Saturday, July 11, 2009
BIBA LOCALFEST-CREATING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY

BIBA – Boulder Independent Business Alliance celebrates local community with “LocalFest: Creating Sustainable Community,” A Public Forum and Business Expo. LocalFest takes place from 10 am to 6:00 pm, in front of the County Courthouse, and “on the bricks” of Pearl Street Mall; 1300 Pearl Street and Courthouse Plaza. The event is free. Exhibits open at 10:00am, as Boulder's local independent business owners roll out their carpets to present their contributions to the Boulder County community.
 
The Public Forum begins at 12 noon, featuring five panel discussions from noon through 5pm, on community sustainability. Each panel of local experts leads a discussion of how we can keep Boulder County an economically vital, thriving community, even in the face of difficult times. For more info: Click here.

Sunday, July 12, 2009
OPPORTUNITIES AND TRICKS OF XERISCAPE WITH MIKL BRAWNER

There are advantages to gardening with less water, and tricks that will improve your success. Mikl’s xeriscape experience of over 20 years has taught him tricks that will cost you a lot less than it cost him.

Time: 1-2:30 pm
Price: $15
Location: HARLEQUIN’S GARDENS
4795 N. 26th St., Boulder, CO 80301
303-939-9403

Join enthusiastic Boulder residents creating local action groups that focus on reducing energy use while building community. Bring your ideas and enthusiasm for incenting action in your neighborhood, and we'll support you in making it happen.

When: 4:30pm-6:00pm
Where: 1300 Canyon (at 13th) - southeast corner of Canyon Blvd, just north of Dushanbe teahouse

RSVP: Email Beth Powell or call her at 303-441-1846. The ideal place to RSVP is our Facebook group page.
Future meetings: Please join our Facebook group or alternatively, the ClimateSmart Google Group.

The next twenty years are going to be completely unlike the last twenty. Changes in the economy, energy, and the environment are converging to create an unprecedented future. Are you ready?

Chris Martenson appears at Unity Church (2855 Folsom Street)—presented by Transition Colorado, formerly Transition Boulder County.

Martenson is the creator of the popular Crash Course video series, which illuminates our current economic situation, explores what is likely to happen next, and points to what you can do about it. Hear the man who predicted our current economic situation more than five years ago—and who can help you better appreciate the optimism found within these awesome challenges.

Admission is only $5; for advance tickets call Transition Colorado at 303-494-1521. (Download flyer here.)

Martenson will also be presenting THE CRASH COURSE SEMINARS: THRIVING IN ANY FUTURE in Denver, July 18-19. Click here for full details.

Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18, 2009
BOULDER COUNTY'S GREEN BUILDING CONFERENCE

The Boulder County Green Building Conference manifests the green building marketplace regionally.

Businesses and government leaders are ready to embrace Green Building as "business as usual." This conference shows us the way and bring us together to make this industry and market truly mainstream.

—Kevin Afflerbaugh, Energy Sustainability Coordinator, ClimateSmart, City of Boulder

This year look forward to two tracks of panels, one on residential green building and one on commercial. Get the nitty-gritty on what it takes to meet new remodel and commercial green building codes; go step-by-step through real-life examples that demonstrate how to meet new building codes and go beyond; find a one stop shop to identify your financing and rebate opportunities; see how local commercial developers and tenants addressed green remodeling; and of course, come network with your peers!

Location: University of Colorado at Boulder

Click here for information and registration.

Sunday, July 19, 2009
IDENTIFYING AND ATTRACTING BENEFICIAL INSECTS

Don’t kill your allies; feed them. Learn the good bugs and what will bring them to your garden. With Carol O’Meara, Master
Gardener Coordinator, CSU Co-op Extension. Carol is wise and fun.

Time: 1pm
Price: $10
Location: HARLEQUIN’S GARDENS
4795 N. 26th St., Boulder, CO 80301
303-939-9403

Rodwin Architecture ( 1245 Pearl Street, Suite 202, Boulder); 9am-12:30pm

Learn how to comply with the new energy-efficiency & green building requirements in the City and County

Trying to figure out how to meet Boulder’s rigorous new green building codes? We can help. Bring your problems to us. We are offering a half-day, semi-private workshop where you will get a firm grasp of the fundamentals and have the opportunity to ask specific real-world questions about your projects.

Topics include:

Price: $95/person
Registration: Email Scott Rodwin or call (303) 413-8556

Limited class size (max. 10 people) means that you can get your individual questions answered. You will also have the chance to hear and learn from the questions of your peers. Our last workshop sold out in 3 days so please reserve your space early.

A workshop of this breadth and depth usually costs hundreds of dollars and you have to spend the whole day in Denver. This workshop is specifically geared to builders and property owners building in Boulder.

Saturday, July 25, 2009
EXTENDING THE GARDENING SEASON FOR FALL & WINTER

Learn how to grow veggies thru the winter w/o extra heat & with low-tech solutions.

Instructor: Eric Johnson.
Eric has studied horticulture and has 20 years experience, gardening & experimenting.
Time: 1pm
Cost: $10
Location: HARLEQUIN’S GARDENS
4795 N. 26th St., Boulder, CO 80301
303-939-9403

Saturday, July 25, 2009
FROM WATERSHED TO WATER SPOUT: GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE WEST

NCSP 5134 From Watershed to Water Spout: Green Infrastructure in the West

This course counts as 8 hours towards the University of Colorado's Sustainable Practices Certificate Program or .8 continuing education credits.

Course Format: 1-day Classroom Lecture

Course Description:

Using water as the defining element of sustainability in the west, this class will survey the varied scale of ‘green infrastructure’ from natural processes in the watershed down to natural processes in the urban landscape.  Green infrastructure includes the services provided by nature, which we know from open lands and forests, it is “ the ecological framework needed for environmental, social and economic sustainability” (Conservation Fund 2008)

Following the trend to re-establish these functions in urban areas, this class will touch on: watershed catchment and delivery systems, current water use patterns in the west, water in the city, water on the site, water reuse at small and large scales, rainwater capture, urban forest functions and values and climate appropriate plant selections.

At the end of the day, the student will better understand:

• The geography of water resources in the West
• The history of water development in the West
• The legal frameworks for managing water in the West
• The terms watershed, water catchment, microclimate, green infrastructure, ecological services

Instructor Bio:

This course will be taught by Paul Lander, a 28-year veteran of water, energy, and land conservation work. Dr. Lander is an instructor at the University of Colorado and for the American Water Works Association, is a LEED Accredited Professional, and member of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Course runs from 9am-5pm at the CU Boulder campus.

Click here for more information and registration.

Sunday, July 26, 2009
CREATING CONSERVATION LANDSCAPES

NCSP 5135 Creating Conservation Landscapes

This course counts as 8 hours towards the Sustainable Practices Certificate Program or .8 continuing education credits.

Course Format: 1-day Classroom Lecture

Course Description:

Sustainable Sites is the initiative designed to complement the LEED green-building system.  It takes a more in-depth look at the elements necessary to create a fully sustainable environment, to develop the environmental functions of green infrastructure into urban sites.

This course builds on the Watershed to Water Tap course and will introduce the techniques and tools necessary for creating sustainable site including site analysis, microclimates, site hydrology, landforms, plant selections, drip irrigation, site structures and sustainable landscape materials.
At the end of the day, the student will be able to:

• Understand basic site analysis, including microclimates and landforms
• Understand how to choose climate-appropriate plants, including edible landscapes
• Understand the basics of water on-site; rainwater-harvesting; drip irrigation systems, including hands-on demonstrations
• Understand how to evaluate the sustainability of materials used in the landscape
• Understand how to optimize site conditions for energy and water conservation, reduced inputs, and habitat enhancement

Instructor Bio:

This course will be taught by Paul Lander, a 28-year veteran of water, energy, and land conservation work. Dr. Lander is an instructor at the University of Colorado and for the American Water Works Association, is a LEED Accredited Professional, and member of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Course runs from 9am-5pm at the CU Boulder campus.

Click here for more information and registration.

Sunday, August 9 and Sunday, Aug 16, 2009
(sign up for either day)
PRUNING FOR STRENGTH, HEALTH, AND BEAUTY

Learn to train young trees, to restructure shrubs and trees broken by storms, to prune roses. Talk and demonstration byMikl Brawner, who has 30 years experience in pruning.

Cost: $10
Time: 1pm
Location: HARLEQUIN’S GARDENS
4795 N. 26th St., Boulder, CO 80301
303-939-9403

Sunday, August 23, 2009
FREE HARLEQUIN GARDEN TOUR

Native Shrubs with Mikl Brawner
FREE TOURS START AT 1PM for 45 minutes

Location: HARLEQUIN’S GARDENS
4795 N. 26th St., Boulder, CO 80301
303-939-9403

Friday-Sunday, August 28-30, 2009
COLORADO RENEWABLE ENERGY CONFERENCE

Hosted by the Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO.

Featuring a keynote speech by Dr. Eric Barron, Director of the National Center for Atmospheri Research (NCAR).

Click here for registration and more information.

Saturday, August 29, 2009
LOW-TECH GREENHOUSE DESIGN AND OPERATION WITH MIKL BRAWNER

Mikl has been researching, building and using simple greenhouses for 17 years. This class will focus on 5 designs on site at the nursery.

Time:1:00 to 2:30pm
Cost: $15
Location: HARLEQUIN’S GARDENS
4795 N. 26th St., Boulder, CO 80301
303-939-9403

Take the next step in your understanding of designing & building straw bale homes. Designed to follow the two-day Introduction to Straw Bale Construction workshop, this five day hands-on workshop takes a deeper look at the design and detail considerations for straw bale construction. Expand your knowledge of the variety of styles and techniques of building with straw bales and learn more about the role and application of earthen plasters. In the workshop we will construct a small straw bale structure from the foundation to the roof. Tours of straw bale homes and guest instructors round out this amazing workshop designed for the homeowner and building professional. Click here for more information.

All members of the Center for Resource Conservation receive a 15% discount off the tuition cost.

Use promo code #1234 when registering. Register by calling 970-963-8855.

Sunday, September 6, 2009
FREE HARLEQUIN GARDEN TOUR

Ornamental Grasses Garden with Eve Brawner
FREE TOURS START AT 1PM for 45 minutes

Location: HARLEQUIN’S GARDENS
4795 N. 26th St., Boulder, CO 80301
303-939-9403

Saturday, September 26 - Thursday, October 1, 2009
14TH ANNUAL BOULDER COUNTY SOLAR WEEK

Boulder County Tour of Solar & Green Homes | Saturday, September 26th, 2009

Boulder County Solar Week Workshops |
Monday, September 28th – Thursday, October 1st 2009

More information coming in July!

The RMSLA Year Round Workshop Series is a project aimed at offering education that have applications to increase the healthy and viability of our communities.  You will leave our workshops with the skills to make a substantial, sustainable change.

Click here to view available workshops and to register.