Free Community Resilience Workshop Series
Together, we face a multitude of social, economic, and environmental challenges that call us to rethink how we relate to one another and the land, and to develop skills for mutual aid and community resilience. The Community Resilience Workshops facilitate inclusive learning opportunities while fostering local partnerships for climate change adaptation and emergency preparedness. In collaboration with other community-based organizations, these workshops offer hands-on practice in topics such as regenerative agriculture, wildfire mitigation, disaster preparedness, first aid training, ecological conservation, community governance, and off-grid systems. These offerings are free, because we recognize that the communities most impacted by climate change are also those who often do not have equitable access to these resources. We welcome donations from participants who have the means and wish to support this work further.
These workshops are made possible by funding we received from Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Equity Grant, which is also funding scholarships to Lost Valley courses in 2025. Thank you, OHA!
We are continuing to add workshops to this schedule through 2025! Please see workshop details below to register, and contact admissions@lostvalley.org to inquire about other scholarship opportunities. Please note that registration is required in order to attend all workshops.
2025 Schedule
More workshops coming soon!
Permaculture Gardening Series
Come get hands on experience with different topics in gardening; including planting, harvesting, preparing garden beds, and so much more.
Working With Solar and Batteries
This class is for anyone and everyone. We welcome people with any experience whether it’s a new beginner trying to get concepts or advanced people interested in getting a better well rounded understanding of what it takes to achieve certain solutions.
Solar can be daunting at times and with my real world experience of what is and isn’t possible, our instructor John Loomis would like to offer his expertise to anyone willing to listen.
John has been doing electrical work off and on over the past 14 years and started diving into the world of solar and batteries 10 years ago when he lived off grid for a few years. He brings that expertise to work, and helps people get more energy independence every week.
Land Stewardship Series
Come get hands on experience with different topics in stewarding the land; including agro forestry, making biochar, removing invasive species, and sustainable timber harvesting.
Natural Building
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.
Introduction to gardening in the Willamette Valley
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.
Working With Solar and Batteries
This class is for anyone and everyone. We welcome people with any experience whether it’s a new beginner trying to get concepts or advanced people interested in getting a better well rounded understanding of what it takes to achieve certain solutions.
Solar can be daunting at times and with my real world experience of what is and isn’t possible, our instructor John Loomis would like to offer his expertise to anyone willing to listen.
John has been doing electrical work off and on over the past 14 years and started diving into the world of solar and batteries 10 years ago when he lived off grid for a few years. He brings that expertise to work, and helps people get more energy independence every week.
Prescribed Grazing 101
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 Lost Valley or drew@rurallivelihoods.org
Drew Thomas is a shepherd, educator, and Fellow at the Center for Rural Livelihoods. He leads the Calico Creek Grazing Collective, using prescribed grazing to restore habitats and reduce wildfire risk. With a background in organic farming, food education, and university teaching, Drew brings deep knowledge of sustainable land and food systems.
No-Till Farming Workshop
This workshop will introduce no-till farming practices, focusing on techniques that reduce soil disturbance and improve long-term soil health. Come get your hands in the soil and learn how no-till methods enhance water retention, reduce erosion, and boost crop yields sustainably.
Wet/Dry Orchards: Swales and Mounds for managing seasonal water in the Willamette Valley
Kara Huntermoon, local expert in wetlands Permaculture, will teach a 4-hour class on managing seasonally wet soil in the Willamette Valley. Tour her 3-acre wet-meadow orchard, and hear "tricks of the trade" for growing "impossible" fruit trees in flooded soil. Learn to use an A-frame level to find contour on slopes, and see how swale-building practices in low flatlands differ from swales on slopes. Discover how to protect roots during the wet season, while storing water in the soil to reduce drought in the long dry summers. This class includes hands-on swale digging with shovels; participants may self-select to their body's capacity.
Land Stewardship Series
Come get hands on experience with different topics in stewarding the land; including agro forestry, making biochar, removing invasive species, and sustainable timber harvesting.
Renewable Trees: Resprout Forestry
Kara Huntermoon will lead an exploration of coppicing and pollarding, two ancient forestry techniques that take advantage of trees' ability to regrow from their stumps. Cultures all over the world have managed their timber production sustainably through post-harvest sprouting from the same roots, with proven ecological benefits. Tools, methods, timing, and appropriate species will be discussed, along with benefits for humans, livestock, and the wider ecology. Resprout Forestry requires us to reinhabit a place with commitment, and regain long-term relationships with other species; as such, it is a method of Social Forestry.
INTRO TO ANIMAL FIBER ALCHEMY & HANDSPINNING
Join us for a hands-on fiber arts workshop! Bring your own projects and learn about fiber processing, dyeing, storage, and safety in a one-hour lecture. After a break, explore demo stations with tools like hand cards, a drum carder, drop spindles, and spinning wheels. Practice spinning, plying, and handpicking fibers, with guidance on safety and body awareness. Andra will provide all materials, including raw fibers, spinning wheels, books, and examples. Perfect for all skill levels!
Andra Vltavín (they/them) is the co-founder and co-director of Ethical Yarn Community, a member-owned cooperative that focuses on sustainability, tending to animals in partnership, and education. They have been handspinning for more than five years and delight in opportunities to connect somatic practices with land-based projects.
Permaculture Gardening Series
Come get hands on experience with different topics in gardening; including planting, harvesting, preparing garden beds, and so much more.
Water in Permaculture
This workshop focuses on water management in permaculture, teaching techniques for capturing, storing, and efficiently using water in sustainable systems. Participants will learn about rainwater harvesting, swales, ponds, and other methods to enhance water retention, reduce runoff, and support healthy ecosystems.
Land Stewardship Series
Come get hands on experience with different topics in stewarding the land; including agro forestry, making biochar, removing invasive species, and sustainable timber harvesting.
Fire ecology and Biochar Production Workshop
This workshop will explore the dynamic relationship between fire ecology and biochar, focusing on how fire influences forest ecosystems and soil health. Participants will learn about the role of fire in shaping landscapes, the science behind biochar production, and its potential benefits for carbon sequestration, soil fertility, and wildfire resilience.
Permaculture Gardening Series
Come get hands on experience with different topics in gardening; including planting, harvesting, preparing garden beds, and so much more.
Fruit Pruning Workshop
Learn how to prune trees for better health and higher fruit yield, covering techniques, tools, and timing. It includes hands-on practice with expert guidance.
Land Stewardship Series
Come get hands on experience with different topics in stewarding the land; including agro forestry, making biochar, removing invasive species, and sustainable timber harvesting.
Nature Immersion Workshop
This is an opportunity to connect deeply with the earth, build a personal practice of land connection, and find a community of other nature oriented people.
Permaculture Gardening Series
Come get hands on experience with different topics in gardening; including planting, harvesting, preparing garden beds, and so much more.
Intro to Sociocracy
Join our interactive online workshop to learn how Sociocracy empowers organizations through collaborative decision-making, shared leadership, and transparency. Explore the key principles of consent-based governance, how to structure teams into circles, and how to make decisions that ensure everyone’s voice is heard.
In this hands-on session, you’ll:
Understand the core values of sociocracy
Practice real-world decision-making scenarios
Learn tools for effective, inclusive governance
Ideal for leaders, teams, and anyone interested in more democratic and efficient ways to work together.
Land Stewardship Series
Come get hands on experience with different topics in stewarding the land; including agro forestry, making biochar, removing invasive species, and sustainable timber harvesting.
Intro to Sociocracy Workshop
Join our interactive online workshop to learn how Sociocracy empowers organizations through collaborative decision-making, shared leadership, and transparency. Explore the key principles of consent-based governance, how to structure teams into circles, and how to make decisions that ensure everyone’s voice is heard.
In this hands-on session, you’ll:
Understand the core values of sociocracy
Practice real-world decision-making scenarios
Learn tools for effective, inclusive governance
Ideal for leaders, teams, and anyone interested in more democratic and efficient ways to work together.