Peak Oil and Climate Change are frightening realities, and the token gestures being made at the top are a far cry from what is actually needed to bring the Earth back into balance. We need a fundamental re-think of how humans interact with our environment.

Permaculture: The positive, solutions-oriented holistic design science of Permaculture is that fundamental re-think, and allows us to design our place in nature in a way that is practical, profitable and sustainable into the indefinite future.

"Most thinking people would agree that we have arrived at final and irrevocable decisions that will either abolish or sustain life on this earth. The experience of the Natural world and its laws has almost been abandoned for closed, artificial and meaningless lives - and uncontrolled industrial growth that is, in small bites, or large catastrophes, eroding life forms every day. Whether we continue, without an ethic or a philosophy, like abandoned and orphaned children, or whether we create opportunities to achieve maturity, balance and harmony is the only real question that faces the present generation. There are many opportunities to create systems that work from the elements and technologies that exist. Perhaps we should do nothing else for the next century but apply our knowledge. to build, maintain, and inhabit those sustainable systems." - Bill Mollison

It is our intention to grow the vast majority of our own food and fiber right here on the farm, and show others how do the same.

We will be offering courses and workshops in Permaculture -- from the one day intro to the full 72-hour Permaculture Design Course and beyond (all at Ars Terra have completed the full Permaculture Design Course).

Natural Building: All of our buildings and structures will be built out of natural and/or reclaimed and sustainable materials, such as cob, strawbale, earthbag/rammed earth, adobe, sustainably harvested timber and others. We will also be offering courses and workshops in Natural Building.

Alternative Energy: It is the goal of Ars Terra to be functioning off-grid, using primarily photovoltaic solar and catavent wind power. Courses in Alternative Energy will also be taught; with many workshops and hands-on projects to come, we hope to teach many others how to do it for themselves and their communities.

Alternative Fuels: Alternatives to big oil have never been more important; biodiesel, ethanol, electric -- all have their place and purpose, and some of the conversions are not as difficult as you might think. As gas prices continue to skyrocket, these are destined to become some of our most well-attended workshops.