Blue Ridge Eco Shop Blog : Archives for January 2011

Jan 31 2011

JRGBC-Charlottesville February 8th Luncheon: Energy Conservation Strategies

Join the JRGBC-CV on February 8th for a free luncheon! Across the country, the green building movement is helping homeowners and professionals understand the critical importance of energy efficiency and conservation. Utilities companies are phasing in new technologies, examining the results of trial programs, and preparing the electrical grid for the rapid integration of next generation building and transportation technologies. Join the Charlottesville Branch of JRGBC for an update and prospective look forward at the transformation of Central Virginia’s electricity delivery system.

Dominion Virginia Power’s Ed Hall, manager of the Conservation and Load Management Program, will give an update on the smart meter program, explore current and future demand-side management & conservation programs, and explain the imminent arrival of EVs and PHEVs and how they will react to the electric grid, and what customers will need to do to prepare for their arrival.

This luncheon will be held at the Charlottesville Community Design Center-CCDC, 100 5th St. NE, on the Downtown Mall, Charlottesville, VA. Doors open at 11:50 and the Seminar begins at approximately 12:10 pm.

Luncheons are free and open to the public; however, advance registration is required by COB Thursday February 3rd. AIA Learning Units are available.

Go to: www.jrgbc.org to register for the Free Luncheon.

Jan 24 2011

Home Energy 101 Workshop: Thursday, January 27

It’s freezing outside. And that cold air is likely sneaking into your house. Meanwhile, homeowners are suffering sticker shock when they open their utility bills. LEAP can help people stay comfortable and save money. Get started this week by attending LEAP’s Home Energy 101 Workshop.

http://www.leap-va.org/winterizeSURVIVE WINTER – COMFORTABLY – BY ATTENDING LEAP’S
HOME ENERGY SAVINGS 101 WORKSHOP

Hear from LEAP’s energy efficiency experts what no cost and low cost things you can do to help you save money on your energy bills.

Find out how your home can be one of the few high performers in your neighborhood.
Learn how to get significant rebates on professional energy audits and deep energy efficiency retrofits.

When: Thursday, January 27, 2010 6-7:45 PM
Where: Thomas Jefferson Planning District’s new Water Street Conference Center, 407 E. Water Street

Food, drinks and 2 hours parking at the Water Street Garage provided. Space is limited. Suggested donation: $5.
RSVP: eric@leap-va.org

Jan 18 2011

Growing Communities Workshop

Please join the American Community Gardening Association
for the…

GROWING COMMUNITIES WORKSHOP

Who:	Gardeners, leaders, educators, volunteers, supporters of community gardening and greening, master gardeners, and others seeking to use community gardening to meet their program objectives and create healthy communities
What:	Two-day leadership workshop on community building, leadership, and organizational development through community gardening
When:	Date (Must attend both Friday Feb 4 and Saturday Feb 5, 2011) *Friday—8:30 am-5:00 pm; Saturday—8:00 am-4:00 pm*
Where:	CitySpace 100 5th ST NE Charlottesville,VA
Cost:	$ 75.00 per individual, sliding scale based on ability to pay. Includes ACGA membership ($25 value), Growing Communities Curriculum ($35 value), 2 days of workshop and lunch! (*Advanced registration and attendance on both days required)*

Join the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA), Quality Community Council (QCC) , Healthy Food Coalition (HFCUSA), The City of Charlottesville & Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) for an in-depth, hands-on workshop based on the ACGA’s curriculum for leadership development, “Growing Communities”. (Community Building and Organizational Development through Community Gardening.) Learn proven strategies that community organizers use to develop dynamic leaders and create strong communities through a participatory approach to community building. You will learn the principles and practices of community building, and how to pass these techniques on to others in your community by conducting your own workshops.

This two-day workshop will cover these topics: Community Organizing, Leadership Development, Grassroots Fundraising Basics, Asset-Based Community Development, Communications Planning, Coalition Building.

Participants receive the “Growing Communities Curriculum,” a 352 page resource workbook, which includes curriculum materials that walk the reader through the process of conducting training workshops. The Curriculum also addresses Diversity, Meeting Facilitation and Group Decision-Making, Developing a Board of Directors, and Grassroots Fundraising - Specific Strategies.

Jan 11 2011

Permiculture Class Offered at Mountaintop Montessori School

Gardening Like the Forest Workshop with Dave Jacke author of Edible Forest Gardens,

February 4-6, 2011

At the Mountaintop Montessori School on Pantops Mtn. in Charlottesville, VA

Friday Evening Public Talk
February 4, 2011, 7-9 PM
Gardening Like the Forest: Home-Scale Ecological Food Production
Suggested donation $10 at the door.

Healthy forests maintain, fertilize, and renew themselves, naturally. Wouldn’t you like to grow an abundant food-producing ecosystem like this in your back yard? You can! Edible forest gardens mimic the structure and function of natural forests through all their stages of development and grow food, fuel, fiber, fodder, fertilizers, farmaceuticals, and fun. We can meet our own needs and regenerate healthy ecosystems at the same time! This talk introduces the vision of forest gardening with some scientific background, a few living examples, and a sampling of some useful perennial edibles you can use in your own garden. The ecology of forest gardening can also teach us some interesting things about how we might organize human societies. Contact Terry Lilley at tygerlilley@gmail.com for more information.

Weekend Workshop with Dave Jacke:
February 5-6, 2011, 9 AM – 5 PM, with a Saturday evening lecture.
Gardening Like the Forest: Designing Perennial Polycultures

Effective perennial polycultures combine useful perennial plants into vegetation patches that minimize competition, create additive yields, and minimize the gardener’s work and outside inputs. Guild and polyculture design are the most interesting and challenging part of the forest garden design process. This in-depth, intermediate-to-advanced workshop explores the specific ecological theories behind polyculture design through experiential exercises and games. Participants will design perennial polycultures together using a variety of design processes. We’ll also explore the implications of what we learn for the design of ecological human cultures. No prior experience necessary!

The cost for the weekend is a sliding scale of $250-$295. A few work trade positions are available for partial tuition; inquire soon about work trade guidelines and availability. Contact Terry Lilley at tygerlilley@gmail.com for more information.

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