Eugene Avant-Gardeners  - Chris Bowling, Peter Grotticelli, Roman Lunsford, Plaedo Wellman, et al -- Taking Care of Human Needs

Eugene Avant-Gardeners is a platform for developing a food gift economy via garden work parties and other mutual aid. The platform in Eugene includes the Facebook group, "Eugene Avant-Gardeners," and group email, eugeneavantgardeners@gmail.com. There is no hierarchy or formal membership - organizers give the tools to anyone who wishes to become an organizer. Avant-Gardeners helps with outreach for community projects such as start giveaways by River Road Community Nursery.

During the panel we will share our personal reasons for becoming organizers, and hear from the audience during the Q&A.Avant-Gardeners first helped facilitate a work party on December 25, 2013 at CALC in Whiteaker. Since then it has helped facilitate dozens of work parties in Eugene and Portland, in community gardens, intentional communities, and people's yards. Avant-Gardeners has tabled at the Lane County Propagation Fair, and organized Kale Fest, a harvest party with musical performances.Saturday 10:3

Henderson -- James Henderson  -- Hummingbird Wholesale -- Taking Care of Human Needs
Communicating the economic details of localized grain production

My presentation will revolve around my efforts in the past 6 years to effectively communicate to the parties involved the specific economics involved in bringing more local Organic grain production to our region. My underlying premise is that there are a lot of smart people, caring, well intentioned people in our region who will produce, process and consume locally produced grain products if the economics make sense to them. A full and unencumbered explanation of how one person's economic decision affects that of another goes a long way in realizing a concerted effort in this arena.

A specific example of all the costs involved in the production of a 50 lb. bag of organic whole wheat flour will be given in an attempt to bring the listeners closer to understanding the economic implications of their purchasing decisions. I will also give an example or two of the intercomapny collaberation involved in making this a success in the past 6 years.

I have been employed as the Farm Liaison in the Hummingbird Wholesale Farm Connections Department for the past 6 years. I have helped start Camas Country Mill and expanded the number of growers, processors and customers through a deliberate effort to be transparent in my communication in matters related to agriculture economics generally as well as with specific costs of production. Sunday 10:30Nope

Johnson -- Kari, Johnson, Eugene, East Blair Housing Co-op
The Human AnimaI I want to chat about what the real needs of the human animal seem to be.  Oh, I've been thinking about it all my lifeSunday 1:30

O'Day -- Terry O 'Day, Forest Grove, Oregon -- Moving Green Ideas into the Broader Community
DYI and Maker Movements; Friend or Foe?

The highly popular maker fairs typically exhibit a marvelous range of technology from robots to 3-d printers. Schools are rushing to set up maker-spaces to promote high achievement in STEM - related fields to feed the demand by hi-tech companies for employees who will develop resource-gobbling innovative products needed to remain competitive in the global market.

At the same time, DYI practitioners focus on the creative design process, promote self-reliance, and include many activities often associated with permaculture practice, such as gardening, cheese-making, and aquaponics. Is the maker movement a big step in the wrong direction or does it offer opportunity for infusing mass culture with permaculture values and techniques?

I have developing a sustainable design/maker program that includes a permaculture requirement at Pacific University. Have written and presented on teaching art, design, and permaculture at various conferences

Shasta -- Blackhorse Shasta; Blachly, Oregon, Circle of Children
ReBuilding Community through Gifting Ties

This presentation is an invitation to take a deeper look at nature’s economy, also known as the gift economy. We will be using the tree as an analogy for understanding how humanity can embody a more natural way of life, one in where we are all here to give of our gifts in service to one another. By combining vision with real life experience, I will be sharing my insights on how gifting culture is the key to building resilient and sustainable communities, and for reaching greater spiritual heights on an individual and collective level.I have been living on the gift economy for the past 8 years, and present it with frequency, both professionally and casually, in writing and verbally. In 2009, I founded a nonprofit organization that has operated on these same principles since its origins, and has met much success, to the extent of being gifted a fully-developed event center on 60 acres at Triangle Lake, Oregon. We are currently offering this center as a gift for schools and organizations in our community, to join us in creating a cooperatively-run education and event center to showcase sustainable models of living and learning. 


Shapla -- Roman Shapla, Cascadia Bioregion, Salem  -- Taking Care of Human Needs
Monkeyflower Farm School

A Permaculture Model for a Preferred Future As we work together to meet our food, energy, and social needs, three questions can guide us on our journey: How can we look towards land-based cultures for real life examples, ideas, and inspiration? What role do children play in creating a sustainable future? And how can youthful energy help us put the Fun back in Stacking Functions? Roman Shapla, founder of the Children’s Permaculture Guild, discusses these questions and how they are guiding the establishment of Monkeyflower Farm School, North America’s first K-12 school designed along permaculture principles.I have been introducing permaculture to children for around a decade.

Although my daily teaching is focused on 4-12 year olds, I have taught all ages ranging from toddlers to elderly. I have taught classes at conferences, gatherings, lectures, public parks, homeschool groups, and private schools. Presently I am the Education Director for the children’s museum in Salem where I have the freedom to create my own curriculum, publish the Kurent journal which features permaculture content for parents, and I continue to provide free content, lesson plans, and resources to the larger community. Saturday 3:00Form won't allow me to choose three times to present, so my choices are: 1) Saturday 3:00 2) Saturday 1:30 and 3) Sunday 1:30. Thanks!

Spencer -- Jan Spencer, Eugene, Suburban Permaculture, Moving Green Ideas into the Broader Community
Green Preparedness

This presentation will describe how taking care of more needs closer to home makes a home and neighborhood more resilient when disruptions occur. Water, food, energy. Thre is a social aspect to green prearedness. When friends and neighbors are also taking care of more needs closer to home, there is a broader level of preparedness. Even better when friends and neighbors work with each other on "home economics." The presentation will touch on front yard gardens and why they are imporatant to build preparedness. Also making use of city programs that can empower citizen initiative for building preparedness and civic culture. The presentation will touch on reaching out to governmental agencies with ideas about green preparedness to explain how taking care of more needs closer to home fits within thier more main stream approach to preparedness.Jan has been developing home economics on his quarter acre suburban property for 15 years. Water, solar, food, creativity and has working relatioships with many of his neighbors. He was also on the board of his neighborhood association for ten years and has direct experience with making use of mainstream programs for a more ambitious agenda.Saturday

Tilt -- Charles Tilt, Eugene, Hummingbird Wholesale
Taking Care of Human Needs

Business as if people mattered. By prioritizing quality of life and human relationships, we can meet our needs while meeting the needs of others. In creating a vibrant local food system we find the opportunities for meaningful exchange, good food, a healthy ecosystem and a vibrant local economy. The means to accomplish this work can rest on appropriate technology, including the technology of relationship and an understanding of the natural systems that foster abundance.

Hummingbird has given 100's of tours to diverse age groups. We live and practice the principles every day and have been successful in giving to the community and growing our capacity for influencing positive change over the last 11 years. We train our staff in customer service, positive relationships, personal accountability and healthy lifestyle choices.  Saturday 10:30

Wollner --  David Wollner, Eugene, OR, The Green Store
Moving Green Ideas into the Broader Community

I have endeavored to create a better world through right livelihood. I studied Macrobiotics with Michio Kushi and other teachers from 1972 through 1981. Besides diet and natural healing that community spearheaded organic agriculture, living in harmony with the earth and nature. I wrote feature articles for the East West Journal magazine. I owned and operated several natural food stores. I saw that work as an extension of my personal values and training. After selling the store I owned in Eugene, I became Business Manager at BRING where I spearheaded their deconstruction crew and was the point person during the negotiation for purchasing and planning of BRING's new site. I also contributed a series of essays to BRING's newsletter. The past 8 years I have owned and operated The Green Store as its managing partner.Saturday 3:00