1] Edible Forest Garden Best Design Announced

A full crowd was on hand for the announcement of the Community  Permaculture Design Open's "Best Design" submission during the 2011 Upstate NY Permaculture Gathering in Rochester on Saturday April 9.  Five complete entries were received in trying to tackle this year's design problem of creating an edible forest snack garden at the Rahma free health clinic at 3100 South Salina St in Syracuse, NY.  The Best Design was selected by a blind jury panel (based upon criteria presented in the Design open Announcement).  

Click here to view the designs: http://www.alchemicalnursery.org/news/370-edible-forest-snack-garden-design-chosen.html

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2] Herb Spiral Workshop Next in Education & Release Series

The next workshop in the Education & Release series is this coming Saturday April 16th from 1:00pm - 2:30pm at 717 Otisco St in Syracuse.

Valerie Dawnstar, Permaculturist from Oswego NY, will be leading the session which will include a discussion of sighting an herb spiral, the benefits of an herb spiral, and a discussion of the types of herbs, and locations in the spiral where they should be located, all based upon Permaculture principles.  In addition, we will be constructing an actual herb spiral 4 feet in diameter with urbanite (broken concrete) and compost soil - so please bring a pair of gloves, and a shovel or rake if you have one.  We will also be accepting cuttings and/or starts of herbs for placement in the spiral and to start the rehabilitation of this urban lot, bring something if you have it to share (stones/urbanite, straw and organic matter also accepted).  In return, you will be welcome to dig up and take home with you cuttings of stinging nettle from an adjacent property.   

Lastly, remember there are no restrooms or running water at this site yet, so please plan accordingly.  There are limited sitting options (straw bale, logs, ground) available as well, so bring a chair if you want to ensure a raised seat.  We’d love to hear from you ahead of time ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 315.876.9771) if you’d like to attend this or any of the future workshops in the series listed at: http://www.alchemicalnursery.org/news/358-education-a-release-series-practicing-synergy.html

[Apr 23 ~ herbal medicine making]  [Apr 30 ~ perennial permaculture  planting]  [May 7 ~ build with earth]  [june 11 ~ the work that reconnects]
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3] A Yurt Raising

Just announced!  We’ll be having Josh Morrow from SUNY-ESF join us at 717 Otisco St on Saturday April 23rd for a yurt raising.  If you’d like to experience the process for raising a yurt, join us for this demonstration.  Josh has constructed this yurt and will lead us through learning about the parts and pieces, and experiencing how to raise it up in an urban backyard.

The yurt raising will be from noon - 2:30pm, and we would love to hear from you if you’d like to join us ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 315.876.9771).  

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4] Upstate NY Permaculture Network

For the second year in a row, Permaculturists and cultural creatives came together under one roof and a beautiful spring sun to learn together and create new and exciting friendships and opportunities.  This year, we converged at the FoodLink distribution center in Rochester, NY (not to rub it in if you weren’t there, but this is what you missed:
http://www.alchemicalnursery.org/news/363-2011-upstate-new-york-permaculture-gathering-april-9-in-rochester.html)

Until we are able to do this again next year (or perhaps more often), please consider joining the conversation and the revolution at the Upstate NY Permaculture Network.  Visit the website at http://upstatenypermaculture.net/, and join the Google Group to be able to post messages at http://groups.google.com/group/upstatenypermaculture?hl=en

You can also find the Upstate NY Permaculture Network on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Upstate-NY-Permaculture-Network/111859342174086

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5] Community News

The Syracuse Community Choir has begun rehearsals once again for the spring season - no experience or skill necessary - Wednesday's from 7-9pm at the Westcott Community Center.  The Choir is also hiring for an Operations Manager to be responsible for the general financial, administrative and operational activities of the Choir, and will report to the Executive Director.
The Operations Manager will: Oversee public relations and marketing including the website and social media; Organize and assist with fundraising activities related to general fundraising, grants and major donor campaign; Work closely with the Bookkeeper and oversee the budget and financial reports; Oversee the Choir’s database; Supervise administrative staff; Coordinate volunteers; Support Choir activities as needed.  This is a part time, salaried position that will require approximately 8 hours per week @ app $160/week, with increased time commitments during concert seasons (December and June).   To see the full announcement and to learn how to apply visit http://syracusecommunitychoir.org/operations-manager-sought-2

The Westcott Bulb Project, our partner the past two years for our fall progressive film screening, is reminding everyone that this is the time to keep your eyes peeled for some of the 72,000 bulbs that have been planted since 2003 to be pushing up through the earth and showering us with Spring color.  
Sites  where you can see bulbs blooming include:
* Westcott neighborhood - hundreds of homes
* Westcott Community Gardens - Harvard Place near Westcott st. * Cooperative Federal Credit Union hillside - 723 Westcott St.
* Westcott Community Center. - Corner of Westcott & Euclid
* Ed Smith School - Broad St. & Lancaster Ave.
* Hutchings Courtyard Garden - 550 Cedar St. * Sunrise Community Center - 1330 E. Washington St.
* McGroarty Park -  McBride Street between East Laurel Street & Union Avenue. * Faith Hope Community Center - 1029 Montgomery Street
* Mundy Branch Library - 1204 S. Geddes, corner of Rowland & Geddes
* House of Providence - 1700 West Onondaga Street
* Delaware Academy - 900 South Geddes St.  corner of Delaware S.
* Hartson Street - 100 block in front yards 

Read the full press release at: http://bulbproject.org/184

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