Ben Link

I'm down in Columbus trying to help develop a local food movement.

Right now, I'm trying to conduct an assessment of our current food system using an organization out of Asheville, NC as consultants. They'll map out the the food producers, processors, transport, consumers, grocers, restaurants, etc.

Then later in 2014, we'll host an open forum in Columbus to share the data, talk about where we are currently and decide on how our region decides to develop.

If anyone is nearby and interested, feel free to contact me.

I'm sure this may be covered elsewhere, but does anyone have any good recommendations (products, brands, etc.) for drafting designs either by freehand or with software?

Also, I'd really like to take some art classes to better my technique. Any thoughts besides Continuing Education classes?

Thanks for all the advice so far! I'm going to pick up a couple books Keller recommends and get prepared for this year's blueberry harvest as a start.

I was browsing Reddit's winemaking forum and came across this post showing off some dandelion wine:

Reddit r/winemaking

Since I live in Southwest Georgia, it's a bit difficult growing the classic grape varietals. I know I can bottle a moscato and berry wines but haven't attempted it yet (maybe a blueberry will be my first?). This reddit post reminded me that wines aren't solely in the domain of fruit, which opens the doors for (potentially) some really awesome, non-grape regional wines.

I'm a bit of a wine-o, so it's only natural I turn to winemaking at some point. Any advice? Resources? Recipes? Thoughts?

I'm taking a fermentation workshop with Sandor Katz this summer, so hopefully he can provide some good insight into this topic as well.

Just like the title says, I'm looking for resources for making my own compost tea. Please show me the way!

I'm traveling with the wife to Koh Phangan in February to get my PDC. Anyone else out there going? Interested?

http://www.phanganearthworks.com/permaculture-design-course.html

I'll be there early for the wood-fired oven workshop, as well.

I reckon I'll need to pop up to Asheville for a course, which wouldn't be too bad. It's been ages since I was last up there.

hiya folks,

Just stumbled upon the permaculture/ecological gardening world over the last few months via a need to control my own food source. I read Fukuoka's One Straw Revolution, finishing up Helen and Scott Nearing's The Good Life and Continuing the Good Life and blazing through Gaia's Garden (really inspiring stuff).

I'm moving back to Atlanta in November (probably somewhere around little 5 points), hoping to have enough backyard to apply these new concepts to build soil, grow the majority of my food (eating what's in season), preserve/store my surplus and create an eye-pleasing world of natural growth. Would love to meet up with like minds...

Also, I want to find a permaculture certification course to take in-and-around atlanta. I won't be able to do the Shades of Green course in Decatur because I'm missing the first two weekends in Oct. and Nov., so if anyone knows about another course coming up please let me know. Same goes for any organic and/or farm-to-table-focused cooking classes...

hope all is well,
ben