Ecological Arts: Workshops and Summer Camps in the SF Bay Area

2009 WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

Rain Garden Tour
Feb 15th

In light of our current water realities Ecological Arts has worked with Sustainable Fairfax to create a rain garden tour.
This tour will include a residence in Fairfax that has created blue landscaping with natives to manage roof runoff, the Sustainability Center and it's home-scale roof water reclamation and vernal pond gardens, and a school with a cistern that is meeting the needs of the school garden. A representative from Fairfax Lumber will be showing off their blue landscaping materials and a local water tank distributor will be available to sell tanks. We will have a brochure on how you can best manage the precious resource of water in your garden.

For information on time and meeting place: Go to: http://www.sustainablefairfax. org/content/blogsection/2/4/

Walk on the Wild Side
March 29 th

Come to a walk on the wild side event with Mia Andler from trackers NW, and Ecological Artist Rebecca Burgess.

Experience the almost forgotten treasures of the local native diet- bulbs, corms and tubers. This class will show you where and how these lovely edible foods grow, techniques for introducing them into your own garden, and how they are traditionally harvested. Location : meet at the San Domenico garden (drive all the way to the end of the school road, and park in the lot). Time : TBA

More details will be up soon at:

http://www.trackersnw.com/bay- area-adult/bay-area-wild- edible-plant-classes.php

Ecological Arts Training
April 13-30 th

Canal Child Care center staff and students will take an ecological arts training. The training will focus on supporting staff and children to re-discover both new and ancient ways of engaging with the natural world, through a process of art making and movement. This training will be apart of solidifying the ecological arts curricula for the young child. Soon to be compiled and offered to the public. If you are an early educator who would like to participate as a volunteer intern during this training you can contact Rebecca Burgess at resplondir@comcast.net

Wild Color, Wild Food
Held at Cavallo Point
Date: TBA :

This day will be a feast for the eyes, mouth, and belly…

We will learn how Native Americans lived in the Fort Baker area for thousands of years without the need for imported food or goods. We will explore the area together, while harvesting a selection of edible and dye-use plants, through traditional harvesting methods- when possible. We will then return to the Cavallo Point kitchen to prepare our own native natural dyes, and share a wild lunch with the facilitation of the director of the Cavallo Point cooking school, Kelsie Kerr. Families are encouraged to attend.

For details on location and time:

http://www.cavallopoint.com/ culinary_programs.php

500 years to the Present
6:30 Circle Center seed Space, 17 Bolinas Rd
April 23

500 yrs. To the present, is a talk about the process of relocalization; and what we should know about the history of our land as we seek to re-introduce ourselves as foragers, gatherers, eaters, and stewards. This talk is focused on land use history within our area, and seeks to inform and inspire us to better understand where we live- and how to live on the land in a way that sustains mutual abundance between ourselves, and the plants, and creatures we share it with. This talk will be given through the sustainable Fairfax education forum. Look for details closer to the date at:

http://www.sustainablefairfax. org/content/blogsection/2/4/

Natural Dye Day
California School of Herbal Studies
June 6 th

This one-day class focuses on the use of common perennial native plants for natural dyes. Participants will learn how to harvest, where to harvest, and when. We will explore the general patterns of local of land-use history, and its effects on our relationships with these plants. We will learn how to prepare animal or plant fibers for dyeing. Dye vats from five native plants will be made ready for us to experiment with, using locally sourced wool, organic cotton, and silk as our palettes.

For details on time and location check out: http://www.cshs.com/

Bay Area Discovery Museum Camp
June 15 th -19 th
July 6 th -10 th
August 3 rd -7 th

Children will learn to work with native local plants to make dyes, paper, and fiber. We will explore natural building, weaving, and felting, all within the Fort Baker landscape at the edge of the Bay. The day is balanced between activities that stimulate the mind, support the body, and enhance a sense of community between children and their teacher. Using story, movement games, time outside, and hands-on activities, children are joyfully engaged and leave with a sense of accomplishment, and confidence.

Sign up through the Bay Area Discovery Museum or email hposner@badm.org