Ecological Design Workshop Series: Pilot Project

There is a profound urgency for a model of sustainability that enables a rapid reduction in the burning of fossil fuels and remodels how we as humans interact with our environment.  The Ecological Design Workshops will examine how rethinking neighbourhood design, zoning, and construction can make real contributions towards reducing air pollution, maintaining wildlife habitat and greenways, and encouraging local food production and consumption.

Sustainable Community Design (SCD) is a land-planning approach in which the central principle is the preservation of natural lands and the restoration or maintenance of ecological connectivity between development zones. The combination of SCD with the latest green building and community infrastructure approaches makes feasible the design and construction of neighbourhoods that are pedestrian friendly and are focused on renewable energy, organic agriculture and green living. The goal is to start designing liveable sustainable communities.

Falls Brook Centre is piloting a series of ecological design workshops that integrate SCD’s landscape level planning approach with energy conservation-oriented design. The goal of the workshop series is to provide capacity-building opportunities for individuals and communities interested in re-designing their local neighbourhoods to achieve a net-zero energy balance while enriching the social and environmental relationships with the land and between neighbours.

Workshop Series #1:  Designing Communities for a Liveable Future

Sustainable Community Design 1:

SCD 1 provides an introduction to the basic principles of conservation subdivision and sustainable community design, with particular emphasis on the potential benefits of SCD in rural communities.  The workshop will also explore the possibilities that community land trusts provide to maintain connectivity on larger tracts of land.  The South Knowlesville Community Land Trust will be used as a case study. 

SCD1 can be tailored to various audiences to fit an hour to two hour timeframe. To request a workshop/seminar contact tegan@fallsbrookcentre.ca or by phone at 506-375-7383.

Workshop Dates & Location:

• April 3rd - Mount Allison University
• April 5th - Falls Brook Centre
• April 13th - Ohio Valley, Antigonish, NS
• April 21st - Alma, NB

Sustainable Community Design 2:

SCD 2 provides a more in-depth and hands-on training for those interested in applying the concepts of SCD.  This workshop may be of interest to planners, developers, municipal officials, and community leaders.  The basics of sustainable community design will be reviewed, along with other alternative community design and planning models.  A number of case studies from the Maritimes will also be examined.  Hands-on design activities will encourage participants to apply the principles they have learned to real-world examples. 

Workshop Dates & Location:

• April 9th - Falls Brook Centre, 1-4pm
• May 11th - Artful Acre, South Knowlesville 10-3pm - Lunch is Potluck. Workshop is free but please call 375-8623 or email to register by May 9th

Workshop Series #2:  Energy Mindfulness, Renewable Energy Generation & Natural Building

Energy Mindfulness 1: 

Energy Mindfulness 1 will examine renewable energy for a conservation-oriented lifestyle.  It provides an overview of renewable energy technologies as well as energy budgeting and economics and simple efficiency and conservation measures.

EM1 can be tailored to various audiences to fit an hour to two hour timeframe. To request a workshop/seminar contact brent@fallsbrookcentre.ca or by phone at 506-375-7383.

Next Workshop Dates & Location:

• April 16th - Mount Alison University
• May 4th - Moncton at Earth Day Green Expo Extravaganza
  

Energy Mindfulness 2: 

Energy Mindfulness 2 will provide an in-depth hands-on training in building with local, natural materials and using solar electric.  The natural building component will focus on the use of cob and straw as building materials, and will involve participants in the construction of a timberframe home with strawbale infill.

EM2 will be offered only at Falls Brook Centre to in order to visit and participate in on the ground projects at or nearby Falls Brook Centre. These workshops are generally full day events.

Next Workshop Dates & Location:

• May 17 -Tiberframe & Strawbale Building Introduction at the Artful Acre, South Knowlesville 10am to 3pm, lunch is potluck or $15 contribution towards food. Please register by calling Tegan at 506-375-8623 or by email. Space limited. Registration deadline May 9th.
• May 23 to 25- Natural Building Theory, Design and Practice at the Artful Acre, South Knowlesville. Cost for Weekend course is $75 including food and tentsite. Please register by calling Tegan at 506-375-8623 or by email. Space limited. Registration deadline May 16th.
• June 7 to 8- Solar Electric & Energy Mindfulness in Practice at Falls Brook Centre, South Knowlesville. Cost for Weekend course is $100 including food. Click here for more details...

For more information about the workshops offered or the pilot project, please contact Tegan at tegan@fallsbrookcentre.ca or by phone 506-375-7383.

These workshops are made available thanks in part to the support of the following: Artful Acre Design, EcoAction Community Grant, Environmental Trust Fund, Mark Connell, V.W.Trails, and Welwyn Wong Landscape Design.