Our Purpose

Epworth is a place "reserved by The United Methodist Church as sacred common ground." Outdoor ministry has a deep history in Methodism, beginning with John Wesley's personal struggle to step out of the traditional and formal church structure in favor of the open air. To read more see Kevin Witt's website at:
www.gbod.org/camping/articles.asp?act=reader&item_id=10562#4

Epworth as sacred common ground seeks to preserve and to teach love and respect for our 160 acres of beautiful river valley. In addition, we seek to be a light on a hill to our generation in building and promoting living practices that thoughtfully listen to nature and work with it, instead of running rough shod over its beauty and balance. To that end, we seek to build model systems of land use and living structures that are as in tune with natural laws as our current understanding can make them. We practice stewardship for its own intrinsic rightness. In addition, we provide immersion in good stewardship practices for our community and many visitors.

Definitions Of Permaculture

Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless action; of looking at systems in all their functions rather than asking only one yield of them & of allowing systems to demonstrate their own evolutions.
-Bill Mollison

Permaculture design teaches you to understand and mirror the patterns found in healthy natural environments. You can then build profitable, productive, sustainable, cultivated ecosystems, which include people, and have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems.
-www.permaculture.com/permaculture/index.shtml

Natural Building Workshop

STONE FOUNDATION WORKSHOP

Sat, Sun, May 16, 17

Teachers: Ethan Zickler, Stone Mason, Permaculture Designer; Jim Luckner, Structural Engineer; Wilton Duckworth, Architect. Topics include structural considerations and choices, essentials of design and technique of laying stone for a foundation wall, lots of guided hands on experience, slide show of process of building the house from bare ground to the present

Cost: Sliding Scale $150-250, work trade for additional days of stone work. Workshop free for a week of work with Ethan on the foundation plus lunches

Registration: Please send checks, payable to Green Phoenix Permaculture to 8 Epworth Lane, High Falls, NY 12440. Please include name, address, phone, e-mail. Please indicate food allergies and special needs. You will be asked to sign an insurance waiver upon arrival.

Contacts: Joan and Wilton at 845-687-7646 or mamajoane@yahoo.com

TIMBER FRAME WORKSHOP and HOUSE RAISING

Fri, Sat, Sun, July 11,12, 13 and Sat, Sun, July 26, 27 Learn the basics of timber framing while cutting, assembling and raising the frame on the farmhouse.

Teachers: Aaron Dennis and his experienced team

Cost: $600. Cost includes tuition, accomodations in a bunk lodge or camping, lunches and dinners [breakfasts are potluck] Space is limited!

Registration: Please send checks payable to Green Phoenix Permaculture to 8 Epworth Lane, High Falls, NY 12440

Contacts: Joan and Wilton, 845-687-7646, mamajoane@yahoo.com

STRAWBALE WORKSHOP

in September with Ben Simpson to build the bale walls on the farmhouse. Details to follow.

COB WORKSHOP

to build cob wall between house and attached greenhouse. Also this coming fall. Details to follow.

DONATIONS:

Tax deductible donations toward the sustainable farmhouse would be gratefully accepted. Checks can be made out to Green Phoenix Permaculture, with a note saying "sustainable farmhouse". Send to 8 Epworth Lane, High Falls, NY 12440. Donations will help us with scholarships, teachers and building materials