Land Listening
October 11, 2024 9am - 4 pm
Sliding Scale
In Person TBD
Location: The Spokane Conservation District
Presented by: Peter Donovan
Soil health is increasingly recognized as a key or hub for water cycling and carbon cycling on land, watershed function and water quality, atmospheric regulation, human health, and of the viability of civilization itself. The enormous flows of energy and matter in and out of soils remain camouflaged by our natural human focus on problems, on categories, species, and the constituents of soil. These problems organize and categorize our policy efforts, government and foundation funding, the disciplines of knowledge, and the boundaries between them.
If we can grasp soil health and watershed function, we have great potential to connect most of our serious problems and challenges into actionable opportunities. Yet we routinely turn this opportunity back into problems with our traditional modes of information delivery: lectures, dogma, expert information, and even advocacy of best practices.
October 11, 2024 9am - 4 pm
Sliding Scale
In Person TBD
Location: The Spokane Conservation District
Presented by: Peter Donovan
Soil health is increasingly recognized as a key or hub for water cycling and carbon cycling on land, watershed function and water quality, atmospheric regulation, human health, and of the viability of civilization itself. The enormous flows of energy and matter in and out of soils remain camouflaged by our natural human focus on problems, on categories, species, and the constituents of soil. These problems organize and categorize our policy efforts, government and foundation funding, the disciplines of knowledge, and the boundaries between them.
If we can grasp soil health and watershed function, we have great potential to connect most of our serious problems and challenges into actionable opportunities. Yet we routinely turn this opportunity back into problems with our traditional modes of information delivery: lectures, dogma, expert information, and even advocacy of best practices.
Biochar: Promise for Healthy Soil
October 24, 2024 at 2:00 pm PST
Virtual Free
Healthy soil is key to a healthy city. Discover an old technique, available to everyone, that creates soil fertility. Join the discussion needed to make this available here in Spokane. Confirmed presenters: Albert Bates, author: "The Biochar Solution: Carbon Farming and Climate Change" and "Burn: Using fire to Cool the Earth, with Kathleen Draper" as well as many other books; Korina Stark resenting Kelpie Wilson's work, Kelpie is the author of, “The Biochar Handbook: A Practical Guide to Making and Using Bioactivated Charcoal” and inventor of the Wilson Kiln, Julie Anderson from the Washington Commerce Department, and John webster, Communication Director at US Biochar Iniative and Go Biochar.
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Biochar is one of the methods that can be used to speed up soil health and then support it over long periods. What will it take for us to bring it here in quantities large enough to make the difference we need?
October 24, 2024 at 2:00 pm PST
Virtual Free
Healthy soil is key to a healthy city. Discover an old technique, available to everyone, that creates soil fertility. Join the discussion needed to make this available here in Spokane. Confirmed presenters: Albert Bates, author: "The Biochar Solution: Carbon Farming and Climate Change" and "Burn: Using fire to Cool the Earth, with Kathleen Draper" as well as many other books; Korina Stark resenting Kelpie Wilson's work, Kelpie is the author of, “The Biochar Handbook: A Practical Guide to Making and Using Bioactivated Charcoal” and inventor of the Wilson Kiln, Julie Anderson from the Washington Commerce Department, and John webster, Communication Director at US Biochar Iniative and Go Biochar.
.
Biochar is one of the methods that can be used to speed up soil health and then support it over long periods. What will it take for us to bring it here in quantities large enough to make the difference we need?
Rethinking Lawns
November 11, 18, 25, Dec 2
Session A - 7:30 am PST
Session B - 2:00 pm PST
Virtual - $100
Presented by Kathryn Alexander MA, John Webster and Carl Welty
Lawns are getting a bad rap. Under the guise of saving water, we are encouraged to rip them up and use gravel and mulch instead. What if laws could be a part of the ecology? What if lawns could help us fight climate change? Come explore another way of thinking about that most American thing, the green lawn.
November 11, 18, 25, Dec 2
Session A - 7:30 am PST
Session B - 2:00 pm PST
Virtual - $100
Presented by Kathryn Alexander MA, John Webster and Carl Welty
Lawns are getting a bad rap. Under the guise of saving water, we are encouraged to rip them up and use gravel and mulch instead. What if laws could be a part of the ecology? What if lawns could help us fight climate change? Come explore another way of thinking about that most American thing, the green lawn.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Village Making
March 12, 2025 at 5:30 pm PST
Virtual
With Mark Lakeman
We will explore removing isolation, increasing cooperation, releasing possibility using placemaking, permaculture, participatory design in already established neighborhoods to increase resilience and community.
March 12, 2025 at 5:30 pm PST
Virtual
With Mark Lakeman
We will explore removing isolation, increasing cooperation, releasing possibility using placemaking, permaculture, participatory design in already established neighborhoods to increase resilience and community.
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.
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.
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?