the Home-grown institute
evolving skills for a sustainable future
NEW! Series of Workshops Up Close & Personal Every other month starting October 2012Events.htmlEvents.htmlEvents.htmlEvents.htmlshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2shapeimage_1_link_3
 
 
Walking a New Road! There is an old Turkish proverb that advises us, “No matter how far down a wrong road you are, turn back.” For thousands of years, human beings experienced themselves as part of the ecosystem of the earth. Not so long ago, that began to change, and recently, that change has accelerated to the point where everyday we are reminded of how far down the wrong road we have gone*. The mission of the Home Grown Institute is to shine a spotlight on the new sustainable and regenerative roads - bringing the community together to forge paths - building the physical, social, emotional, intellectual and spiritual skills we need for the journey. In March of 2012, we launched out first event with 250 chopping, building, touring and learning together. In the Fall of 2012 we are kicking off a Homesteading 101 series to keep it going. Use the tabs above to see how you can be involved.
Our Mission:
...is to energize the community - through skill building and community connection - to move forward on a path of sustainable and regenerative practice.
 
Contact us for more information.
 
photos from top left: local beekeeper, boy with egg by Bill Wright, first year growing tomatoes from seed by Sarah Gabriel.
*Need a little more information about what the new road looks like? Here are a few of the biggies: Composting: Keep trash out of the landfill, reduce methane released into the atmosphere, and create new, healthy soil. This should be a no-brainer, but instead is cumbersome and daunting. Thankfully, there are lots of strategies for composting for urban and suburban dwellers. No-Till, Crop Diversity, Crop Rotation: These natural, beyond organic methods to control pests and nourish soil, have been replaced by acres upon plowed acres of corn and soy, which has resulted in a dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides which in turn has, at best, caused a nearly complete depletion of nutrients in soil which now easily erodes and at worst, created soil laden with toxins which threaten the surrounding flora and fauna and are passed through into our food supply. With a little planning, sw can help the soil regain its health. Rain Water Catchment: Trees, plants, soil and meadow naturally catch and hold rain water, replenishing the underground aquifers which are a source of what comes out of our tap. Streets, buildings, asphalt parking lots and driveways are impervious surfaces, repel water and send it off into our over-burdened storm wastewater management system, which in times of heavy rains, diverts excess into our rivers and streams. Individuals can use rain barrels, rooftops gardens and conscious landscaping to mimic nature’s way. Slow food: With the marketing seduction and abundance of refined and processed fast foods, we have nearly lost the art of slow food. With global transport and year-round availability of all fruits and vegetables, we have lost our sense of “in season” and lowered our expectations of natural tastes. Instead, we have allowed the chain restaurants and food processing industry to satisfy our “bliss point” with the manipulation of salt, fat and sugar, leading to an epidemic of food related illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and many forms of cancer. We want to promote fun, creative and community building ways to bring sanity back to our food consumption.