a growing "wellness wave" through Tai Chi, Yoga, Exercise classes, local Health Food Stores as well an an active Arts community - visual and performing.  It is a village with no stop lights, a slow and calming pace which provides a welcome respite from the hustle, bustle pace of the city.  The unique beauty of the desert landscape will most certainly stay with our guests for a long time to come.  Many who see Ashcroft for the first time report a feeling of "coming home".  It truly does afford a feeling of retreat and we guarantee will refresh!  Wellness awaits you!"

For coffee lovers, Richard and Karin swear up and down that the coffee in Ashcroft is the best they've found in all of their travels. If you're a bean lover this is coffee to experience.

TESTIMONIALS FROM PAST FOOD FORESTRY WORKSHOPS

GAIA or Permaculture Graduates?

If you've taken any of Gaia College's courses or a Permaculture Design Certificate, do not be dissuaded by the overlap of some of the course topics (i.e. grafting, compost tea, and other topics that you may have covered). Richard's sheer amount of knowledge and experience as well as his focus on medicinal plant use and quick and simple tincture creation will add to your skills and confidence to assemble your own food forest. 

Not to mention another instructor's point of view is invaluable to avoid inbreeding of habits and thought patterns.  

"The highlight for me was learning how to graft trees, plant propagation and the importance of understanding the stratification of seeds for certain plant species."

Jill Waldron - Artist - Victoria, BC

Why is food forestry a timely and necessary tool for food sovereignty?

We live in an island. Perhaps not a physical island but a food supply island where our food is shipped on a daily basis to keep us fed. On average grocery stores have between 3-5 days supply of food, at normal consumption rates. With increasing oil prices are food prices going up or down? And if that's the case it's just a matter of time before fuel shortages create food shortages.

Creating viable food production techniques that do not require endless inputs of fertilizers, water, mulch, maintenance and financial support isn't just a good idea, it's a necessity! 

Come learn the skills, the theory and the people that make local, sustainable and regenerative food possible.