Join hosts Technicians for Sustainability (tfssolar.com) on August 26, 2010, at 6:30pm for a captivating 1-hour talk, “Water Wanderings and More in the Middle East,” with Brad Lancaster,  author of the award-winning Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond.

In this presentation, Brad will share inspiring stories and images gleaned during two recent trips to the Middle East: a U.S. State Department-sponsored trip to Jordan and Saudi Arabia in 2009, and a return trip to the region in 2010 to teach permaculture in Palestine and conduct research in Syria and Israel.

Topics Include: sustainable groundwater extraction with ancient gravity-fed qanats; the forgotten and refound cisterns of old Jeddah; revived Nabatean runoff farms producing almonds, carob, olives, pomegranates, grapes, figs, and more on just 4 inches (50 mm) of rain per year; rainwater tea; revolving community loan funds; water wise women of Jordan; tank culture in a water-truck culture, the spiral cisterns of the Bell Caves, salvaged plastic bottle irrigation, and kanafa.

Where: TFS’s downtown location at 612 N 7th Avenue. Car parking available on the north side of 5th Street. Plenty of bike parking available.

Reserve Encouraged: Please RSVP by August 19th. Light Middle Eastern refreshments will be served. To reserve your spot, please email TFS community outreach coordinator Aimee King at aimee@tfssolar.com or call 740-0736.

If you are inspired to help spread the word about this event, you can download TFS’ Water Wanderings Talk Flyer and email it around or print and hang on your favorite community bulletin board. Thanks!

During this free workshop you will learn how to implement water-harvesting earthworks with Brad Lancaster on one of his sites here in Tucson.

There will be no lecture and no slide show — all instruction will happen as you work.

This is aptly described as a WORKshop — please attend only if you can come prepared to wield a shovel and give your sweat glands a good workout. In return, you will learn the art & science of earthworks from Brad himself.

Refreshments and refills of your own water bottle will be provided.

Be prepared to be outdoors in the sun for the duration of the workshop. Wear a hat and closed-toe shoes.

Brad will provide some tools, but if you have a shovel, pick, or iron rake you could bring, please do so.

Limited to 20 people.

For location and directions, send an email to admin@harvestingrainwater.com.

“The Carbon Ranch: Using Food and Stewardship to Build Soil and Fight Climate Change.”

Climate change is the most pressing issue confronting humanity. It is also a tremendous opportunity. Right now, the only possibility of large-scale removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere is through plant photosynthesis and other land-based carbon sequestration activities. Strategies include: enriching soil carbon, farming with perennials, employing climate-friendly livestock practices, conserving natural habitat, restoring degraded watersheds and range lands, and producing local food. Over the past decade, many of these strategies have been demonstrated to be both practical and profitable. A carbon ranch bundles them into an economic whole with the aim of creating climate-friendly landscapes that are both healthy ecologically and the source of healthy food.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Dr. David Montgomery, geologist and author of Dirt!: The Erosion of Civilizations

• Sara Scheer, Ecoagriculture Partners

• Dr. Christine Jones, Founder of the Australian Soil Carbon Accreditation Scheme

• Dr. Jeffrey Creque, agroecologist with the Marin Carbon Project

• John Wick, rancher and leader of the Marin Carbon Project

• Greg Judy, rancher and ‘mob-grazing’ educator

• Jeff Moyer, Farm Director for the Rodale Institute, on organic no-till

• Constance Neely, consultant for land, livelihoods and climate change

• Dr. Bill Chameides, Dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University

• Abe Collins, New Soil Matrix

• Brock Dolman, Director of the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center

• Nancy Ranney, rancher, Ranney Grassfed Beef

• Steve Apfelbaum, Applied Ecological Services
  

For general information on the conference, visit:
quiviracoalition.org/_2010_Conference/index.html

To download the conference announcement (3-page PDF), click here:
Quivira 2010 Conference Announcement

To register (or for registration details, including cost):
quiviracoalition.org/_2010_Conference/Online_Registration/index.html

To contact the Quivira Coalition:

The Quivira Coalition
1413 Second Street, Suite 1
Santa Fe, NM 87505

(505) 820-2544 ext 0#
admin@quiviracoalition.org

The mission of The Quivira Coalition is “to build resilience by fostering ecological, economic and social health on western landscapes through education, innovation, collaboration, and progressive public and private land stewardship.”

WMG Water Harvesting Lecture Series #5: Water Harvesting for Food Production

Internationally renowned water-harvesting expert Brad Lancaster will offer a presentation on the use of water-harvesting systems for food production.  Food is virtual water – originating from the source of irrigation. Local, sustainable food is all the rage, but we can take it further by growing that food with local, sustainable water. This talk covers the growing of food using rainwater, stormwater, and greywater for irrigation. Case studies include rain-fed greenhouses, dryfarming, backyard market gardens, granada greywater groves, and climate-appropriate traditional and appropriate plantings. This class is a session of Watershed Management Group’s Water Harvesting Certification program that is made available to the public.

Cost: $25

Date & Time: Saturday, July 17, 1:30 – 3:30pm

**Updated Location: Ward 3 City Council Office: 1510 E Grant Rd

Space is limited; register with James MacAdam, james@watershedmg.org, 520-396-3266.

Visit watershedmg.org for more information.

WMG Water Harvesting Lecture Series #4: Landscape Design for Water Harvesting

Landscape designer and author Scott Calhoun will present on the application of landscape-design principles to water-harvesting landscapes.  This class is based on the premise that water-conserving landscapes can be detailed, beautiful, and plant-rich. Participants will learn about the distinctive qualities of desert gardens and be introduced to basic landscape design skills. We will discuss how patios, rocks, and plants are incorporated into gardens as design elements. This class is a session of the WMG Water Harvesting Certification program that is made available to the public.

Cost: $25

Date & Time: Thursday, July 15, 2:30 – 4:30 pm

Location: WMG Office, 3809 E 3rd St, Tucson

Space is limited; RSVP to James MacAdam required, james@watershedmg.org, 520-396-3266.

Visit watershedmg.org for more information on the course.

For more information on Scott Calhoun, visit zonagardens.com.

WMG Water Harvesting Lecture Series #3: Water Harvesting Earthworks

WMG co-founder, instructor and water-harvesting expert Catlow Shipek will offer a presentation on the types and uses of water-harvesting earthworks.  The presentation will include information on design, installation and best practices for the use of earthworks for harvesting rainwater and reducing erosion.  This class is a session of the WMG Water Harvesting Certification program that is made available to the public.

Cost: $25

Date & Time: Monday, July 12, 1:30 – 3:30pm

Location: WMG Office, 3809 E 3rd St, Tucson

Space is limited; register with James MacAdam, james@watershedmg.org, 520-396-3266.

Visit watershedmg.org for more information.

WMG Water Harvesting Lecture Series #2: Greywater

Internationally renowned water-harvesting expert Brad Lancaster will offer a presentation on the use of greywater as a water resource.  This talk covers all the basics of gravity-fed greywater harvesting systems – ranging from very simple-to-install systems such as the “Bucket & Chuck It,” to more complex-to-install, but much more convenient-to-use Branched-Drain and Multi-Pipe Laundry systems. Retrofits and new construction are covered, along with greywater-harvesting stubouts, guidelines, laws, appropriate soaps and detergents, maintenance, case studies, and kitchen sink dark greywater systems. This class is a session of the WMG Water Harvesting Certification program that is made available to the public.

Cost: $25

Date & Time: Sunday, July 11, 1:30 – 3:30 pm

Location: 940 W Alameda Ave, Tucson

Space is limited; register with James MacAdam, james@watershedmg.org, 520-396-3266.

Visit watershedmg.org for more information.

WMG Water Harvesting Lecture Series #1: Cisterns

WMG instructor and professional water-harvesting installer Lincoln Perino will offer a presentation on history, uses, and best practices for installing water harvesting tanks and cisterns. This class is a session of the WMG Water Harvesting Certification program that is made available to the public.

Cost: $25

Date & Time: Sunday, July 11, 7:45 – 9:45 am

Location: 940 W Alameda Ave, Tucson

Space is limited; register with James MacAdam, james@watershedmg.org, 520-396-3266.

Visit watershedmg.org for more information.

Click for Brad Lancaster Event Info in Hebrew.

Come and learn from Brad Lancaster, a global expert on harvesting, saving and using rainwater. Brad offers simple, affordable solutions that anyone can apply. Whether in a rural or urban setting, large or small scale, as a professional designer or for personal use, you can learn how to turn this problem into a solution.

For more information about Brad and his work: www.harvestingrainwater.com

Location: Lecture Hall at Kibbutz Beit Oren

Workshop Times: 8:30 am – 4 pm with a lunch break
Evening Lecture Time: 5 pm

Cost: 150 NIS, for one or both events (the price is the same whether you go to one or both events)

For more details and enrollment please call or email: 0572258745 or  rainwaterisrael@gmail.com

There are a limited number of spots available. All talks will be in English.

Water: From Shortage to Abundance

Click for Brad Lancaster Event Info in Hebrew.

For more details and enrollment: please call 0572258745 or write rainwaterisrael@gmail.com.

Seating is limited. All talks will be in English.