August 29th VISFI Open House 10am-2pm register

A free information session about upcoming VISFI program season, with complimentary farm refreshments and guided tour.

Sept. 5th Slow Cooking: Tempeh Making 9am-1pm register

Learn to use the fermentation action of Rhizopus Oligosporus to make soybeans more digestable and nutritious (and delicious!).  Tempeh is an ancient food from Indonesia which has been embraced worldwide by those seeking healthier diets.  Although traditionally made with soy, it can also be made with any variety of bean as well as with the addition of seeds and grains.  In this workshop you will learn the very simple process of making tempeh at home and leave the workshop with instructions, innoculant and your own first tempeh batch!  ($45-70 sliding scale)

Sept. 19 Introduction to Permaculture 9am-1pm register

A primer on the basic elements of the design system that inspired the layout and approach of VISFI. This model is useful for home applications and farms world-wide. This workshop is led by VISFI Executive Director Ben Jones. ($45-70 sliding scale)

Sept. 26 Partner Yoga and Intro to Ayurveda 9am-1pm register

Juice up your Saturday morning with a fun and invigorating partner yoga class. Then, dive into ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of healing and discover your dosha, your ayurvedic personality and body type. From this journey into ayurveda, we’ll prepare a yogic meal together, tailored to each person’s unique dosha. Bring a yoga mat and a friend if you’d like. Coming alone is great too! This workshop is led by VISFI program coordinator and resident yoga teacher, Rebecca Sornson.  ($45-70 sliding scale)

Oct.  3 Fruit Tree Care 9am-1pm register

Learn the basics of fruit tree propagation, care, harvest, and more. Get to know tropical fruits, how they work, and experience some rare species and tastes in the process. This workshop is led by Farm manager and guru of fruit, Jay Bost.  ($45-70 sliding scale)

Oct.  10 Home Garden Pest Management 9am-1pm register

Got bugs? The tropics are crawling with them! We can help you sort them out and find organic ways (including cultural practices and home made pesticides) to minimize the impact of the “bad” guys in your garden. Useful for all regions. Go easy on the earth and your food. This workshop is led by VISFI farm managers, Jay and Nora.  ($45-70 sliding scale)

Oct.  17 Bamboo Propagation 9am-1pm register

Learn about non-invasive “clumping” bamboo species that can be planted for a variety of reasons like building, craft materials, or landscaping.  Go home with some cuttings of your own. This workshop is led by bamboo enthusiast and VISFI Executive Director, Ben Jones. ($45-70 sliding scale)

Oct. 23-25 Seasonal Vitality Weekend 4:30pm Friday- 4:30pm Sunday register

Revitalize your wellness with the seasons.  This fall workshop experience includes daily breathing and movement exercises, nutrition and cooking instruction, home medicine making, massage, acupressure, creating your own personal health plan and a one night stay in a Creque Dam Farm cabana.  You will be guided through this experience by the compassionate hands of Sylvie Augustin, certified acupuncturist and Nora Rodli, licensed massage therapist.

Oct.  24 Primitive Survival Skills 9am-1pm register

Learn how to make a fire, get water, make shelter, and enjoy yourself in the process –with natural materials using indigenous methods. This workshop is led by Program Director and experienced wilderness skills instructor, Nate Olive.  ($45-70 sliding scale)

Oct.  31 Natural Costume Making 1pm-4pm register

Get ready for Hallow’s eve with natural materials from the bush and the farm! This workshop is led by VISFI Program Director, Nate Olive.  ($45-70 sliding scale)

Nov.  7 Perennial Greens 9am-1pm register

Learn about greens that can be grown year-round on St. Croix in design systems that incorporate perennials. Discover superfoods that will grow outside your front door. This workshop is led by Reylbeck, Jay, and Nora.  ($45-70 sliding scale)

“These hand-on skill programs are more than just fun things to do on the weekend, they are all made to increase the quality of life. The skills learned in these workshops and longer sessions can be used to greatly increase the sustainability and health of day to day living and build a career. As it turns out, they happen to be really fun too.”

VISFI is the first and only USDA certified organic farm in the US Virgin Islands, and is the only certified organic farm in the world to also be Green Globe certified as a sustainable destination. In August 2009, it was selected as a top ten global finalist as a Geotourism Innovator in a world-wide National Geographic Society contest. Founded in 2003, its mission is to provide a working educational farm model that integrates sustainability in education, environment, and community through quality instruction in Agroecology and related fields. VISFI defines sustainability in three primary “triple bottom line” areas: environmental, cultural and economic. The VISFI statement of purpose is “Seeding beneficial relationships to inspire abundance, creativity, and joy.” VISFI also hosts many college and adult programs open to the public, including sustainable skills workshops, permaculture certificate courses, and farmer training programs, including college credit. For more information about VISFI programs visit www.visfi.org.

CONTACT: Rebecca Sornson
VISFI Program Coordinator
(706) 534-5033

http://www.visfi.org