A double-session plant walk and discussion exploring year round sustainable harvest of wild edible and medicinal plants and how to encourage propagation and diversity of naturally occurring and naturalized plants, trees, shrubs, vines, and lianas. We will also discuss responsible approaches to non-native invasive species.
Student of Primitive Skills, Survival, Bushcraft, Permaculture, Tactical Studies, Wilderness Survival, Tracking, Nature, and Ecology since 1979 . Co-Founder of Maine Primitive Skills School.
Saturday July 5, 2014 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Fragaria
An introduction to labyrinths as sacred space in permaculture design. Sometimes confused with mazes, labyrinths have a clear though meandering path to the center and out again and can provide a meditative experience with physical and psychological health benefits. After a brief history of labyrinths and an overview of design considerations, participants will create a temporary labyrinth and then walk the new perennials labyrinth in the pear orchard.
Resident Steward, Terrell House Permaculture Living & Learning Center
Dee Clark is an intermedia artist and co-founder of Terrell House Permaculture Living & Learning Center at the University of Maine. She is working toward a Master of Fine Arts in Intermedia and exploring connection, introspection, and healing through labyrinth and garden design, and... Read More →
In this session we will discuss beauty as a means to inform, enhance, and inspire harmonious functioning in permaculture design. The principles discussed can be applied to the backyard gardener and homesteader, large scale farming operations, public garden design, building projects... Creating beauty in what we do is a way to feed and nourish our body and soul, as well as those around us, it allows us the opportunity to better serve our families, communities and the land we live and work on. This session will include a discussion on working with the spirits of the land, plants, animals, and buildings we work with. Basic and simple tools for anyone interested in working in harmony with these spirits, that require no previous experience will be explained and discussed as it applies practically to our work. Come to learn, share experience, and enjoy an enriching and enlivening exchange.
John Palumbo and his family have been homesteading using permaculture and biodynamic methods at Many Hands Farm, in Thorndike, Maine since 2007. John is an anthroposophist, former Waldorf early childhood educator, and counselor. He loves to work with the spirits of the land in building... Read More →
Saturday July 5, 2014 1:30pm - 2:45pm EDT
Fragaria
This session will focus on the Rewilding Design System developed by Benjamin Weiss and Wilson Alvarez to apply permaculture to Zones 4 & 5, the semi-wild and wild systems of the earth. Participants will be given an overview of this design system and a redefinition of "the wild." A tutorial on deep observation techniques will include the sit-spot, fox-walking, and wide-angle vision, as well as group games and exercises. And a vision of "hunter-gatherer gardening" will be offered to move traditional permaculture design far beyond the backyard garden.
Benjamin Weiss is a certified permaculture designer and teacher, gardener, brewer, musician, and poet from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Ben studied natural building and permaculture at the Farm Ecovillage Training Center, received a permaculture teacher certification from CRMPI, studied... Read More →
