Social Forestry
LOGISTICS
Social Forestry
Advanced Permaculture Certificate Course
2026 course held at Lost Valley Education Center
Advance Reading: Before coming to the course, please read Social Forestry in the Shasta Bioregion. Other suggested reading can be found on the Social Forestry Advance Reading list.
Carpooling is highly recommended.
Course starts the first day at 9:30 AM, and the week will end the last day at 5:00 PM. Students are welcome and encouraged to arrive the previous evening, especially if you’re coming from far away.
Directions:
PLEASE BRING TOOLS
Some tools are required, some are recommended and some are appreciated if you have them. Complete list in the Checklist of What to Bring.
FOOD AND CAMPING
Bring your own food; no food is provided through your course fee. We will create dinner from your food contributions. Everyone usually makes their own breakfast and lunch, but we may decide to cook warm food together at lunch as well. There will be a camp kitchen with stove and wash-up area. Additional cook stoves could be useful. We encourage participants to show up the evening before class starts to set up camp.
This is a campground with composting toilets. Some group indoor sleep spaces will be available in the event of very inclement weather.
Please pay attention to the Checklist of What to bring. You will want these items with you!
Daypack suggested as we will be roaming far from camp. There may be ticks this time of year. A hot cup can be helpful in staying warm throughout the day. Hot water will be available for tea most of the time.
CHECK LIST OF WHAT TO BRING:
* = an item you must bring. Others are somewhat optional as we can share. Perhaps check with the people with whom you are carpooling to make sure you have provided from amongst your group.
Water:
* 3-5 gallons per person to drink and contribute to cooking and washing, (or more) Not needed for the Lost Valley 2026 course
* water bottle
Camping Gear:
* Tent (sharing is good), tent footprint,
* warm sleeping bag
* sleeping pad
* flashlight
towel
lantern (it will be getting dark early and lanterns will be quite useful)
headlamp for doing tasks and walking in the dark
emergency blanket (very handy if it gets super cold)
Daytime/Class Comfort:
* Rain-protected clipboard/notebook. This can be rain resistant notebook, field notebook or a plastic bag over your notebook.
* Daypack or bag for carrying clothing, tools, while roaming far from camp
* Camp chair (hopefully 2) It’s great to have one in the classroom and another at the eating area. Classroom chair not needed for Lost Valley 2026 course.
Tarp to sit on or hang for rain protection
Small thermos and/or insulated cup for tea
Solar shower bag. Not needed for the Lost Valley 2026 course.
Bring only biodegradable soaps/shampoo. Soap will be provided. Shower priority will be given to those who are sensitive to poison oak.
Sun screen
Clothing:
Weather at Lost Valley 2026 tends to be wet this time of year. Be sure to bring good rain gear with plenty of extra clothes to change into something dry. Layers are necessary with warm things for sitting in semi-heated conditions.
* Raingear. Rain repellant but breathable work jacket. We will be walking and working outside regardless of weather conditions. Rain pants and hat or hood also highly recommended.
* Long sleeve shirts and long pants for moving through brush including poison oak. Burr-proof clothes such as tight nylon (quick dry) work well
* Warm gloves/mittens, fingerless gloves are useful
* Sun hat (brimmed hat for strong horizontal sun)
Wool cap and scarf
Food and cooking:
* At breakfast and lunch. Bring what you want for yourself. You can use our camp kitchen for preparation.
* Dinner: Bring food to contribute, especially vegies. We will be providing a big pot of grain (rice or quinoa) each evening and making a stew or stir-fry and salad from whatever people bring. Dairy and meats will be kept separate from the rest of the food, but are appreciated by many. We will have pots for boiling water and some pans for frying/toasting.
* Snacks are nice for tea time and after dinner. Shared tea snacks are greatly appreciated.
* Ice chest (sharing is good). We need to keep food contained and out of reach to critters.
* Dishes and utensils.
Small pot if needed for breakfast or other personal cooking.
Small stove, optional
Hot Cup
Tools
Required:
*Clip board with rain protection (plastic bag will work), as mentioned above
*Work gloves
*Pocket knife
*Pocket clippers/small pruner (Felco or equivalent)
Strongly recommended:
Folding pull saw (pruning)
Small binoculars
Hard hat or bicycle helmet
Sturdy multi-tool
Small binoculars
10X hand lens
Safety glasses
Small camera
If you have it, please bring:
Basketry knife (we recommend the Mora 120 woodcarving knife)
Lopers (long handle)
Leather or fire resistant gloves
Fencing pliers (hammer type)
Heavy duty old fashioned beer can opener
Plant press or old phone book (large) for same purpose
Draw knife
Broad knife (woodsmanpal)
Japanese logging saw 13″-16″ (not pruning)
SPECIAL REQUESTS For imported materials (to show what we use from off site):
!!we will not be using chainsaws or power equipment except perhaps portable drills and lights
