Sunday 21 October 2007Farmers and other landowners in Middle Tennessee are shaking their heads over the drought of 2007. The record low rainfall has created dire situations for many- dry wells and springs failed crops and hungry thirsty livestock. In response people are looking for new information and ideas. A weekend workshop designed to meet this need is scheduled for Nov. 10 and 11 in Cannon County. Water for Every Farm Using Permaculture will be taught by Certified Permaculture Instructor Warren Brush of Quail Springs Permaculture. He will present proven techniques to drought-proof the land through increased water storage. Warren Brush is a recognized leader in the Permaculture movement and has produced Permaculture designs for properties that consist of ¼ acre suburban tracks to farms with hundreds of acres. He teaches Permaculture and community building workshops both locally and internationally. More information about his work is available at www.quailsprings.org. Local landowners Chuck and Angie Ott invited Brush and his assistant Chris McClellan to present this workshop in Cannon County. “We know there is a lot we need to learn about conserving water and improving our soil and these folks are experts. Who better to learn from than people who have made dry lands prosper?” Chuck Ott said. Knowing that many other people in Middle Tennessee have suffered losses the Otts arranged for this Permaculture workshop focused on water security hoping to share the information with their neighbors. Brush and McClellan will also be implementing a whole-farm Permaculture design for the Ott farm located in the Gassaway area of Cannon County. The 2-day workshop which includes lunches will be held on or near the Ott farm depending on how many people register. Registration is $175 per person until Nov. 1 and $200 after that. In order to encourage families who farm together to attend together additional family members are just $25. Work exchanges are possible and people who need to travel to the workshop are welcome to camp on the farm. Contact the Otts to register at (615) 563-8132 or email angie@birdsonghollow.com. More information about Permaculture is available online from many sources including http://www.growing-tropical-permaculture.com/what-is-permaculture.html. A description of keyline plowing is at www.yeomansplow.com.au/yeomans-keyline-system.htm. More information about Warren Brush’s work is available at www.quailsprings.org.
