This is TLC Farm's fifth year as a Village Building Convergence site, and we're excited to be hosting a number of fun projects and workshops.

The Village Building Convergence (VBC) is a 10-day citywide event from Friday, May 23rd – Sunday, June 1, 2008 in which neighborhoods activate to build shared public places that they have envisioned, designed, funded, and will maintain for themselves. The VBC will include hands-on education in permaculture design and construction, ecological building, and public art.

Each evening, the public is invited to gather for presentations and music at Bossanova, 722 E Burnside, from 5pm to late. For more details about the VBC, visit the City Repair websire at www.cityrepair.org.

TLC Farm is having a more limited project schedule this year, with public projects and workshops on May 24, 25, 29, 30 & 31st. Work parties will run from 10am - 5pm each day and lunch will be provided to volunteers.

VBC 8 Schedule at TLC Farm

Schedule of general projects:
Friday, May 23rd – garden projects & prep for the week
Saturday, May 24th – Earthen plastering on the dragon bench
Sunday, May 25th – Earthen plastering on the dragon bench
Thursday, May 29th – Earthen plastering & burnishing on the dragon bench
Friday 30th – Touch up earthen painting on other projects (bench and cob oven); build & plant herb spiral.
Saturday 31st – garden projects and complete any remaining plastering/earthen painting

Schedule of workshops:
Sheet Mulching Workshop
May 24th, 3-5pm
Living healthy soil is a key for producing healthy plants and nutritious food. Come learn how to build abundant soil through the process of sheet mulching.
Led by: Bonsai Matt

EcoRoof Workshop
Sunday May 25th, 12-4pm - Rain-cancelled: To Be Rescheduled
Install a living roof on one of TLC Farm's educational land signs. The workshop will include: 'a permacultural approach to living roofing -- using what's readily available, low-tech and self-sustaining, resulting in a simple, low-cost DIY model eco-roof.
Led by: Joel Carver

Plant Propagation Workshop
Sunday May 25th, 2-4:00 pm
Led by: Marisha Auerbach (Olympia, WA) and Bonsai Matt

Integrated Animal Stewardship
Sunday May 25th, 3pm-5pm
Examine the role of small livestock in integrated design systems at Tryon Life Community Farm. TLC Farm has goats and chickens and is actively transforming their care and housing to be more in line with permaculture principles. The workshop will discuss some basics of goat and chicken care, examine how animals can be helpful parts of a farm ecosystem, and touch on the many ethical considerations in animal husbandry.
Led by: Brenna Bell & Sue Romas

Art with Nature
Thursday May 29th, 2pm-5pm
Join Nature at TLC Farm to perform what he calls ‘Earth Meditation Consciousness’ and co-create sacred space. Mysteries will be answered by simply listening to the land. Come heal the land and your relationship with her, by immersing yourself fully in the forest.
Led by: Nature Hogan

Water Re-Use Discussion
Friday May 30th, 3-5 pm
Discuss the ins and outs of graywater and rainwater re-use with one of the country's leading experts – Art Ludwig, founder of Oasis Design.
led by: Art Ludwig

Rocket Stove & Workshop
Saturday May 31st, 1-5:00 pm
Join visiting experts from Aprovecho in assembling and installing a one-pot rocket stove in the TLC outdoor kitchen. The workshop will include a history of Aprovecho’s international involvement in the rocket stove movement, and the importance of increasing wood fire efficiency while lessoning harmful emissions. You will also get to build your very own pocket rocket stove. The hands on building portion of the workshop will display in detail the internal functions of a rocket stove, explain combustion basics, and how to efficiently capture heat. In addition you will learn about a great energy-saving cooking technology that everyone can make easily: a haybox!"
Led by: Tao Orion