Regenerative Design in the Driftless, with Peter Allen of Mastodon Valley Farm

We will learn the basics of regenerative land design, focusing on our native ecosystems here in the Driftless, with the goal of learning how to guide the development of healthy, diverse, functional, and productive ecosystems that provide essential goods and services to our community. We will learn how to rapidly build topsoil, sequester carbon, enhance biodiversity, and recharge aquifers, all while producing abundant nutrient-dense foods, high-quality fibers, and building materials. The course includes lectures and hand-on activities at on-farm field trips. Once we've learned the fundamentals of soil, water, ecology, and the human context, we will have the opportunity to put theory into practice by helping you develop your own regenerative design.

Instructor Bio:
Peter is an ecologist-turned-farmer that owns and operates Mastodon Valley Farm, a 220-acre regenerative farm in Southwestern Wisconsin where he has planted thousands of fruit and nut trees, and grazes cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry across their fertile valleys, steep hillsides, and restored native tallgrass prairie pastures, producing nutrient-dense meats which his farm sells in their meat CSA. He also built a traditional timber-framed house with the logs he hauled and milled on the farm where he and his wife Maureen have a busy homestead homeschooling their kids, gardening, milking a cow, and producing and preserving everything they need to thrive through the long Wisconsin winters. Peter combines his background with over a decade researching and teaching ecology, restoration, and complexity science in the University, together with a decade of running a regenerative farm to provide unique and effective consulting and educational opportunities, helping people design, build, and manage diverse, ecologically functional, and economically profitable agroecosystems.

Details
Dates: Wednesday and Friday mornings, April 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19
Times: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Thoreau College Campus, 224 WI-56, Viroqua WI 54665
Ages: Adult

Sliding Scale Course Fee Guidelines

Supporter Level Ticket: $400
If you move through the world with financial ease and the means to fulfill many of your wants as well as your needs – you are able to eat out when you want, abundantly meet your needs through employment or can comfortably not work, have access to family wealth, own property, etc. – consider paying at this level, which will help us ensure the long term sustainability of our programs while keeping our offerings accessible to those with access to fewer resources.

Sustainer Level Ticket: $350
If you are able to meet your needs with relative ease while budgeting your educational and entertainment spending – for instance, you are able to take classes and eat out occasionally as long as you are mindful – consider paying at this level, which will help sustain the work of the Folk School at a modest level.

Supported Level Ticket: $300
If you struggle to fund your basic needs and have limited access to resources in your family and community, or if you would not be able to access this offering without a discounted payment option, consider paying at this level. We value your presence and contributions to our community and do not want any economic circumstances to be a barrier to attendance!