Seminars on Sustainability

Homestead Fair 2012

30-40 minute presentations with 5-10 minute Q&A
See seminar time schedule here.

Why live an agrarian lifestyle? The Human Dimension of Sustainable Culture.

Visitors to our community often ask, “Why live an agrarian-based lifestyle?” and “Why pursue traditional crafts?” In answering these questions, we will share details about our way of lifeand consider how these relate to the goal of sustainable living—not only in terms of providing the essentials of life for ourselves but in nurturing meaningful relationships within families, generations and all members of the community.
Presenter: Dr. Kay Toombs

Should We Unplug? Technology and Sustainable Culture

Concerns about the effects of digital culture, particularly on the young, have recently been receiving widespread attention through published articles and books. We will explore how the new technologies (internet, cellphones, social media) have changed the way we relate to nature, to the land, and to each other, and consider how these changes affect our efforts to develop a sustainable culture.
Presenter: Dr. Kay Toombs

A Culture of Healing: Meeting the Challenges of Special Needs Children in the Context of Community

Lifetime member of Homestead Heritage and home-schooling mother of an autistic child shares her experiences and explores how an integrated community life can bring wholeness, meaning and healing to special needs children—and to us all.
Presenter: Amanda Lancaster

Sustainable Gardening

An introduction to producing your own healthy food in your own backyard or on your own farm, naturally and sustainably.
Presenter: Butch Tindell

Backyard Chickens

An introduction to raising your own chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys, and how they are an integral part of a healthy homestead.
Presenter: Jacob Klingensmith

Beekeeping

A seminar on the need for keeping bees as an essential part of a homestead, as a source for both honey and pollination.
Presenter: George Klingensmith

Homesteading and Children

In this seminar we will discuss the role of children as an integral part of a family homestead, the significant benefits that children receive by living an agrarian lifestyle and how to involve them in the daily care of farm animals with an emphasis on safety and responsibility.
Presenters: Butch & Diane Tindell

Food Preservation

An overview of the essential skills of canning, drying, freezing and fermenting food.
Presenter: Diane Tindell

Cheese Making

An introduction and demonstration on making soft and hard cheeses in your own kitchen and from your own cow or goat milk.
Presenters: Rebekah Nolen & Rebeccah Salmeri

Soap Making

A seminar with demonstrations on making your own soap in your own kitchen using natural ingredients.
Presenter: Robin Wilson

Breadmaking

A seminar with demonstrations on baking bread from whole grains, including an explanation on artisan bread baking.
Presenter: Melissa Yantis

Collecting and Storing Water for the Small Homestead

An introduction to sustainable water essentials for the homestead and small farm with an emphasis on collecting bulk water, rainwater catchment, water storage and water delivery. Topics will include calculating the water needs of the homestead and how to determine available rainwater according to specific locations.
Presenter: Pat Chesney

Home Energy Conservation Measures

Learn steps you can take today to conserve energy and water, manage your energy usage and prepare for renewable alternatives.
Presenter: Paul Wieboldt

Renewable Energy (or Sustainable Energy Alternatives)

To use energy alternatives, you need to change the way you think about how you use energy. We present a fresh perspective on energy usage with an introduction to smal-scale renewable energy sources and zero-energy alternatives.
Presenter: Derek Varejcka

Purifying Water Using Sustainable Methods

This seminar continues the introduction to sustainable water essentials with an emphasis on water purification. Methods covered include the slow sand filter, ozonation powered by solar energy, boiling, distillation and pasteurization. A functioning slow sand filter which provides 200 gallons of pure water per day is on display.
Presenter: Pat Chesney

Ongoing Demonstrations on Sustainable Technology

Demonstrations, informal discussions and question-and-answer sessions on practical off-grid home skills and tools. Includes the following examples and demonstrations: solar water heating, solar refrigeration, a highly efficient wood cookstove and a steam engine.

Introduction to Aquaponics

A seminar and demonstration that introduces the concept of growing plants and fish within a contained circulating system to benefit both high-yield vegetable production and edible fish. Topics covered include: how aquaponics systems work, types of systems, how to set up a system and what kind of fish to raise. A functioning aquaponics system is on display.
Presenter: Pat Chesney

Keeping Your Cool

Explore practical, energy-efficient passive and active ways to cool and heat your home.
Presenter: Paul Wiebolt

Creative Writing Workshop and seminar
Find your own buried talents in writing by taking this one-and-a-half hour class and seminar. Discover how modern technology has altered our perspective towards research, study and communication, both written and verbal.
Presenter: Amanda Lancaster

See seminar time schedule here.