Tri-state Food Not Lawns was founded to help bring Permaculture practice and philosophy into the urban and suburban communities of the New York metropolitan area. We seek to provide the local community with opportunities for hands-on experience, training, and a variety of targeted seminars and workshops covering the many important skills necessary for the successful Permaculture designer.

Future Visions - A Film Series

Dear Friends:

Public awareness about global warming has surged since the release of Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” – but we have a long way to go. Many climate scientists tell us that we must reduce carbon emissions by 2% each year - or 80% by 2050. Others tell us we need to reduce carbon emissions 80% or 90% within 10 years. If we do not begin immediately reducing our carbon emissions (our energy use), we’re headed for runaway accelerating climate change. Continuing to do business as usual will lead us off a cliff.

Permaculture and the Looming Water Crisis

In our ongoing efforts to bring Permaculture to a mass audience, we often find ourselves framing Permaculture in terms of local food production or, even more misleading, gardening strategies. While these are certainly legitimate areas addressed by Permaculture, it is possible that we overlook what should be a major focus of our outreach activities: water management.

Addicted to Grass: The Lawn and Short of It

Everyone enjoys a little romp with a favorite pet on a well kept lawn or perhaps relaxing on a lovely day with a good book or picnic spread. But few are aware that lawns got their start in pre-industrial Britain and France with the aristocratic classes desiring to show off their excess acreage by growing grass and ornamentals. At that time, having these elegantly manicured expanses was a sign of stature and wealth because it meant the owner didn’t need to use all his land for the cultivation of food.

Welcome to Tristate Food Not Lawns

Permaculture is a design system for sustainable living and for land use. It is an empowering response to environmental and social crisis.

Free urban gardening class

08/14/2008 - 7:00pm
08/14/2008 - 8:30pm
Etc/GMT-4

In this class we will go over categories of perennial berries and their planting requirements. Additionally, we'll be exploring in detail the art of mushroom cultivation.

WHERE: 420 E 12th St New York, NY 10009

WHEN: Thursday 8/14, 7pm

WHO: Ke Xu (Suburban Backyard Gardener)
Adam Horwitch (Rooftop Gardener)

COST: Free to attend. Optional Fee of up to 5 dollars.

gardening class

07/03/2008 - 7:00pm
07/03/2008 - 9:00pm
Etc/GMT-4

Free Urban Gardening Class, Optional Fee of up to 5 dollars
Open Road, 420 East 12th Street, Manhattan

In this class we will go over the details of planting several varieties of Summer season Vegetables. Additionally, we'll be going into detail on harvesting, watering, and vegetable maintenance techniques during hot summer days. Adam Horwitch (Rooftop Gardener) and Ke Xu (Suburban Backyard Gardener).

SPONSORS: Green Sacs, Tri-State Food Not Lawns

Permaculture Design Certificate course

07/19/2008 - 9:00am
07/19/2008 - 4:00pm
Etc/GMT-4

http://www.opencenter.org/content/view/961/5/

WHAT: Permaculture Design Certification
WHERE: The Open Center in Manhattan
WHEN: 11 sessions
Starting July 19, ending November 1

Dave Jacke - Designing Perennial Polycultures (Forest Gardens)

06/20/2008 - 7:00pm
06/23/2008 - 4:00pm
Etc/GMT-4

Friends,

Rain Water Collection and Storage and Distribution Design

06/21/2008 - 3:30pm
06/21/2008 - 5:30pm
Etc/GMT-4

City Solar Renewable Energy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 2008

Announcing a new "Renewable Alternative Energy Workshop" presented by Tracy Fitz of City Solar, Brooklyn, NY.

Date: June 21st 3:30PM-5:30PM

Subject: "Rain Water Collection and Storage and Distribution Design"
(Workshop fee $20 at the door. No registration necessary.)

Description: Learn how much water runs off your roof during a rain, how to collect and store it, and how you might get it to where you want to use it.

Location: 6/15 Green Community Garden, 6th Avenue and 15th Street Park Slope Brooklyn, NY

MAREA festival

09/19/2008 - 9:00am
09/21/2008 - 5:00pm
Etc/GMT-4

MidAtlantic Renewable Energy Association's
Pennsylvania Energy Fest '08
(about 1.5-2.0 hour drive from NYC)

A homegrown energy festival. Last year we attended informative workshops on beekeeping, staw bale building, hydropower from your backyard stream, building a solar wall to heat your home, and making a solar cooker from a pizza box, to name but a few. You could also watch environmental movies and buy homemade soap, moisturizer made from goat milk, organic vegetables, small wind systems, and solar systems.

For more information about this year's festival, go to