Healthy ecosystems are foundational to community resilience - for the human and more-than-human world. Vibrant forests, healthy, year-round waterways, diverse and fire resilient landscapes that provide abundant habitat, are critical to our health, safety, and well-being. Land stewardship is more than land management - it’s a practice that invites us to learn about the places we call home and the critical roles that humans play in enhancing the complex web of relationships that act in service to life.

Our Land Stewardship Series offers participants the opportunity to learn practices for land tending that are specific to the Willamette Valley, for forest health, wildfire mitigation, and oak savanna restoration. Join us every Tuesday to learn from Lost Valley Land Steward and Permaculture Design Teacher, Brian Byers, about agroforestry, invasive species management, and sustainable timber harvest, while visiting our 87-acre living permaculture site.

Join us at Lost Valley for an incredible opportunity to learn from Hazel Ward of Siskiyou Permaculture. Hazel is the author of Social Forestry, Tending the Land as people of Place, and originator of the Social Forestry framework. This workshop will be an interactive introduction to assessing and tending forest ecosystems and cultivating place-based life ways that build cultural connection, ecological health, and skills for rewilding. We will walk the trails at Lost Valley discussing and learning about stand assessment, forest health, and strategies for forest regeneration.

Hazel is a long time resident of the Southern Oregon/Mount Shasta bioregion first settling there in the early 70’s, and has been advising farms, stewarding forests, and teaching Environmental Sciences for more than fifty years. Their focus for this 21st century has been Social Forestry, restoring Oak/Pine Savannah in Little Wolf Gulch near Ruch, OR, demonstrating natural building, fuel hazard materials utilization, multiple products woods-crafting, wildlife support and desert forest water management.

This workshop is now full and registration is closed. Thank you!

Join us every Thursday to learn from Lost Valley Garden Steward, Kelson Gorman, to learn about cultivating regenerative food systems. The industrialized food system relies upon socially and ecologically destructive methods for mass production and distribution that undermine the health of our communities, ecosystems, and our ability to access nutritious food. Our Permaculture Gardening Series offers participants the opportunity to learn permaculture techniques for working with nature to grow food for our families and communities that build food sovereignty and ecological regeneration. Join us to learn about climate adapted gardening for our bioregion, food preservation and seed saving for future resilience, and methods to improve yields, soil health, and biodiversity.

Healthy ecosystems are foundational to community resilience - for the human and more-than-human world. Vibrant forests, healthy, year-round waterways, diverse and fire resilient landscapes that provide abundant habitat, are critical to our health, safety, and well-being. Land stewardship is more than land management - it’s a practice that invites us to learn about the places we call home and the critical roles that humans play in enhancing the complex web of relationships that act in service to life.

Our Land Stewardship Series offers participants the opportunity to learn practices for land tending that are specific to the Willamette Valley, for forest health, wildfire mitigation, and oak savanna restoration. Join us every Tuesday to learn from Lost Valley Land Steward and Permaculture Design Teacher, Brian Byers, about agroforestry, invasive species management, and sustainable timber harvest, while visiting our 87-acre living permaculture site.

Join us at Heart-Culture Farm Community in west Eugene for a workshop with Kara Huntermoon to learn about integrating animals into a permaculture system to enhance biodiversity and overall resilience. Participants will gain insights into the world of animal husbandry, integrated pest management (IPM), the ecological benefits of livestock in a permaculture design, and factors to consider for incorporating animals into a system in our local climate. This workshop includes a tour of Heart-Culture farm where participants will get to observe the impressive permaculture food forest and stewarded ecologies that includes pasture, gardens, wetlands, and a diverse & abundant orchard.

Kara Huntermoon is our bioregional expert in wetlands Permaculture. Her maternal family has lived in Eugene for six generations, inspiring Kara's long-term commitment to place. Kara focused her first decade as the Land Manager at Heart-Culture Farm Community on learning how to integrate livestock into a Permaculture design, and her second decade installing a 3-acre food forest with silvopasture systems. She brings her wealth of hand-on experience and deep relationships to every class she teaches.

Join us every Thursday to learn from Lost Valley Garden Steward, Kelson Gorman, to learn about cultivating regenerative food systems. The industrialized food system relies upon socially and ecologically destructive methods for mass production and distribution that undermine the health of our communities, ecosystems, and our ability to access nutritious food. Our Permaculture Gardening Series offers participants the opportunity to learn permaculture techniques for working with nature to grow food for our families and communities that build food sovereignty and ecological regeneration. Join us to learn about climate adapted gardening for our bioregion, food preservation and seed saving for future resilience, and methods to improve yields, soil health, and biodiversity.

Join us every Thursday to learn from Lost Valley Garden Steward, Kelson Gorman, to learn about cultivating regenerative food systems. The industrialized food system relies upon socially and ecologically destructive methods for mass production and distribution that undermine the health of our communities, ecosystems, and our ability to access nutritious food. Our Permaculture Gardening Series offers participants the opportunity to learn permaculture techniques for working with nature to grow food for our families and communities that build food sovereignty and ecological regeneration. Join us to learn about climate adapted gardening for our bioregion, food preservation and seed saving for future resilience, and methods to improve yields, soil health, and biodiversity.

Healthy ecosystems are foundational to community resilience - for the human and more-than-human world. Vibrant forests, healthy, year-round waterways, diverse and fire resilient landscapes that provide abundant habitat, are critical to our health, safety, and well-being. Land stewardship is more than land management - it’s a practice that invites us to learn about the places we call home and the critical roles that humans play in enhancing the complex web of relationships that act in service to life.

Our Land Stewardship Series offers participants the opportunity to learn practices for land tending that are specific to the Willamette Valley, for forest health, wildfire mitigation, and oak savanna restoration. Join us every Tuesday to learn from Lost Valley Land Steward and Permaculture Design Teacher, Brian Byers, about agroforestry, invasive species management, and sustainable timber harvest, while visiting our 87-acre living permaculture site.

Healthy ecosystems are foundational to community resilience - for the human and more-than-human world. Vibrant forests, healthy, year-round waterways, diverse and fire resilient landscapes that provide abundant habitat, are critical to our health, safety, and well-being. Land stewardship is more than land management - it’s a practice that invites us to learn about the places we call home and the critical roles that humans play in enhancing the complex web of relationships that act in service to life.

Our Land Stewardship Series offers participants the opportunity to learn practices for land tending that are specific to the Willamette Valley, for forest health, wildfire mitigation, and oak savanna restoration. Join us every Tuesday to learn from Lost Valley Land Steward and Permaculture Design Teacher, Brian Byers, about agroforestry, invasive species management, and sustainable timber harvest, while visiting our 87-acre living permaculture site.

Join us on Saturday July 5 for a free workshop with Anishinabe Elder, Dan Wahpepah, to learn how to challenge colonial mindsets, honor traditional wisdom, and create more inclusive, regenerative systems.

This workshop is part of our summer Permaculture Design Course (PDC), and will be taught by Dan Wahpepah, who has been an instructor in the Lost Valley PDC for several years. Dan teaches from his perspective as an Anishinabe Elder, focusing on decolonization, healthy thinking, and “returning to being a human being.” He grew up immersed in American Indian Movement (AIM) culture and his traditional ways. His father is a spiritual leader and his uncle founded West Coast AIM.

Join us every Thursday to learn from Lost Valley Garden Steward, Kelson Gorman, to learn about cultivating regenerative food systems. The industrialized food system relies upon socially and ecologically destructive methods for mass production and distribution that undermine the health of our communities, ecosystems, and our ability to access nutritious food. Our Permaculture Gardening Series offers participants the opportunity to learn permaculture techniques for working with nature to grow food for our families and communities that build food sovereignty and ecological regeneration. Join us to learn about climate adapted gardening for our bioregion, food preservation and seed saving for future resilience, and methods to improve yields, soil health, and biodiversity.

Healthy ecosystems are foundational to community resilience - for the human and more-than-human world. Vibrant forests, healthy, year-round waterways, diverse and fire resilient landscapes that provide abundant habitat, are critical to our health, safety, and well-being. Land stewardship is more than land management - it’s a practice that invites us to learn about the places we call home and the critical roles that humans play in enhancing the complex web of relationships that act in service to life.

Our Land Stewardship Series offers participants the opportunity to learn practices for land tending that are specific to the Willamette Valley, for forest health, wildfire mitigation, and oak savanna restoration. Join us every Tuesday to learn from Lost Valley Land Steward and Permaculture Design Teacher, Brian Byers, about agroforestry, invasive species management, and sustainable timber harvest, while visiting our 87-acre living permaculture site.

Dreaming of sheep mowing your lawn for you? Or goats tackling that blackberry bramble you can no longer see over? Wondering about how to restore a camas meadow AND produce a yield? Through the thoughtful management of grazers, you can reduce wildfire risk, improve pasture and rangelands, and restore many native habitats. 

Join Lost Valley Education Center in hosting Drew Thomas of Calico Creek Grazing Collective and the Center for Rural Livelihoods for a live workshop to introduce you to the who, what, why, and how of Rx grazing while observing a flock at work. 

Participants will leave with an inspired mind and an understanding of the questions to ask when determining where to graze, which livestock, how many, what seasons, and for how long.

For questions, please contact drew@rurallivelihoods.org

Join us every Thursday to learn from Lost Valley Garden Steward, Kelson Gorman, to learn about cultivating regenerative food systems. The industrialized food system relies upon socially and ecologically destructive methods for mass production and distribution that undermine the health of our communities, ecosystems, and our ability to access nutritious food. Our Permaculture Gardening Series offers participants the opportunity to learn permaculture techniques for working with nature to grow food for our families and communities that build food sovereignty and ecological regeneration. Join us to learn about climate adapted gardening for our bioregion, food preservation and seed saving for future resilience, and methods to improve yields, soil health, and biodiversity.

Come get hands on experience with different topics in gardening; including planting, harvesting, preparing garden beds, and so much more. 

Come get hands on experience with different topics in stewarding the land; including agro forestry, making biochar, removing invasive species, and sustainable timber harvesting.

Come get hands on experience with different topics in gardening; including planting, harvesting, preparing garden beds, and so much more. 

Come get hands on experience with different topics in stewarding the land; including agro forestry, making biochar, removing invasive species, and sustainable timber harvesting.

Come get hands on experience with different topics in gardening; including planting, harvesting, preparing garden beds, and so much more. 

Come get hands on experience with different topics in stewarding the land; including agro forestry, making biochar, removing invasive species, and sustainable timber harvesting.

Come get hands on experience with different topics in gardening; including planting, harvesting, preparing garden beds, and so much more. 

Come get hands on experience with different topics in stewarding the land; including agro forestry, making biochar, removing invasive species, and sustainable timber harvesting. 

Every year, countless riding mowers are discarded while still structurally sound. With a few off-the-shelf parts and an electric motor, these machines can be given a second life—as solar-powered mobile generators.

Not only can they be charged by the sun, they’re also simple to operate, require far less maintenance than gas engines, and can even serve as backup power during outages. It’s a creative, practical way to reduce waste and build resilience.

Come get hands on experience with different topics in gardening; including planting, harvesting, preparing garden beds, and so much more. 

Come get hands on experience with different topics in stewarding the land; including agro forestry, making biochar, removing invasive species, and sustainable timber harvesting.

Come and learn about growing plants from seed to table with local experts Allen Adesse and Holde Fink. Class will cover site evaluation (water, soil, chemistry, sunlight, existing plantings), movement/layout, seed starting/planting, transplanting/dividing, soil mixes and direct sowing, greenhouse/indoor starting, seedling care and handling

Allen Adesse:

Studied Natural Resources management-, Forestry Technician, Started first business doing wild crafting medicinals/florals/mushrooms, Field manager Peace Seeds in Corvallis 1989-1993. Started my first organic farm in 1991, growing seeds and medicinal herbs until 2020. Contracted seed growing with companies--Seeds of Change, Botanical Interests, Abundant Life, High Mowing, JL Hudson, Orange Pippens, Johnny's Select, Territorial, Fedco,Southern Exposure. Semiretired, teaching about seeds growing and herb gathering.

Holde Fink

Operated Native and Urban Gardens in Eugene OR for 26 years. His interest in gardening began at a very early age picking green tomatoes, washing them and being seriously disappointed to find they could not be reattached and grown on. After further study he has expanded his interest to include native plants, edible gardens, and the conversation between gardens as an art form and their role as biodiversity reserves. Holde is excited to share his knowledge for current and future gardeners. 

Come get hands on experience with different topics in gardening; including planting, harvesting, preparing garden beds, and so much more. 

This workshop teaches natural building techniques using sustainable materials like clay, straw, and stone. Participants will learn hands-on skills for creating eco-friendly structures that are energy-efficient and in harmony with the environment.

Come get hands on experience with different topics in stewarding the land; including agro forestry, making biochar, removing invasive species, and sustainable timber harvesting.