WOrkshops ECOSS 2020

We are listing proposed workshops for ECOSS 2020.  
See the main page for general information including tickets. 
See the program page for programming information closer to the event.

  • ​Special Events
  • Thinking Workshops
  • Skills Workshops
  • Hands on Workshops
  • Community Workshops​
  • ​Green Workshops

special events

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SPEED DATING FOR PREPPERS
  • this workshop is for people looking for people to prep with and is modeled on classic speed dating workshops. Participants either present either their VISION for a refuge or their PERSONAL attributes or BOTH in an effort to find people they might want to prep with.  People with up should bring their prospectus to hand out to potential members

THINKING WORKSHOPS

BLUE THREATS - NEW
  • This workshop explores four blue collapse scenarios: peak oil, economic collapse, viral pandemic and early stage global warming as well as the special preps you need to consider for each stage and will include the 12 minute animation "What the Economic Crisis Really Means - and what we can do about it" by Theo Kitchener, PJ Kalemba, and the team from DIO.
FOOD 101
  • learn about the basics of food, nutrition and food storage..
FOOD SOVEREIGNTY & SEED SAVING 
  • this workshop will explore the fruit, vegetable and herb varieties most suited to this climate and what you need to know to ensure their ongoing availability to avoid relying on commercial sources. It will cover variety selection, plant selection, seed harvesting and storage with emphasis on hardy, proven, reliable heirloom varieties.. Run by Graeme George
INTRODUCTION TO PERMACULTURE
  • permaculture is a system of design focused around sustainable, resilient and perpetual food growing but its designed principles and systems thinking can be applied to almost any field of human activity.  Permaculture training is a must for any person wanting to prepare for a Red or a Blue event.  Includes a small design task. 
PREPPING 101
  • this workshop is designed to expose the participant to the basic strategies that could be implemented for surviving Red or Blue scenarios. The pros and cons of the basic strategies are discussed and basic steps to move forward are discussed. Workshop suit beginner prepper or prepper who want to test their own thinking against the ideas of a long time prepper. ​
RED THREATS - NEW
  • This workshop explores four red collapse scenarios nuclear war, EMP attack, solar flare, and: late stage global warming as well as the special preps you need to consider for each stage.
RETROSUBURBIA - AN URBAN PLAN FOR A BLUE COLLAPSE
  • this workshop ecplores the ideas put forward in David Holmgrens new book Restrosuburbia
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PANDEMIC THE VIRUS GAME - TAKE2
  • pandemic is one of the few games where players win by cooperating with each other in the game. The represents humanity's battle against a series of lethal viral outbreaks. The game will be available to play in the communal lounge space throughout the event.
 PSYCHOLOGY FOR COLLAPSE - TAKE2
  • this talk focuses on two key topics: 1. psychological responses to disaster and  2. collapse events and overview of personality disorders and mental health issues that might effect you effort to prepare for a red and blue scenario​

skILls WORKSHOPS

INTRO TO SAFE CHAINSAW HANDLING
  • learn the basics of safe chainsaw use with an experienced aborist Joran Crooka.. 
​COMPOSTING
  • composting using enzymes and bacteria to break down the food in waste to produce a perfectly balance fertilizer with Mike Morrison.
INTRO TO GUNS AND RIFLES - NEW
  • Gun and rifles are a part of any serious farming enterprise and are used by modern hunters.. This workshop introduces guns, rifles, their safe use and appropriate choice for on farm use or various hunting applications..  

hands on WORKSHOPS

ARCHERY
  • Have some fun while learning the basics or how to shoot a bow.
BASKET WEAVING - NEW
  • Learn the to weave a basket
FORGE A KNIFE
  • try your hand at forging a knife from a piece of rebar. Practice making the most important of tools with a hammer and heat.  You get to keep your knife..
GO BAGS and SURVIVAL KITS
  • learn about you go bags and meaningful composition. Take a look through a few sample kits and bags and make you own check list.
LIGHTING FIRE WITH A SPARK
  • learn to light a fire with a ferro-magnesium rod, the basic fire lighting tool of any post apocalyptic survival kit. Participants will practice on progressively more difficult materials to light.
POTTERY - NEW
  • Learn to make something from clay. ​
TEMPERING AND HARDING A KNIFE - NEW
  • Once you have shaped your knife we will practice tempering and hardening using on a coal fire.
MAKING BACKYARD BIOCHAR
  • biochar traps carbon, promotes soil life, increases water retention and if prepared properly acts as a slow release fertiliser.  The workshop will include biochar manufacture (subject to non total fire ban).​​
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NERF WARS
  • BYO own NERF gun(s) and a pair of safety glasses or use one of ours (limited numbers available). Players will be formed into teams and play a range of scenarios that will be both fun and challenging. ​ ​
WEED WALK
  • Take a walk around ECOSS and see how many useful plants you can discover. 

COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

CONSENSUS DECISION MAKING
  • effective decision making is key in good functioning in any group., but often groups lack even the most basic skills such as good listening and agenda setting. This workshop covers these basic skills, how meeting processes can be done very badly, even hijacked, and presents a model of group decision making called "consensus decision making".  Consensus decision making encourage the active participation of all members in a group and seeks a shared agreement and buy in by all. The model presented is a robust form of consensus which can still function if the group has dysfunctional members or sabotage of group process is attempted.

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GREEN WORKSHOPS

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Holistic Activism
  • climate change and many of the other problems that we are facing are symptoms of a much deeper problem, one that is rooted in ego and identity. Holistic Activism is about taking us outside of the matrix because unless we do, we will never achieve long-term peace and sustainability. We have to embrace our interconnectedness and our differences so that we can work together effectively as activists without getting bogged down in the issues that divide us.​ This workshop is being presented by Mark Allan. 
How councils can save the world.
  • In 2016 Councils began to lead to world on responding to climate change. by acknowledging that we are in a climate emergency and starting to take emergency action, ​ Since then 1000's of councils have acknowledged we are in a climate emergency and started to take emergency action to restore a safe climate.. This workshop discuss this campaign and will walk you trough getting your council to declare a climate emergency and enter emergency mode.