Giovanna, our wonderful DreemScholar!

We are honored to highlight our first ever DreemScholar Giovanna Piumarta as she commences her 5 week adventure at Lost Valley Education Center in Dexter, Oregon from May 21 until June 22, 2012!

Several months ago, we met Giovanna at the Cabrillo College Permaculture Club - who is a dedicated member of this club even though she is not even a student there! We presented a recently established opportunity with Lost Valley to provide Dreemers with a discount for their 5 week, immersive Permaculture Design Certification class. She was immediately perked and interested in the collaboration, being that her mission in life is to promote environmental education to children focusing on "Greening" schools and getting kids in the garden. 

Our next meeting with her was to discuss and reconfirm interest in such a large time and financial commitment as this 5 week course would be. That was to be the first time of many Giovanna would impress us with her diligence, commitment, and enthusiastic involvement. Since then, she has proven to be one of the amazing Lead Volunteers for Dreem Reality and it's many blossoming projects, and we are truly blessed to have her on our DreemTeam!

Giovanna's presence can be seen (on DreemTV) through the entire history ofDreemGardens, not only as an avid hands-on volunteer but as a teacher - sharing her extensive knowledge in plants, gardening techniques, and uplifting spirit with her fellowDreemers. She has been an essential part of DreemGardens' growth, and such a perfect representative at Lost Valley! 

She has taken on the great role of scientist, student, and educator as she reports back to us about her experiences and lessons at Lost Valley. Additionally, she has eagerly taken on the EcoVillage Research Project to help us understand the effective techniques of operating and maintaining a community and education center. Furthermore, she has promised to come back to Santa Cruz and teach us what she has learned, as we transform herDreemGarden into a permaculture masterpiece!

Please follow along with Giovanna's adventure on our blog, here!

Ultimately, we could not have manifested a better DreemScholar to be our eyes, ears, minds, and hearts. 

Thank you so very much Giovanna for everything you have done, are doing, and will continue to create with us! 

We miss you!

Much love from your DreemFamily

Lost Valley 5-week Permaculture Design Certification Course

Lost Valley 5-week Permaculture Design Certification Course02/29/2012   Lost Valley is an Education Center and EcoVillage located near Eugene, Oregon with a mission - “We are a learning community creating catalysts for joyful social and ecological regeneration.”  Lost Valley is not only a focus for our EcoVillage Research Project, but a sister non-profit that resembles our eventual goals for D.r.e.e.m. Reality. They host a number of wonderful internships, courses, and workshops regarding various sustainable topics within Permaculture, Gardening, and Eco-building. Specifically, they offer a Five-week Permaculture Design Certification Course (May 21- June 22, 2012) that we have begun communicating with them about. They have graciously offered a $500 discount for each student we bring, dropping the price from $2,500 per student to $2,000. We are seeking to share this discount with as many Dreemers as we can - you included! This is truly a great opportunity for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge on permaculture as an ecological and social design, while simultaneously earning certification. With the certification you can confidently promote yourself as a permaculturalist in your pursuits - such as design consulting, offering finished design work, teaching of classes and workshops, etc.  If you are interested in joining us this May - June at Lost Valley, please contact Dani at Danielle@DreemReality.org.  Or sign up for our mailing list for latest planning info below: Subscribe to our newsletter Here's some more information on the course: Five-week Permaculture Design Certification Course (May 21 - June 22, 2012) Our PDC follows the standard 72-hour Permaculture Design Curriculum created by the Permaculture Institute. But being that our class is far longer than traditional 72-hour courses, we can do more and in ways that suit more learning styles, as mentioned above. The hands-on projects will relate to class topics, and be part of a broader series of undertakings around the Lost Valley site; this allows you to explore many different permaculture projects in varying stages (projects may vary by weather and other considerations). The five-week course will culminate with student groups presenting their permaculture design project for a particular area on the LV campus to the Lost Valley community and staff. Students who have completed the course will be awarded the Permaculture Design Certificate at the Closing Ceremony on Friday. A No-Talent Show, shindig, and cob oven pizza party will cap off the course. At Lost Valley we will: Fulfill the Permaculture Design Curriculum created by the Permaculture Institute Combine lecture, discussion, interaction with nature, and hands-on projects Learn to analyze local environment Design holistic systems that meet the needs of people and nature Immerse yourself in a sustainable community lifestyle Explore, play, adventure, and learn with oth