Grow with Soil Smart - Soil Wise
The Rethinking Series
As the Rethinking Tank™ we offer courses, classes, and webinars specifically to help folks rethink areas where we are stuck or where new science has changed what we have believed for quite some time. Thinking about the environment as an integral part of our society, is fairly new, in modern society. There is learning we can gain from indigenous experience and from both new science and systems thinking, all of which have helped us see with new eyes solutions that will address the meta crisis we are facing. These new ways of seeing, bring us hope while developing agency. There IS a path forward, there ARE things WE can do right now, to help create a cooler and more stable climate right where we live, that are within normal people's grasp. Government can help, but WE have agency, WE can do this!
2025 Winter Webinars
Rethinking Community
Join us for a look at some new ways of creating community. Human communities can be designed on several levels. People gather on land to both live and work. The design of the structures they live in, the relationship of the structures to each other and the relationship of the structures to the land they sit on all have impact, effects and consequences.
Webinars are FREE
Community members can access these webinars inside the network
Webinars are FREE
Community members can access these webinars inside the network
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Designing for our climate future: lessons in resilience from 50 years of working with nature at Village Homes
Feb, 19, 2025 at 5:30 pm PST Virtual With Carl Welty, Architect Carl will share the history and intent of the builders of this subdivision, relating their choices to how nature was expressed on that same land, before building. Carl’s experience in Solar architecture (how sun and water move across the land) give him insight into how we can reduce our costs in building, and in maintenance by following nature’s lead. |
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Village Homes: Lessons Learned from Living and Creating
March 5, 2025 at 5:30 pm PST Virtual With Ricardo Amon, resident, Judy Corbett, co-developer/builder, and Carl Welty, architect This is one of the few developments in North America that is designed to work with nature. The panel: Ricardo Amon-resident, Judy Corbett-co-designer/builder, and Carl Welty-architect, will explore the creation of Village Homes, the lessons learned from it and stories about what life is like in Village Home by a long-time resident, Ricardo. |
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A Renter Focused Ecovillage creates community and restores ecological balance
March 19, 2025 at 5:30 pm PST Virtual With Ole and Maitri Ersson Ole and Maitri Ersson have broken all sorts of myths with the two ecovillages they have created in Oregon. Ole will walk us through their latest creation and talk about their challenges and creative solutions as they create beautiful, affordable homes for low income people. |
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A Lively Discussion About How We Work Together in Community
April 2, 2025 at 5:30 pm PST Virtual With Michelle Smith of Circle Forward Michelle Smith, co-Founder of Circle Forward, will share her thoughts and experience about how people create structures and processes (what some call governance) when they get together to take action and make decisions. |
2025 Spring Events
Rethinking Lawns - Webinar
April 16, 2025 at 5:30 pm PST
Virtual - FREE
With Kathryn Alexander MA
Why are lawns so important to us? What are the benefits and downsides to lawns, as we know them? If not lawns, then what? What's missing from our Water Wise program?
April 16, 2025 at 5:30 pm PST
Virtual - FREE
With Kathryn Alexander MA
Why are lawns so important to us? What are the benefits and downsides to lawns, as we know them? If not lawns, then what? What's missing from our Water Wise program?
Rethinking Lawns - Webinar and Classes
April 16, 2025, at 5:30 pm PST - Webinar
April 21, at 5:00 pm PST - Module One
April 28, at 5:00 pm PST - Module Two
May 5, at 5:00 pm PST - Module Three
May 12, at 5:00 pm PST - Module Four
Virtual - $175
With Kathryn Alexander MA
This 4-week course will explore some new thinking about what is possible in your front yard. Each week will include a short video and a deep discussion to answer your questions, deepen your understanding, and to provide you with the support and encouragement you need to make changes to your own front (and back) lawns.
This course is for anyone who has a lawn. Bring your neighbors, as lawns are a part of community.
April 16, 2025, at 5:30 pm PST - Webinar
April 21, at 5:00 pm PST - Module One
April 28, at 5:00 pm PST - Module Two
May 5, at 5:00 pm PST - Module Three
May 12, at 5:00 pm PST - Module Four
Virtual - $175
With Kathryn Alexander MA
This 4-week course will explore some new thinking about what is possible in your front yard. Each week will include a short video and a deep discussion to answer your questions, deepen your understanding, and to provide you with the support and encouragement you need to make changes to your own front (and back) lawns.
- History – how did we get here? Just where did this idea come from and why has it been around so long, with little reflection or thought?
- English gardens and landscape aesthetic from another bio-region (with rain throughout the year)
- Lawns and the Climate Meta Crisis. How do lawns fit in with the massive changes we are seeing all around us?
- Rethink our relationship with nature
- Understand living soil and what you can do with dirt
- What Ya Gonna Do? Now, what can we do, on our own land, to mitigate or even regenerate the nature we feel responsible for? What are some of the challenges that need to be addressed for success?
- Each of us can make a difference – one yard at a time
- Soil – the foundation of everything
- Bringing Back Harmony By looking at examples of different approaches to lawns you will be able to make a plan for your own lawn that is in harmony with the planet.
This course is for anyone who has a lawn. Bring your neighbors, as lawns are a part of community.