Classes are now underway.  Keep checking this page for new additions:

Essentials of Photo Voltaics

Classes to begin on August 23rd at Wilkes Community College Ashe Campus

This sixteen week course is a primer for anyone wishing to design, install, and maintain photo voltaic systems.  The class is held on Mondays from 6PM to 9PM at Wilkes Community College, Ashe Campus. Class space is limited so contact Celia Robinson at WCC to reserve your place (336) 846-9034 Extension 223  or Gerry Tygielski, MMF Director at mmfev@aol.com.

Exploration of Alternative Energy

Classes to begin on August 26th at Wilkes Community College Sparta Campus

This eighteen week course will be one of the most comprehensive courses available as an introduction to energy, its use, and its future.  The course will teach the basics of traditional alternative energy resources: wind, solar, bio-diesel, and hydro-electric power, how to size a system and basics of electricity and battery maintenance.  From there, the adventure begins.  Not only will the class look at more formidable solutions such as fusion, fission, hydrogen, and fuel cells, but will explore the fringe areas where people are exploring the unknown.  It also will be opening the doors to new ideas and inventors working on projects from magnetic motors to zero point energy.  The class concludes with an introduction to Tetrahedral Physics and the String Theory.  Students will tour Mountain Mission Farms model Eco-home as well as put together a team to build and test prototype 'new energy' devices including the modification of a diesel vehicle to run on Waste Vegetable Oil.  Guest inventors will also present their ideas on fuel vaporization, alternator power generation, and ocean-thermal power generation. The class is held on Thursdays from 6PM to 9PM at Wilkes Community College, Sparta Campus.  To reserve a place in class contact Benita Hampton at WCC (336) 372-5061 Extension 230  or Gerry Tygielski, MMF Director at mmfev@aol.com.

A World of Health:  Connecting People, Places, and Planet

Next Course is Planned for September 21 in both West Jefferson and Boone

This New River Earth Institute discussion course explores what we have done to our food supply and how we have deviated from nature.  This six week course follows the Northwest Earth Institute study guide and looks at an array of well know authors and their insights into how we affect the planet by our choices in buying, building, and living.  Classes are planned for Ashe and Watauga counties.  For more information about this and other New River Earth Institute courses contact Peggy Setzer, founder of The New River Earth Institute at peggy_s@skybest.com or Gerry Tygielski, NREI President at nreiinfo@aol.com.

Medicinal and Edible Plant Walk at Mountain Mission Farms

Next Course Planned for the end of September

As part of an ongoing series, we are attempting to promote a medicinal and edible plant walk each month during the summer at Mountain Mission Farms.   Our last class culminated in the gathering, preparation, and eating of plants gathered on the grounds.  If you are interested in joining us this next month, please call or email Gerry Tygielski at nreiinfo@aol.com before September 15th. 

Other Courses Offered in Partnership with Mountain Mission Farms

The New River Earth Institute is a nonprofit educational foundation located in the northwest corner of North Carolina.  It provides an array of discussion courses that help bring an awareness of our impact on the planet.  If you have a group that would like to share in helping preserve the planet, please contact us and we will help you facilitate one of our many discussion courses. 

 

A full description of this and other NREI courses can be viewed at the NREI Website.

 

Other courses topic areas offered for this next calendar year include:

Choices for Sustainable Living

Discovering a Sense of Place

Sustainable Agriculture

Alternative Energy Systems

Land Use & Permaculture

High Efficiency & Durable Construction

Alternative & Green Building Materials

Globalization and It's Critics

Healthy Children - Healthy Planet

A World of Health: Connecting People, Places, and Planet

This page is under continual construction.