The Songcroft School of Self-Sufficiency

Benefits | Topics Covered |  Skills Learned | Publicity

Don’t forget to also visit our FAQ page!

Learn permaculture

If you are concerned about current changes in food and fuel prices, if you want to actively supplement your grocery budget, if you want to hone your skills while reconnecting with nature and it’s rhythms or if you long for a strong community enroll in our program!

“Marilene inspires by her example and capably passes on her skills and knowledge. Not only did we receive hands-on experience, with the opportunity to ask questions at every step, but we went home with a covered tray full of seeds we planted ourselves and instruction sheets to remind us how to care for them and plant them out. For me, personally, Marilene gives me the gift of impetus.” – Torie

SongCroft School empowers our community by providing one and two year apprenticeship opportunities in self-sufficient living, real-life examples of permaculture landscapes, community connection and cottage industry development. We assist our apprentices to be better equipped to deal with changes in their lives and environments.

“I enjoyed the hands on approach to starting seedlings from scratch and especially liked learning how to propagate herbs from cuttings. Marilene is a fun and knowledgeable lady, providing lots of good reference material to take home, along with new seedlings. I now have mature lavender and rosemary plants that I can continue to propagate from, for friends, relatives and neighbors.”- Steve

This year’s course will begin in January 2010 and registration is open now. In 2009 our registration was full after 45 days of being open! We take a limited number of apprentices.

Get to know your soil

SELF SUFFICIENCY SKILLS PROGRAM

BENEFITS

• Save money on food and utilities
• Feel good about using your new skills to reduce environmental impact
• Use your skills to assist your family and community in times of need
• Experience working models of sustainable landscape design
• Meet others with common dreams and ideas and take home a new networking base
• Certificate of completion of The Songcroft School Self Sufficiency Program

TOPICS COVERED

So much knowledge has been lost, even in the last 50 years! In the past, local families could feed themselves out of their own garden, preserve food for winter, medicate an infected animal and tend a woodlot. These were simple but crucial arts that kept their footprint small, and their dependence on outside forces minimal.

“The hard work and passion that Marilene and Brian have put into creating Songcroft is filled with love, respect and harmony for community, the Earth and all the creatures on it.  It is palpable when you step onto their land, you cannot help but feel more relaxed and in tune with the rhythms of nature.  They are both compassionate mentors and guides, and it shows by how many people they are able to inspire and touch by their example.” –Corinna

Learn food storage

SKILLS

In our two-year course, you will learn skills you can put to immediate use:

• Seed Starting and Saving
• Permaculture
• Soil Science and Amending Soil
• Sheet-mulching
• Small livestock rearing
• Sustainable Cooperative Communities
• Planting
• Green Housing
• Knot Tying
• Compost
• Preparing for the seasons
• Water Saving
• Pests
• Edible Hedges
• Medicinal Herb Gardens
• Cover Crops
• Food Forests
• Cloches and Cold-Frames
• Year-round Gardening
• Starting a cottage industry and more!

“I always looked forward to the classes each month. I liked having Brian’s participation and the hands-on approach. I have been able to incorporate a number of the concepts presented in to my everyday life as well as in planning for the future. I appreciated the focus on community.” – Holly

We will make your experience more complete by discussing and exampling:

• Permaculture
• Sustainable Housing
• Cooperative Communities
• Local Currency

PUBLICITY about the program:

Everett Herald Blog
Everett HeraldNet
Exit the Fast Lane