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There is no in person Chapter Meeting this month but there is a field trip to Texatopia on Saturday November 12th, 8:00 am-12:00 pm
This field trip is limited to 30 active members of our chapter. Sign up here. Read “Texastopia – A Permaculture Dream Come True” and visit Drought Proof Texas for more information about Pete’s mission to “rehydrate the entire state of Texas”. Our host – Joseph “Pete” Van Dyck grew up under the shade of oak trees and woke to the sound of roosters crowing on a homestead southeast of Oklahoma City. He was a competitive swimmer for 12 years and developed a strong work ethic and sense of determination. This is where his deep connection with water began. After graduating high school, he then volunteered to serve in the United States Navy and underwent some of the most rigorous military training in the world at Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL School. Being comfortable and skillful in the water was key to his success in this program. Joseph served at SEAL Team 1 and was honorably discharged after 6 years of active duty. During his service in San Diego, California the ocean captured his attention and he learned to surf, spending countless hours at the beach studying the water and waves. After his service with the Navy he has relentlessly pursued a lifestyle of land restoration after realizing the connectedness of the health of the land, health of the water, and the health of humans. Using the GI Bill he attended a heavy equipment operator and construction course where he learned how to safely operate equipment and run job sites. Joseph has attended many land planning design courses and farm design with world-renowned designers including Darren Doherty, Geoff Lawton and Mark Shepard. He has volunteered his services with the non-profit Earth Repair Corps to farmers and homesteaders all over central Texas, helping them to conserve soil, water, and money. Aside from his outstanding record of volunteerism he also runs a small business that specializes in soil and water conservation that has worked and consulted on over 100 sites around Texas since 2015. Now he lives in Blanco, Texas and is building a farm that will demonstrate how to regeneratively manage the land while making a sustainable profit. When not working to drought proof Texas, Joseph loves to read, swim, play guitar, and dream about healing landscapes on a broad scale.
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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: beckyleal