The Mother of all Backyard Gardening Courses

For those of you interested in learning more about Permaculture and applying it to your property and gardens, you need to read on and then take this course. It is offered by Michael Reed whose was our instructor for our Heiugelkultur class this spring. We learned a lot in this class but realized there is so much more to learn from him about Permaculture. This class is not put on by Home Grown New Mexico but we fully support what Michael does and are excited he is offering this 6 month class to all of us.

Michael Reed is a Permaculture instructor and farmer in the South Valley in Albuquerque. His versatile background includes three terms as president of the New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association. He is a dedicated educator and advocate for ethical and responsible living, and works tirelessly to preserve and enhance regionally appropriate agroecosystems.

He is a founding member of the Save New Mexico Seeds Coalition and is part of a collaborative effort to collect and cultivate heirloom and adapted fruits, nuts, berries and perennials that can thrive in New Mexico’s challenging environment. There are currently over 600 different varieties in the collection, with over 400 found at his farm. Currently he is working on the design and installation of three different food forest projects throughout the state.

With over twenty five years of experience in year-round growing in this region, Michael teaches portions of the Permaculture Design Certification course offered by the Permaculture Institute as well as his own, year-round, Mother of All Backyard Gardening Courses.

Michael’s farm, La Orilla, is a living laboratory bursting with diversity. From the several hundred fruit trees to the perennial greens beds to the greywater fed vegetable beds there are working examples of theory being put into practice everywhere you turn.

The Mother of all Backyard Gardening Courses is a very comprehensive but affordable class that meets twice a month for six months at his farm in the South Valley.  The course runs twice a year from equinox to equinox.  The new session starts September 26th. Michael is graciously allowing people to come to the first class for free to try out the course before they commit to the series.

In the Mother Course Michael brings his unique holistic view to gardening that you will find nowhere else.  He covers all the systems at play in nature and our relationship with them from a multi-faceted deep understanding that only comes from many years of study and practice.  After taking the class you will come away with a profoundly changed view of gardening.

If you would like your gardening efforts to work with nature in a deeper more skillful manner there is no better series of classes available than the Mother Course.  Come to the first free class to see for yourself. If you can’t make the first class or the whole series don’t fret.  You are welcome to drop in and take the classes a la carte. Just contact Michael so he knows to expect you.

Click on the links below for Michael’s contact information, more detailed information on the course and the topics covered in each class.

Mother Course 2015 Dark Side flyer

Mother Course 15-16 Dark Side class descriptions