Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship Calendar

Wednesday Home School Group (private event) (8 Sep 2010)

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:30:00 GMT

Home School group using pavilion @ Demory Field for approximately 20 students. 10:30am - 1:30pm

USTR Trail clearing (11 Sep 2010)

Sat, 11 Sep 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Sept 11-12, USTR Trail clearing

"USING YOUR HARVEST" WORKSHOP (12 Sep 2010)

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Instructor - Devin Lamma

This course will celebrate the bounty of the garden and will offer ideas, techniques, and creative solutions to using a gardener's bounty. You'll learn about cooking with the freshest foods and how to use those beloved garden favorites in new and wonderful ways. The course will offer a soup, salad, entree and dessert. And don't worry, enough will be prepared so that everyone gets to eat! The program will begin with a tour of Mountain View Farm, our on-site organic farm, where participants will learn about the techniques of organic farming and the benefits they provide to our health and our environment.

Devin Lamma is a 22-year veteran of the food service industry with a passion for food, education, and travel. Influenced by the rich food traditions of his native Virginia, Devin is in constant pursuit of knowledge relating to food history, nutrition, agriculture and culinary preparation techniques. He is currently employed by Whole Foods Market where he has worked as sous chef, catering manager and purchaser of specialty products. Food and travel are two continuous themes in Devin's life. In 2001 he traveled to Antarctica where he worked as a chef, preparing daily meals for the 1200 residents of McMurdo Station. In 2009 he traveled to Italy where he worked for Tenuta di Spannocchia, an organic farm and "agriturismo" in Tuscany. While at Spannocchia, he studied the traditional skills and techniques of butchering and curing meats. Devin recently returned to Europe in March 2010 where he explored food traditions and took a self-guided "gastro tour" of Germany, France, and Italy.

Any questions about the workshop may be directed to BRCES Program Director Jeffrey Alvey at jalvey@blueridgecenter.org

Wednesday Home School Group (private event) (15 Sep 2010)

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:30:00 GMT

Home School group using pavilion @ Demory Field for approximately 20 students. 10:30am - 1:30pm

USTR Trail marking (17 Sep 2010)

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Sept 17, USTR Trail marking

Sept 18, USTR - JPR preparations

Sept 19, USTR - JPR (Judged Pleasure Ride)

USTR - JPR preparations (18 Sep 2010)

Sat, 18 Sep 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Sept 17, USTR Trail marking

Sept 18, USTR - JPR preparations

Sept 19, USTR - JPR (Judged Pleasure Ride)

USTR - JPR (Judged Pleasure Ride) (19 Sep 2010)

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Sept 17, USTR Trail marking

Sept 18, USTR - JPR preparations

Sept 19, USTR - JPR (Judged Pleasure Ride)

Wednesday Home School Group (private event) (22 Sep 2010)

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:30:00 GMT

Home School group using pavilion @ Demory Field for approximately 20 students. 10:30am - 1:30pm

BIRD WALK-BIRDING THE BLUE RIDGE CENTER (25 Sep 2010)

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 12:00:00 GMT

BIRDING the BLUE RIDGE CENTER. On the fourth Saturday of each month (except December), the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy (LWC) leads a free bird walk at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES). This beautiful 900-acre preserve is located on Harpers Ferry Road, Rte 671, in northwestern Loudoun County. Only a few miles south of Harpers Ferry and the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, the property includes meadows in the valley and heavily forested slopes on the Blue Ridge. We’ll meet at the BRCES Visitor Center at 8:00am the morning of the walk. For more information, please contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.

NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY Event (25 Sep 2010)

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 13:00:00 GMT

National Public Lands Day – Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010 9:00am

The Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES) has registered (for its 3^rd year) to be a part of the National Public Lands Day (NPLD) event on September 25, 2010 (www.publiclandsday.org). NPLD is a national day of caring for the land, a coast-to-coast effort to improve and enhance our treasured lands. We are currently seeking volunteers for this event to help with repairing/maintaining trails, building/repairing bridges; planting trees, clearing brush, collecting seed, etc., (anything that will "beautify" the land). All projects start at 9:00 a.m. There is no time commitment required. You can decide what you want to do, and how much time you want to volunteer. Pre-registration is required. Please contact Darlene Lamoureux, DLamoureux@blueridgecenter.org, 540-668-7640.

"FOUNDATIONS OF FERTILITY" WORKSHOP (26 Sep 2010)

Sun, 26 Sep 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Instructor - Rob Moutoux

Soil fertility is a complex subject involving three main aspects- physical, chemical, and biological. In this workshop, we'll cover those aspects and their interactions. Primarily, we'll learn the importance of soil testing, how to read soil tests, and what to do to properly balance your soil. Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Sulfur, Phosphorous, and trace elements all need to be there in the right ratios, and biology needs to be working to cycle the nutrients to plant availability. Following this program will lead to high quality, healthy plants that produce nutrient-dense, health-promoting foods in your gardens!

Rob Moutoux is the owner of Moutoux Orchards in Loudoun County. Moutoux Orchards is committed to low-impact, environmentally friendly, sustainable agriculture and uses organic and biological methods to ensure that their trees reach their full genetic potential.

Any questions about the workshop may be directed to BRCES Program Director Jeffrey Alvey at jalvey@blueridgecenter.org

Wednesday Home School Group (private event) (29 Sep 2010)

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:30:00 GMT

Home School group using pavilion @ Demory Field for approximately 20 students. 10:30am - 1:30pm

BRINGING NATIVE PLANTS & WILDLIFE INTO THE MANAGED LANDSCAPE (3 Oct 2010)

Sun, 03 Oct 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Instructor - Cliff Fairweather

Rapid urbanization in our region and the consequent conversion of native vegetation to turf grass and other exotic plants has left dwindling resources for local wildlife. Learn how you can help restore wildlife habitat by growing native plants and providing other resources around your home, school, place of worship or other open spaces. We’ll explore this topic through a lecture and nature walk with naturalist Cliff Fairweather, manager of the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia’s Audubon at Home program.

Cliff Fairweather has worked as a naturalist in Northern Virginia for 14 years, with a focus on natural history and conservation in urban and urbanizing areas.

Any questions about the workshop may be directed to BRCES Program Director Jeffrey Alvey at jalvey@blueridgecenter.org

SMALL SCALE COMPOSTING: AN INTRODUCTION TO BACKYARD COMPOSTING (9 Oct 2010)

Sat, 09 Oct 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Instructor - John Wasiutynski

This hands-on course is designed to teach you the art and science of compost and equip participants with the necessary knowledge to start their own compost pile. The class, while covering the basics, will also delve into various composting techniques and provide insight into more advanced composting operations. The workshop will consist of a classroom lecture, a hands-on composting tour of Mountain View Farm, and group and individual visioning exercises that will lay the foundation for the participants own composting projects.

John Wasiutynski learned to compost while working in community gardens in New York City. He has since been honing the craft of decomposition in his backyard in Washington DC, and works for the District of Columbia Department of the Environment as a Watershed Planner. John is a master composter and received his certification from the Lower East Side Ecology Center, New York City's premier compost organization.

Any questions about the workshop may be directed to BRCES Program Director Jeffrey Alvey at jalvey@blueridgecenter.org

Private group Camping in Demory Field (22 Oct 2010)

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Oct 22-23, private group camping in Demory Field

BIRD WALK-BIRDING THE BLUE RIDGE CENTER (23 Oct 2010)

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Audubon Lecture (31 Oct 2010)

Sun, 31 Oct 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Oct 31, 9am - 12noon, Cliff Fairweather, Audubon Lecture, approx. 16 people using BRCES Resource Center

Andrew Chapel Church Family Spiritual Retreat (6 Nov 2010)

Sat, 06 Nov 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church (Vienna, VA) Church Family Spiritual Retreat - 9am - 7pm. Using barn during day for activities & group meetings; explore nature during afternoon; campfire to toast marshmallows @ Demory firering 4pm-7pm (may also use pavilion at Demory Field)

FROM STRAWBALES TO FOOD FORESTS: THE ART AND SCIENCE OF PERMACULTURE (6 Nov 2010)

Sat, 06 Nov 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Instructor - Michael Judd

Join us for a hands-on course in designing and creating a food forest on a typical residential landscape. Imagine a yard where trees are dripping with fresh fruits and ripening nuts, shrubs are packed with delicious berries, and every other plant is a medicinal herb, culinary spice, or beautiful edible flower. Tubers and root crops are abundant underfoot, gourmet mushrooms sprout in the shade, and hardy kiwi vines climb back up through the layers of this multi-functional forest of foodBeginning with just a few strawbales, newspaper and cardboard we will move through the easy steps to begin transforming your yard into a thriving edible landscape.

Michael Judd has worked with agro-ecological systems and landscapes throughout the Americas for the last 16 years focusing on applying permaculture and ecological design to increase local food security and community health in both tropical and temperate growing regions. The founder of both Ecologia LLC, edible and ecological landscape design and Project Bona Fide, an international non-profit supporting agro-ecology research. While he continues to raise awareness and funds for his project in Nicaragua in the U.S., Michael currently offers design consultation and implementation services specializing in edible landscapes through Ecologia, LLC.

Any questions about the workshop may be directed to BRCES Program Director Jeffrey Alvey at jalvey@blueridgecenter.org

"SHARING YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR NATURE" TRAINING SESSION (7 Nov 2010)

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Phil Daley, LWC, will be conducting a training session entitled "Sharing Your Enthusiasm for Nature" for potential walk leaders. Class will begin at 1pm, followed by a walk starting around 2:30pm - discovering Fall, seasonal changes. To register, contact Phil Daley, pedaley@verizon.net, LWC. Registration is limited to 15.

BIRD WALK-BIRDING THE BLUE RIDGE CENTER (27 Nov 2010)

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 13:00:00 GMT

BSA Troop camping (17 Dec 2010)

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:00:00 GMT

BSA Troop camping December 18-19 in Demory Field. Approximately 15 campers.