Announcing the 1 st Annual
Alexander Von Humboldt Day
Over 200 years ago, Alexander Von Humboldt’s observations changed the paradigm of how we view the natural world on Earth just like Einstein changed how we view the Universe. Take a moment and imagine a world 200 years from now, where less than 1% of people know the name of Albert Einstein, or who he was, or his contributions to physics. Hard to believe, yet that is the equivalent of where we are today with regard to the one man who, over 200 years ago, literally changed our understanding of the natural world. A man whose audience was sought after by the greatest minds of the early 19th century. A man who inspired Darwin, encouraged Thoreau, collaborated with Emerson, and was a close friend to Goethe. A man whose council was sought after by Thomas Jefferson, and all the kings of Europe. A man whose name was known by all, to the degree that there are more places and living things named after him than any other person. And yet, less than 1% of people know of him. We at Harmony are determined to change that! Born September 14, 1769 in Berlin, Alexander Von Humboldt, by the age of forty, made contributions to our understanding of the natural world that include the interconnection of Eco-systems, biodiversity, plant-soil interaction, climate zones and micro-climates, climatology, and climate change resulting from deforestation. In addition, his observations led to the concept of continental drift which ultimately led to the theory of plate tectonics.
Introduction
In 1799, at the age of twenty-nine, Alexander von Humboldt abandoned a life of wealth and privilege, to embark on a five-year expedition of South America. The results of his observations and discoveries created a paradigm shift of how the natural world is seen, not unlike Newton’s or Einstein’s contributions to physics and how we see the universe.
His expedition began in Caracas, Venezuela on July 29, 1799 disembarking from the ship that transported him across the Atlantic Ocean. The New World was vast and mostly unexplored. His travels would ultimately take him to Mt. Chimborazo in Ecuador, considered the tallest mountain in the world at the time, where some of his key contributions were discovered. The expedition’s assent was halted due to a vast crevasse, at the elevation of 19,413 feet, a height that no recorded human had previously reached. During the ascent, using the numerous scientific instruments he had brought, including one that measured the “blueness” of the sky, he recorded everything measurable as well as his observations, his emotions, and the changes in the environment during the ascent: palms and bamboo at the base, then conifers and oaks, then alpine plants similar to those he collected in the Swiss Alps and lichen similar to those from the Arctic. Upon advancing above an elevation of 18,000 feet, he recorded that the terrain was completely devoid of any plants, insects, or animals. All these changes in plant types, soil types, and climate became the foundation for his Climate and Vegetation Zones that we to use to this day. He recorded barometric pressure and temperature changes that provided the foundation for his creation of the concept of isotherms that are still used today to forecast weather. At the elevation of 19,413, the fog finally lifted, and standing at the top of the world, “he saw the world as one great living organism where everything was connected” as told by Andrea Wulf in The Invention of Nature. This new vision of nature we now refer to as Gaia, a name he had considered for one of his books. After five years, it was time to return to Europe. Following the same route back to Venezuela for his return, he passed by Lake Valencia and through the surrounding area. Where he remembered lush forestland just a few years earlier, was now treeless and barren from deforestation by the Spanish colonialists. The air was now arid and dry where it had been humid and moist. The soil was barren of plant life, and the water level of the lake had significantly fallen. He noted that the climate had changed as a result of the deforestation and warned of potential worldwide climate change if current land-practices were continued. “In this great chain of cause and effect,” Humboldt said “no single fact can be considered in isolation.” He observed connections everywhere that he had traveled. With this insight, he invented the “web of life” which is a foundation principle for every Environmentalist, Naturalist, and Organic Farmer.
During his expedition, he sent specimens and copies of his notes back to Europe which would be published by newspapers all over Europe. He received dispatches requesting more. The world was hungry to hear and read about his discoveries and observations. His notoriety spread across continents and crossed oceans. He received several invitations from then President Thomas Jefferson to visit the United States, so on his return home to Europe, he stopped-off to visit Thomas Jefferson who regarded Humboldt as “one of the greatest embellishments of the age” where he spent several months cultivating a two-decades long friendship with Jefferson. Upon his arrival in Paris, he was cheered, wined and dined by all the notables of science, society, and politics. He had become the first international celebrity. He inspired other great thinkers and artists of the age; Darwin, Muir, Thoreau, Poe, Emerson, and a life-long friend of Goethe. Ten years after his death, on September 14, 1859, a worldwide celebration to honor the centennial of his birth. Noted by historians and followers alike, this celebration stretched around the globe: in Moscow, he was revered as the “Shakespeare of Sciences”; celebrations and parades were held in every major city in the United States (New York City they honored him with banners and parades and referred to him as a man “whose fame no nation can claim”); the London Daily News reported that his fame “is in some sort bound up with the universe itself”; celebrations on every continent; and especially in his birthplace of Berlin where the city government closed for the day and 80,000 people celebrated.
To this very day, Von Humboldt’s vision of nature still influences our understanding of the natural world. Although the memory of him has faded, his name lives on in the many references to him: over 1600 places named after him*; over 100 animal species named after him; almost 300 plant species named after him; and one place on the Moon.To honor von Humboldt for his contributions to humankind, Harmony Farm Supply & Nursery is providing a time and space to celebrate him.
Event Info
We would be honored if you would join us Saturday September 13th from 9:30AM to 3:30PM for a celebration tailored to his legacy with local guest speakers, current-day practitioners, as well as our own knowledgeable team, and some of our vendors (equipped with giveaways). The event is free to attend at our Sebastopol location.
Guest Speakers
Suzanne Bontempo
Bring in the Bugs: Gardening for Beneficial Insects and Pollinators The Essential Role of Bugs
10:00AM – 11:00AM
Elizabeth Kaiser
Small Scale, Intensive, Regenerative Farming for YOU
11:00AM – 12:00PM
Jennifer Thomson
FELCO Pruner Maintenance Workshop
12:00PM – 1:00PM
Mark Ervin
Roadmap to Sustainable Gardening
12:30PM – 1:30PM
Randy Ritchie
Healthy Soil, Healthy Garden with Randy Ritchie
1:30PM – 2:30PM
Erik Ohlsen
Regenerative Landscaping: Landscapes that Heal Ecosystems
2:30PM – 3:30PM
Speaker Bio’s
Suzanne Bontempo
10:00AM – 11:00AM
Bring in the Bugs: Gardening for Beneficial Insects and Pollinators The Essential Role of Bugs
Did you know that over 95% of the bugs we see in our gardens are good bugs? Join me for an enlightening program that explores the crucial role of bugs in the garden ecosystem. This workshop is designed for gardeners, nature enthusiasts, and anyone interested in understanding the benefits that insects bring to our gardens. Discover how these tiny creatures contribute to a thriving environment and learn why they are essential partners in gardening.
Suzanne will share why bugs are so important, who the pollination powerhouses are, how beneficial insects manage pests naturally, and simple solutions for growing a balanced ecosystem.
Bio
Suzanne Bontempo works as an environmental educator, teaching the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for sustainable, Eco-friendly pest management around the home and garden. Suzanne, owner of Plant Harmony and the IPM Advocate Program Coordinator for Our Water Our World was recognized for excellence in her field winning with the 2013 IPM Innovators Award. Suzanne has worked as a professional gardener for 30 years. She is a Qualified IPM Advocate, a ReScape California Qualified Landscaper, QWEL certified, a Master Composter, and loves teaching folks how to grow bountiful gardens that are also safe and healthy for you, your family, and the environment. To learn more about Suzanne, visit plantharmony.org
Elizabeth Kaiser
11:00AM – 12:00PM
Small Scale, Intensive, Regenerative Farming for YOU
Let’s talk about intensive, no-till farming and gardening that can be relatable to any scale. Let’s increase your soil health, the health of your plants and the produce coming to you! We’ll discuss principles of regenerative farming and examples of how it is implemented on our farm just 4 miles from Harmony Farm Supply and how that’s translatable to you.
Bio
Farmer Elizabeth Kaiser, with her husband Paul, developed their system of intensive, no-till, agroecological farming which has been adopted throughout many regions of the world. At Singing Frogs Farm, they along with their awesome crew of farmers have implemented these practices for 15 years continuously, year-round.
This regenerative approach to soil health and their keen sense of the ecological balance of their farm has resulted in a 4-500% increase in their soil carbon, an even greater increase in their soil’s biology and nutrient exchange with their vegetable crops, and a quadrupling of the birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects that call their farm home. A key to this farming is being intensive, and intensive production means that Singing Frogs Farm is grossing over $175,000 per acre in vegetables, flowers and fruits. Without machinery, the abundant and nutrient dense harvests power a regenerative farming system that invests in its people, ecology and soil.
FELCO Pruner
Maintenance Workshop
12:00PM – 1:00PM
A representative from FELCO will be here to teach you how to maintain your pruners. Learn the proper way to clean, sharpen and repair your pruners to keep them working in top shape. Bring your personal FELCO pruners as this is a Hands On class. All maintenance parts will be available for pre-purchase inside the store.
Presented by Jennifer Thomson of FELCO
Mark Ervin
12:30PM – 1:30PM
Roadmap to Sustainable Gardening
Bio
Mark Ervin is a business owner, serial entrepreneur, and a leading authority in the field of organic and sustainable gardening. With a passion for green living and a commitment to regenerative practices, Mark has dedicated his life to nurturing both gardens and businesses that thrive on Eco-friendly principles.
As the founder of TheGreengro.com, Mark Ervin has transformed his vision into a thriving platform that serves as a hub for gardening enthusiasts seeking knowledge, inspiration, and sustainable gardening products. TheGreengro.com stands as a testament to Mark’s unwavering dedication to cultivating a greener, more sustainable future for all.
Mark’s journey into the world of gardening began with a deep-rooted connection to the earth and a desire to make a positive impact. He has spent years honing his expertise in product formulation, specializing in organic and probiotic dry fertilizers infused with innovative ingredients such as mycorrhiza fungi,beneficial bacteria, and biochar. These formulations cater to backyard and home gardeners who share ark’s passion for healthy, clean, and regenerative gardening practices.
Beyond his role as a successful entrepreneur, Mark Ervin is a mentor and educator, generously sharing his wealth of knowledge with others. His commitment to community engagement is evident through his advocacy for community gardens and his dedication to fostering sustainability through education and outreach. Mark’s journey has taken him from the boardroom to the garden, where he has discovered the profound connection between business acumen and the nurturing of the natural world. His life’s work serves as a bridge between the corporate world and the soil, demonstrating that responsible stewardship of our environment can coexist with entrepreneurship.
In “Cultivating Green: A Gardener’s Guide to Sustainable Living”, Mark Ervin shares his extensive knowledge, offering readers a roadmap to sustainable gardening, community impact, and a greener way of life. His book is a testament to his commitment to empowering others to embrace regenerative practices and cultivate their own green legacy.
Mark Ervin’s journey is an ongoing exploration of the transformative power of gardening, sustainability, and community involvement. As a business owner, product formulation expert, and advocate for green living, he continues to inspire others to join him on the path to a greener, more sustainable future. Mark Ervin’s legacy is not just about what he has achieved; it’s about the seeds of change he continues to plant, nurture, and cultivate in gardens, businesses, and communities worldwide.”
Randy Ritchie
1:30PM – 2:30PM
Healthy Soil, Healthy Garden with Randy Ritchie
Growing healthy soil is the key component in REAL Organic Gardening. Healthy Soil, Healthy Garden walks gardeners through how to grow healthy soil, why that benefits everything in the garden and what products, amendments and protocols are best to be used in safe, healthy organic gardening and landscaping.”
Bio
Randy Ritchie is known is one of the leaders in Real Organic Gardening movement. He is the best selling garden book author of A Hundred Years of Deception – Why Gardening Must Change, and Real Organic Gardening which help gardeners learn to garden through a much healthier approach. His newest best seller, Soil Remediation for the LA Fires helps those who suffered damage to their properties.
Randy forged his small soil company, Malibu Compost, ahead of the competition as the leader in REAL Organic, farm made and Non-GMO compost and soil products. Gardeners have turned to Malibu Compost for 16 years to grow healthy soil and healthy gardens.
Prior to founding Malibu Compost, he was a garden designer who created the first Eco-landscape company in Los Angeles. He teaches REAL Organics to gardeners in live and online classes, in consultations through growrealorganic.com and via The Healthy
Garden Podcast. He has taught gardening to tens of thousands nationwide.”
Erik Ohlsen
2:30PM – 3:30PM
Regenerative Landscaping: Landscapes that Heal Ecosystems
Landscape design and Implementation can be a force to heal and repair ecosystems. In the age of climate change and an uncertain economy, landscapes provide a plethora of solutions to sink carbon, develop water resilience, grow food, and generate habitat for all life. Learn how, using the regenerative design process with Award Winning Author and Landscape Contractor, Erik Ohlsen.
Bio
Erik Ohlsen is a master of regenerative design, an internationally recognized Permaculture teacher, a landscape contractor, author, farmer, herbalist, storyteller, and practitioner of Nordic folk traditions.
Since 1999 Erik has founded numerous organizations that regenerate ecosystems including his award-winning design and build firm Permaculture Artisans and The Permaculture Skills Center where thousands of students around the world learn ecological landscaping and regenerative agriculture.
Working as an internationally renowned regenerative designer, he has committed decades to repairing ecosystems and connecting people with the land throughout the globe. He has designed and implemented hundreds of regenerated landscapes ranging from small urban lots to large tracts of land. He is a specialist in water harvesting systems, food forest design, community organizing, facilitation, vocational education and much more.