Fwd: Wales CSA AGM at Cae Tan | Course: Regenerative Design for Small Farms | Feb 24th & 25th | North Pembrokeshire

[CSA Network UK]

We thought you might like to know about the following course, Regenerative Design for Small Farms, with Niels Corfield in Feb 2018, that Lauren and I are helping to organise.

Regenerative Design for Small Farms | February 24th / 25th 2018
Canolfan Hermon Community Resource Centre, Hermon, Pembs, Wales, SA36 0DT

Fees (inc. food): from £90 (sliding scale)
Booking is essential (deposit or full payment)
Booking form: https://goo.gl/forms/qk5r2FDthB6Iyf3Q2

See below for more course info. Facebook event for full info.

Lauren did the course earlier this year and highly recommends it; she said its really useful for farmers/smallholders/permaculturists at any stage & that Niels is an excellent teacher.

Please do share with your networks and whoever you think might be interested!

I hope this email finds you well & look forward to hearing your thoughts.

phil (& lauren!)

------

Skills and knowledge to redesign your farm or land holding into an agroecological, productive and regenerative system.

Duration: 2 days 

Booking is essential (deposit or full payment)

Over the weekend we will be designing the layout of the farm. The course will be led by Niels Corfield. 

Frameworks Used:

Regenerative agriculture (RegenAg), agroforestry, Keyline planning, soil health principles, Holistic Management, permaculture design.

Course Format:

• Learn by doing - participatory/hands-on design session and facilitated discussions. 
• Learn dry/rote information in a digestible and easy to absorb fashion.
• Experiment with design options and create example plans in an informal, supportive setting. 
• Discuss the different design & management options available to us as farmers/land managers, through the medium of a site specific design.
• Gain confidence in design and decision-making through group discussion and by making placements 
• Create a synthesis of complementary elements on a farm.
• Relate new knowledge and thinking to your own farm or holding.
• Create an indicative design of a generic small farm that is to scale, show casing the options and opportunities for regenerative agriculture.

This course is suitable for:

• Farmers/farm managers & landowners
• Consultants and advisors
• Smallholders
• Those looking to buy/rent land
• Those looking to do a One Planet Development

What topics will be compared and presented?

• Principles, frameworks & methodologies
• Site/microclimate analysis
• Agroforestry systems
• Windbreaks & shelterbelts
• Keyline design & cultivation patterns
• Dams, ponds, water harvesting in the landscape
• Constructed wetlands, living barns
• No-till, min-till & cover crops 
• Cropping systems and cash crop alternatives
• Holistic management, mob grazing, freeranging
• Fencing systems and water provision
• Mushrooms, biochar & biomass production
• Nurseries, propagation and breeding
• Woodland management
• Pasture management and reseeding
• Soil and plant management
• Tree establishment
• Case studies and examples

What visits will be included?

• Grass-fed beef and microdairy farm (70 acres)
• Agroforestry smallholding (5 acres)

Course Design Objectives:

• Increased yields/yield stabilisation
• Reduced input costs
• Eliminate unnecessary work
• Resilience and future-proofing
• Better drought tolerance and alleviated flood issues
• Increased soil organic matter
• Carbon sequestration
• Low maintenance

What You Take Away from the Course:

• Printed 33 page handout 
• Power-point presentations

Catering & Accommodation:

• Lunch and dinner will be served on the first day; breakfast and lunch the second day.
  
• Mains dishes will be vegan and gluten-free, with side dishes to complement these.
• Specialist dietary needs catered for.
• There is parking on site. 
• Please arrange your accommodation in the local area (suggestions on the facebook event)

Permaculture People

Producers of the online series of short films 'Living With The Land' for Permaculture Magazine

"The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe around us, the less taste we shall have for destruction" - Rachel Carson

   

--

Maresa Bossano | CSA Network UK Co-ordinator

www.communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk