An exciting opportunity to attend a worshop and hear an excellent speaker!

Free talk : Fri Feb 24 ,7-9 pm, Cathedral Neighbourhood Centre, 2900 – 13th Avenue, Regina

Workshop : Sat Feb 25 , 9 am – 4 pm, Room 106, U of R College Avenue bldg., 2100 block College Ave., Regina

See our Facebook page: “Permaculture Regina”

Workshop Fees

Before Feb  10: Student – $50, Regular – $90

After Feb 10: Student – $75, Regular – $115

Register by Feb 21 to ensure your spot.

By phone: (306) 535-9570

By e-mail: permaregina@gmail.com

In-person at: Eat Healthy Foods, 3030 12th Ave, Regina (306) 522-4167

Is cost an issue? Don’t let that stop you – we’d love to talk to you about  ways to make this work for you.

PERMACULTURE: A FAST GROWING MOVEMENT FOR POSITIVE CHANGE

Many people today are keenly aware of a need for change and care deeply about the planet and their communities but feel powerless to do anything to make a difference. However, when informed about a diverse and deepening scope of positive, practical & effective solutions people become inspired and empowered change-makers in their communities.

Permaculture Regina is pleased to present  Rob Avis of Verge Permaculture. He will discuss the fundamentals of permaculture ethics, principles and design methodology and how it can be applied to:

- improve your home & backyard while saving resources and building a healthy place for family, friends and community;

- build resilient communities patterned after ecological principles; and

- assemble landscapes that clean water, use less energy, provide healthy organic food, save money and contribute to a healthy ecology.

Whether your interest is gardening, building homes, community work, economic regeneration, education, health, planning, business or green lifestyles, the application of permaculture design provides positive solutions towards a sustainable future.

Rob Avis

Rob Avis and his wife Michelle run the Calgary-based consulting & education company, Verge Permaculture which specializes in creating sustainable human environments using whole-systems philosophies and working with nature.

For more information about permaculture please visit:  http://www.vergepermaculture.ca

WHAT IS PERMACULTURE?

(from Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison with Reny Mia Slay)

“Permaculture is about designing sustainable human settlements. It is a philosophy and approach to land use which weaves together microclimate, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils, water management, and human needs into intricately connected, productive communities.” (cover)

“Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable human environments. The word itself is a contraction of permanent agriculture but also of permanent culture, as cultures cannot survive for long without a sustainable agricultural base and land use ethic. On one level, permaculture deals with plants, animals, buildings and infrastructures (water, energy, communications). However, permaculture is not about these elements themselves, but rather about the relationships we can create between them by the way we place them in the landscape.

The aim is to create systems that are ecologically-sound and economically viable, which provide for their own needs, do not exploit or pollute, and are therefore sustainable in the long term. Permaculture uses the inherent qualities of plants and animals combined with the natural characteristics of landscapes and structures to produce a life-supporting system for city and country, using the smallest practical area.

Permaculture is based on the observation of natural systems, the wisdom contained in traditional farming systems, and modern scientific and technological knowledge. Although based on good ecological models, permaculture creates a cultivated ecology, which is designed to produce more human and animal food than in generally found in nature.

Permaculture is a system by which we can exist on the earth by using energy that is naturally in flux and relatively harmless, and by using food and natural resources that are abundant in such a way that we don’t continually destroy life on earth. (page 1)

Permaculture Ethic: Care of Earth, Care of People, Return of Surplus

Permaculture at home: Situating homes and buildings to make use of solar energy and provide protection from winds, storms and fires. Using rain barrels, cisterns and grading land so that water is retained for productive use. Reducing water and energy consumption. Turning lawns into gardens. Planting perennials that provide food for humans and/or animals. Composting. Using mulch to retain moisture and prevent erosion. Using foods grown locally.

Permaculture on the farm: Using landscaping techniques such as swales, dams and ponds to retain water for multiple productive uses. Incorporating animals and aquaculture into the landscape to contribute to the nutrient cycle. Using perennial plants and agricultural crops in a way that improves the health of soils. Planting orchards, woodlots, and shelterbelts.

Permaculture, nature and community: Planning land use in zones that place resources used most frequently closest to home. Making the best use of areas already inhabited by humans and leaving natural areas alone. In city parks plant edible understorey species and useful pine-nut and fruit species. Creating community gardens. Planning new suburban subdivisions for food production and energy self-reliance. Setting up recycling programs. Using systems that support individual livelihoods and community economies. Investing ethically. Engaging in cooperative productivity and community responsibility.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 at 9:11 am and is filed under Community Bulletin.