Permaculture 2012

This morning, twenty eager and curious attendees of a NOFA-NH Permaculture Meet-up arrived here at D Acres. I had farm-fresh sausage, eggs, and home-fries cooked up, plus fixin’s from our shelves of preserved goods and our own herbal tea to top it off. Folks were eating breakfast, then taking a tour of the farm. The momentum that brought these folks together and the common theme that threaded through their conversation was: Permaculture.

Permaculture has been defined in many ways. Entire tomes have been written to discuss permaculture applications, permaculture theory, and permaculture goals. The succinct definition that we use here is as follows:

Permaculture is a holistic, integrative design for a sustainable future.

Permaculture is many things. It’s about building resilience, it’s about cultivating self-sufficiency, it’s about common sense and stacking functions; permaculture is about conserving resources with future generations in mind, minimizing one’s footprint, and strengthening community; it’s about food production that works with nature, not against her.

Here at D Acres, the application of permaculture principles can be seen in all corners of our farm and homestead. Permaculture is reflected in our natural & earthen building styles, our mixed-species garden beds, our incorporation of animals in the agricultural system, and our development of diverse perennial food forests. The list could go on and on.

In fact, we invite you to join us for a closer study of permaculture principles and praxis…with our third annual Permaculture Design Certification course. Titled “Permaculture Through the Seasons,” this is a unique class that meets one weekend per month for seven months. This enables participants to gain an understanding of permaculture applications through different seasons and across a broader spectrum of time than most permaculture courses provide for. The course layout caters to a diversity of students: homeowners, family gardeners, designers, landscapers, builders, etc. Regardless of your goals and interests, permaculture can enhance the way in which you shape your lifestyle and engage with the natural world around you.

2012’s “Permaculture Through the Seasons” course is instructed by Steve Whitman & Josh Trought, with featured presenters Dave Jacke, Dave Wichland, and Keith Morris. The course is based at D Acres Farm in Dorchester, NH; tuition includes overnight accommodations and farm-fresh organic meals for each weekend session. Register now! Space is limited for this popular offering, early bird discounts apply before March 1st. Course begins April 2012. Contact D Acres for registration information or further questions.

~Beth
as published in North Country News