We offer free presentations and workshops in the Grow Local Tent. See the schedule below.
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Saturday Schedule:
11- 11:50 am, Greenhouse Design 101
What do you want to grow this winter? Which greenhouse is right for you? This ‘big-picture’ presentation will give participants an overview of different greenhouse types and styles on the market, presenting their major advantages and disadvantages. Participants will learn key strategies for making any greenhouse more energy-efficient and versatile. A special focus will be given to greenhouses specifically tailored for the Colorado growing region (cold-weather, high-altitude, intense sun, intense snow environments). With greenhouses, local food can happen year-round.
Marc Plinke’s first career was the development of catalytic filters for the remediation Dioxins and other highly toxic organics from flue gases of incinerators and power plants. While renovating his 1960 home in Boulder into a net-zero energy house (producing more energy than it consumes), he applied his engineering expertise to green building. Eventually, this landed him in his second career: developing energy-efficiciency technologies for greenhouses and growing structures. In 2010 Marc co-founded CERES Greenhouse Solutions with the goal of making those technologies available for residents and communities. His goal with CERES is to bring year-round, abundant local growing to every community and school.
12- 12:50 pm, Tools for Regenerating Landscapes: Permaculture Design
Come hear why Permaculture Design is a worldwide movement on the cutting edge of regenerating landscapes, empowering and feeding people, and improving the resilience of families and communities. Learn about what is covered in the 72 hour curriculum of a Permaculture Design Course, and take home some ideas to try out wherever you live.
Kelly Simmons is a permaculture designer of Sunflower House Edibles. She led the first Permaculture Design Course offered by the Sustainable Living Association in Fort Collins in 2011. She currently teaches permaculture at the University of Colorado, Boulder, the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute, Sustainable Settings and the GrowHaus. Kelly is a published author on permaculture design topics, and lives on an urban permaculture demonstration site in downtown Boulder with her family. Permaculture Design is her passion and she is excited to bring Permaculture Design back to Fort Collins and the Fair this year.
1- 1:50 pm, Biological Approach to Agriculture
Spencer will teach you about the biological approach to gardening including soil biology: bacteria, mycorrhizae, soil-food web symbiots and plants; Advanced materials: Biochar- Terra Preta and carbon negative agriculture; Paramagnetic rock dust- Nutrient density in produce. Humates and compost tea- Feeding the soil.
Spencer Bath of Bath Garden Center and Nursery is an entrepreneur and author on biological approach gardening and advanced organic soil amendments.
2- 2:50 pm, Masanobu Fukuoka’s One-Straw Revolution
Masanobu Fukuoka was a Japanese farmer who developed a revolutionary way of growing crops according to his unique way of seeing the world. This workshop will discuss his life’s work.
Larry Korn lived and worked with Mr. Fukuoka at his farm for two years in the 1970s. He is the translator and editor of two of Mr. Fukuoka’s books, The One-Straw Revolution and Sowing Seeds in the Desert. Larry has a degree in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition from UC, Berkeley, has worked for the California Department of Forestry, in wholesale and retail nurseries, and ran a residential landscaping business for many years in the San Francisco Bay Area. He now lives in Ashland, Oregon, where he gives workshops on natural farming, no-tillage farming, and building self-sufficient, resilient local communities.
3- 5 pm, Backyard Goats – Animal Husbandry and Keeping Goats within City Limits
In July 2013, the City of Fort Collins voted allowing two miniature goats to be raised within the City. Workshop topics include raising goats in urban environments and City licensure requirements.
Lindsay Ex is a Senior Environmental Planner with the City of Fort Collins. In this role, she has led the development of the urban agriculture regulations for the City. Lindsay is also assisting in the development of a Local Food Cluster and is actively identifying and removing barriers to local food production so our polices are better aligned with the urban goals outlined in City Plan, the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
Dr. Nancy Irlbeck is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the College of Agriculture Sciences with Colorado State University. Prior to her administrative appointment, Nancy served in a predominantly teaching appointment for 15 years within the Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University. She and her husband Steve live on the Colorado-Wyoming border where they raise six breeds of rare wool sheep.
Bill Porter is the Director of Animal Protection and Control with the Larimer County Humane Society. As a Certified Animal Control Officer (CAACO) and a State Commissioned Animal Control officer with the State of Colorado, Bill utilizes his extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and ordinances related to the control and welfare of animals to set the strategic direction for Larimer Humane Society’s Animal Protection & Control and Pet Licensing departments.
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Sunday Schedule:
11-11:50 am, Intro to Backyard Bees
Learn the basics of back yard beekeeping, how to get started, what equipment you will need, setting up a hive and how to maintain it for long term success.
Greg Michaud and his wife, Patty, operate the Old Feed Store in Laporte, CO. In addition to chickens, the Old Feed Store offers a wide variety of feed selections and common sense advice for sustainable living.
12-12:50 pm, Watering the West: The Story of the Cache la Poudre River
A discussion about the issues that face the Cache la Poudre River including over-allocation of rivers, competing interests, the buying and drying up of farmland to feed growing municipal populations, severe drought, fires in the watershed, diversion and dewatering of rivers.
Sharron Due, Be Reel Pictures will speak. Be Reel Pictures is a Fort Collins based documentary filmmaking company that specializes in telling the other side of the story, the bits you won’t get from media sound bites. At Be Reel Pictures we believe that good storytelling is still the most influential and entertaining aspect of a documentary. We believe that given all the information, people are intelligent enough to make wise choices.
1-1:50 pm, Cut Your Water Bills and Save Colorado
Northern Colorado consumes billions of gallons of water annually at enormous environmental and economic cost. Participants will learn to transform thirsty turf grass into beautiful, sustainable, and affordable native grass.
Jim Tolstrup is the director of High Plains Environmental Center, “restoring nature where we live, work and play”
3:30- 4:30 pm, Bionutrient Food Production for Consumers and Growers
An introduction to the principles and benefits of bionutrient crop production. Consumers and growers alike will learn why some carrots are sweet and delicious and some are bitter and tasteless.
Shawna Lyons is a farmer at Ole Dern Farm, a diversified farm in Northern Colorado that raises cows, pigs, sheep, chickens and a variety of vegetables. She has worked on farms on VT and CO and is passionate about growing nutrient dense foods for her family and yours!