Green Education Center

More backyard medicine- Iboza

Green Education Center — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:08:24 +0000

Iboza Riparia
Very bushy and dense aromatic shrub up to 3 m in height. It is slightly succulent and has an irregular branch pattern. The stems are brown and smooth, except for the younger portions which are covered with glandular hairs and have a ruby tinge. The glandular hairs also cover both surfaces of the leaves and make them slightly sticky to the touch. The leaves are a bright green and are slightly heart shaped with the margin irregularly and bluntly toothed. The flowers range from white to lilac including some with pink flowers. The type of display which you will get depends on whether you have a male or female plant! Male and female flowers are borne on separate plants in spikes which differ in size and shape. The male flower spikes in profusion create more of the “mist” effect than the female flowers which tend to be more compact. The flowers usually appear when the plants are bare and are carried in the top section of the branches. The name ibosa was derived from the Zulu word referring to the aromatic leaves – they use this plant medicinally. The Zulu people have many uses for the plant including the relief of chest complaints, stomach ache and malaria. Inhaling the scent of the crushed leaves apparently also relieves headaches. The plant is frost tender and best suited to pot culture in colder regions. This is a rewarding garden plant which is fast growing – up to 80cm per year and which will flower in its first year. It grows easily in light, well drained and well composted soil. It prefers water in summer but not as much in winter, thus making it is a good water wise plant for summer rainfall areas. It should be pruned back hard after flowering to keep it neat and promote flowering. Plant in full sun, except in very hot areas where midday shade or light shade will be beneficial.

How to make Kombucha tea

Green Education Center — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:24:26 +0000

Kombucha Tea
From: Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz

Timeframe: 7-10 days
Ingredients (for about 1 quarts/1 liter):
1 quart/liter water
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon loose black tea or 2 tea bags
1/2 cup mature acidic kombucha
kombucha mother [SCOBY (Symbiotic Community Of Bacteria & Yeast)]

Process:
Mix water and sugar and bring to a boil in small cooking pot.
Turn off heat; add tea, cover, and steep about 15 minutes.
Strain the tea into a glass container. it’s best to use something wide; kombucha needs adequate surface area and works best if the diameter of the container is greater than the depth of the liquid. allow the tea to cool to body temperature.
add the mature acidic kombucha. when you obtain a culture, it will be stored in this liquid. Save a portion of subsequent batches for this purpose.
Place the kombucha mother in the liquid, with the firm, opaque side up. [The shiny and lighter in color side is the top.]
Cover with a cloth and store in a warm spot, ideally 70° to 85°F.
After a few days to 1 week, depending on the temperature, you will notice a skin forming on the surface of the kombucha [doing as best you can to NOT disturb the newly-forming SCOBY (“skin”)]. Taste the liquid. It will probably still be sweet. The longer it sits, the more acidic it will become.
Once it reaches the acidity you like, start a new batch and store your mature kombuchas in the refrigerator. You now have two mothers [SCOBYs], the original one you started with, and a new one, the skin that formed on your first batch. Use either the new or old mother in your new batch, and pass the other one on to a friend (or the compost). Each generation will give birth to a new mother, and the old mother will thicken.

Note: If you don’t have access to a SCOBY to begin your kombucha, you can also use the liquid from a store-bought bottle. Just brew the tea as described above and add at least half the bottle of store-bought kombucha. You should see a SCOBY forming in a few days.

More rain means more mushrooms. Introducing the Chanterelle

Green Education Center — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:46:51 +0000

Chanterelles have a meaty texture, with a mildly peppery taste and smell a little of apricots or peaches when freshly gathered. They grow under not on trees so if you go foraging for chanterelles (and they are well worth the effort) remember this point as they resemble other fungi which are poisonous. This is true of the False Chanterelle (Hygrophropsis arantiaca) which has orange gills and a darker cap than a true chanterelle. Traditionally mushrooms particularly chanterelles have been assumed to be aphrodisiacs, with the 11th century Normans in Britain feeding them to grooms at their wedding feasts. The minerals they contain along with the amino acids and vitamins, probably make them good for the libido, especially for men with erectile dysfunctions.Chanterelles have an affinity with certain trees and particularly birch, beech, oak, and pine in descending order, as they seem to like birch trees best, but they also seem to quite like larch and sweet chestnut trees too. They grow in soil which is damp.Like other mushrooms they contain vitamins A and D as well as some of the B-complex ones. They contain all the essential amino acids and glutamic acid is believed to boost the immune system and may help fight cancer, infections and rheumatoid arthritis. There is evidence that it inhibits blood clotting, which is valuable in the fight against heart disease. As for minerals, they contain potassium which regulates blood pressure and the contractions of the heart muscle; copper, manganese, magnesium, calcium, zinc and selenium which is good for the mood and the brain. They also contain fibre in the form of cellulose, which helps with the disposal of wastes from the body and so helps to prevent constipation and piles.

They are great added to soups and stews and go well with eggs, but can be used to accompany any meat dish. Treat them as you would any other mushroom as far as cooking goes.

Do you have Gotu Kola near you

Green Education Center — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:07:04 +0000

Gotu kola stimulates the central nervous system, aids in the elimination of fluids, shrinks tissues, decreasess fatigue and depression and can also stimulate sexual appetite. Gotu kola has also been recommended for rheumatism, blood disease, mental disorder, high blood pressure, a sore throat, tonsillitis, cystitis, venereal disease (hopefully you wont need it for this), insomnia, and to relieve stress.

Gotu Kola can be used in a variety of forms in order to benefit from its healing properties. It can be used as massage oil, a shampoo, a poultice, a tea, and a skin cream. It is often combine with sandalwood and lemon when used in one of the previous forms.

Gotu kola has a balancing effect on all three doshas, which are the bio-energies of Ayurveda, and so the plant can be beneficial to just about anyone. Gotu kola infusions, taken as a beverage, will improve circulation in the legs and can also treat varicose veins. The plant will also act as a soporific in cases of insomnia. When used as a compress, the infusion will relieve psoriasis. To make such an infusion, pour 2 cups of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of the herb and let steep for 10 minutes. Drink up to 2 cups a day, adding lemon or honey to taste if desired. If the results of a compress are disappointing, try strengthening the infusion used.
According to tradition, the natives of Sri Lanka were probably the first people to use gotu kola for its medicinal properties. They noticed that elephants, which are the species of animal that is most renowned for their longevity, loved to eat the rounded gotu kola leaves. Hence the proverb ‘Two leaves a day keeps old age away”

The many uses of stinging nettle

Green Education Center — Fri, 10 May 2013 00:33:07 +0000

Stinging Nettles is a common plant that has been used medicinally throughout history. Caesar’s Roman troops are thought to have brought nettle from England and used the spines for warmth. Touching the stingers on the nettle plant causes an allergic reaction, probably due to the formic acid found in the stingers which initiates a localized histamine release, thus producing a burning sensation.

In Europe, it was used as a spring tonic, a treatment for scurvy, as a diuretic, and a treatment for joint pain. Nettle is rich in Vitamin C and the antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin E. It is also high in chlorophyll, iron, potassium, magnesium, chromium, and zinc.

Other possible health benefits for nettle include anti-inflammatory effects, relief of benign prostatic hyperplasia and urinary tract infections, and the lowering of blood pressure and blood sugar. Nettle tea also has a mild laxative effect, which could be useful for the treatment of constipation.

Stinging nettle is available as a dried leaf, extract, capsules and as a root tincture. Typical dosage is 600 mg dried herb or 2-4 ml per day of fluid extract in divided doses. To make a tea, prepare 2/3 cup of boiling water over 3 to 4 teaspoons of dried leaves or root and steep for 3-5 minutes.

As a side effect, it may occasionally cause mild gastrointestinal irritation when taken internally. It may also cause a rash with topical use. It is not recommended for use in pregnancy, as studies have indicated that it may alter the menstrual cycle and contribute to miscarriage. It has also not been established as safe for children to use.

Uses for Tulsi

Green Education Center — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:55:01 +0000

1. It is used as an antiseptic, antiviral and antibiotic.
2. It is used in cough and cold with Kali mirch, Ginger juice and honey.
3. Face pack prepared from the juice of Tulsi and honey clears the oily skin and improves the skin glow.
4. External appliaction of juice of Tulsi, lime Juice eradicates pimples with softness of skin.
5. It is very useful in chronic fever.
6. Keeping a Tulsi plant in the house will prevent all types of insects and mosquitoes, so that Malaria and Dengue etc. can be prevented.

Edible Forest Gardens Design Intensive

Green Education Center — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:53:14 +0000

We are happy to be enrolled in Edible Forest Gardens Design Intensive
Advanced Permaculture Design with Eric Toensmeier on May 31- June 5 2013. In this advanced Permaculture class we will learn how to design and plant a food forest. If you want to attend this class or need more information check out this link :

Edible Forest Gardens Design Intensive

Backyard Homesteading

Green Education Center — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 16:00:12 +0000

Join us on this two-hour workshop to introduce Homesteading on your land. This course will include basics techniques used in all settings from urban homesteading to a fully sustainable farm. The class will be held at the Wind Horse and demonstrate hands-on homesteading principles. You will learn: Organic gardening, water collection, and alternative energy storage and production. It doesn’t matter if you live in a condo or on a farm; this class is a great place to get the tools you need to start producing your own food, energy, and water right in your own backyard or patio.Where: Windhorse Wellness Center351 Plaza Drive, Eustis, Florida 32726352-255-1969

Cost $25

Click Here to Register

Orlando Permaculture Video

Green Education Center — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:57:38 +0000

Check out this short documentary and tour of the Econ Farm and how to inoculate mulch beds with edible mushrooms. Thanks to Kinesis Films for providing the footage. Our next Permaculture Design Course will be held in October 2013. Click Here for more information on the class. Everything keeps growing on the farm.

Intro to Permaculture Course Spring 2013

Green Education Center — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 12:30:11 +0000

Permaculture is a way to consciously design landscapes that mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature and yield an abundance of food, fiber, and energy for local needs.”

~ David Holmgren, Co-Founder of Permaculture

Interested in growing nutritious, organic veggies? Want to care for chickens in your backyard? Want to reduce your power and water bills? Need to know how to build healthy soils? Want to be a part of a more connected community?

Then a short one day Introduction to Permaculture Course is for you.

Permaculture design – the ethics, principles and design process – is based on living systems. This workshop contains a mixture of theory and hands-on exercises that will prepare you with the fundamentals of permaculture.

This course will support you with methods and strategies to have a positive impact on the environment, boost food productivity in your own yard, designing to maximize water efficiency, and reducing energy usage and costs at home.

Course Topics:

Permaculture ethics
Design principles
Patterns in nature
Zones and sectors
Design process overview, mini design exercise
Forest gardens, plant guilds, polycultures, sheet mulching, chop and drop
Organic garden hands-on and seed starting
Rainwater Harvesting
Grey Water Systems
Soil Building and Composting
Growing Fruit Trees and Orchards
How can you use Permaculture practically in your life, home, garden, land or community, whatever your situation
Plus Practical tips, including; reading your land, saving energy, year round food from your garden and how to use your weeds….

The hours and cost can be applied as credit towards the full Permaculture Design Course offered by the Green Education Center in October 2013.

Healthy locally grown meals provided.

Location: Econ Farm Orlando Florida 32833

Time: March 30 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Cost $75.00

This Class has Sold Out! Check out the Full PDC in October 2013 here.

Mushroom Permaculture Introduction

Green Education Center — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 15:00:45 +0000

Come learn ecologically sound ways to grow mushrooms in your garden and homestead!

This is a hands-on workshop for integrating fungi into your world, no prior mushroom knowledge required, this class is all about getting to know Fungi and learning to interact with them.

Mushroom Ecology: As a group we will start by exploring the landscape of the Econ Farm gardens to examine and discuss some of the natural patterns of life for Fungi.

Mushroom Gardening: Constructing our own mushroom patches can serve a multitude of purposes including food production, erosion control, and wastewater filtration. We will plan out and build-up native edible mushroom patches in appropriate locations on the grounds for plant companionship.

Composting and Mulching for Mushrooms: Many mushrooms live directly in contact with a diverse array of soil organisms, and often they can be encouraged to grow in more passive ways through developing specific composts and mulches. We will construct and inoculate these in class.

We are exited to host this workshop with guest instructor Ja Schindler.

Ja Schindler hails from Eugene, Oregon and brings with him over a decade of mushroom cultivation experience. He focuses on developing and teaching approachable methods for food sovergnity, soil health, and mycoremediation through his organization Fungi For the People. Later this year he will be releasing his first book on the subject, titled Fungi For the People Simplified Mushroom Cultivation for Food, Medicine, and MycoRemediation. For more on his work go to www.FungiForThePeople.org

Click here to Register!

Beermaking Workshop

Green Education Center — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 16:00:35 +0000

Saturday, February 23, 2013
11:00 pm – 2:00 pm

The beginner level workshop will provide all the basic knowledge needed to start brewing your favorite beer right in your own kitchen. Experience beer brewer Terry Meer will show you the equipment and techniques needed to brew beer. He will guide you through the mash, sparge and fermenting process and show you how to keg your new brew. The workshop is hands-on with free samples of our favorite brews.

Fee $30
Advanced registration required!
To register call (321) 445-1395

Click here to register!

Compost Tea

Green Education Center — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:47:25 +0000

Thank you to everyone that came out to the Composting Presentation at Leu Gardens. As promised here is the recipe for making compost tea:

1.5 pounds of compost (from your worm bin)

2 ounces of humic acid

1 ounce of Kelp Meal

Put all ingredients into a 5 gallon pucket mostly full of water and add your air stone for 24-48 hours. Make sure you clean your air stone between uses. Use the compost tea right away. Do not store. Happy Growing!

We are now hosting Farm Tours

Green Education Center — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:19:32 +0000

If you are in the Orlando area and want to witness how a private family permaculture farm works contact us and set up a visit. We will do a 1 hour tour packed full of tips on how to use permaculture in your backyard and garden. We charge 20 dollars for the tour. Click Here to set up a time to visit the farm! Tours run in the spring and fall.

Orlando Intern program

Green Education Center — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:41:23 +0000

Hello folks! We want to give an opportunity for individuals in the Orlando area to work with the Green Education Center interns and to get their hands dirty. Starting in March 1st until April 30th we will be doing work and learn farming events Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

On these days we will be doing organic gardening, natural building, exotic invasive removal, and much more. This will be a free work exchange program for individuals in the Orlando area. This will be an open forum for people to share skills and knowledge with the community. If you are interested in signing up to be and Econ Farm Intern, please fill out a contact form here. Thanks for Thinking Green!

Orlando Permaculture Immersion

Green Education Center — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:00:12 +0000

Our Permaculture Immersion Program is structured using Permaculture’s concept of zones: zones of interaction and influence starting with your self and your home, and moving out into the garden, orchard, pasture, production forest, wild lands, and political and financial structures. Our teachers bring their experience to the table to help students best design and integrate the dynamic components of a sustainable lifestyle.
The Econ Farm is a permaculture homestead with the mission of being a living model of sustainability. As a well-established yet ever evolving 10-year-old site, The Econ Farm is an excellent working classroom for the development of hands-on skills. You will learn about living off the grid, grow food in the garden, foraging for wild edibles, tending a fruit orchard, building alternative structures, solar power, community living, worm composting, humanure, whole foods and nutrition, cooking and more. This all-inclusive 4-day immersion program includes workshops, organic meals, and on-site camping.

Fee: $350 per person

Advanced Registration and Pre-payment Required!

Intern Program at the Econ Farm in Orlando Florida

Green Education Center — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:34:33 +0000

We have just announced the 2013 intern program for the Econ Farm. The Econ Farm is located on the Econlockhachee River near Orlando, Florida 45 minutes from Cocoa Beach, 45 minutes to the beautiful fresh water springs, and 45 minutes from Disney World. There are several organic gardens on site as well as workshop stages. Click Here for more details!

Solar Workshop and Demonstration

Green Education Center — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:19 +0000

Join Terry Meer of the Green Education Center for an educational session and demonstration of photovoltaic energy. Learn about grid-tied systems, lightweight portable systems, types of solar panels and the application in homes, farms, and on the go. There will be Goal Zero products for display and for sale. Solar panels (7 watts) with battery pack starting at $100.

Solar Workshop and Demonstration
Wednesday December 5th 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
@ Econ Farm 16206 Hamilton Drive Orlando, Florida 32833
Cost: Free

Homesteading Workshop Orlando

Green Education Center — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 23:25:09 +0000

Thank you to all the teachers and students for a wonderful class. Click here to see a video of some of the highlights of the Homesteading Workshop featuring Terry Meer, Fran Deihl, Jonathon and Natalie at the Organic Sanctuary in Geneva, Florida. Keep Thinking Green! Check out our upcoming workshops!

Homesteading Workshop

Green Education Center — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Join us on this one day intensive workshop to introduce Homesteading on your land. This course will include basics techniques used in all settings from urban homesteading to a fully sustainable farm. The class will be held at the Organic Sancutuary and demonstrate hands-on homesteading principles. This 5-acre permaculture farm is the perfect setting to see sustainability in action!
You will learn: Organic gardening, container gardening, water collection, energy storage and production, canning and preserving, animal husbandry, and natural building skills. We will provide a locally grown breakfast and lunch.

Cost is $75.00
Class will be from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Register Now

Orlando Permaculture Design Course

Green Education Center — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:00:30 +0000

Congratulations to all the new graduates of the 2012 PDC. I am confident that you will all continue your work and help to design a greener world. Contact us if you are interested in the Orlando Permaculture Design Course for Fall 2013.

Solar Product Demonstration

Green Education Center — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:31:53 +0000

We will be doing our next Solar Product Demonstration just in time for Christmas at the Econ farm on December 5th. Come on out and see whats available in the world of solar energy. This demonstration will be FREE!

Permaculture Design Course Fall 2012

Green Education Center — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 12:30:38 +0000

Econ Farm Directions

Free Shipping on all Solar Sytems!

Green Education Center — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:48:12 +0000

As a customer appreciation we are offering free shipping on all Goal Zero Solar Systems. See the complete list of products here:
Goal Zero Portable Solar Products.

Thank you for keeping the energy up this year!

Keep Thinking Green!

Intro to Solar Workshop

Green Education Center — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 12:33:13 +0000

Thank you to everyone that came out to the workshop on 8-18-2012 and making it a huge success. It was great to see everyone so interested in collecting power from the sun. I look forward to the next one.