A Change in Course

This blog will no longer be updated. 

I haven’t posted here for quite some time because I started this blog to provide information and to bring together some of the people I knew were interested in permaculture and working to create a permaculture design on their own property. 

There is much more information out there than there used to be but it’s not all labeled as Permaculture. The ideas espoused by permaculture advocates are slowly being incorporated into the way we garden and the way we view our property. 

Therefore I will be posting about how I practice permaculture and how I know others are working to do so in  a sister blog — North Florida VegHeadz.   

The VegHeadz blog chronicles the progress of the VegHeadz Demonstration Vegetable Garden and Food Forest which was designed and operates within permaculture guidelines.  This garden as well as the bee hives, chickens, and fruit orchard at the UF/IFAS Extension in Tallahassee demonstrate how permaculture can be practiced in a suburban setting.  

Each step we take, each edible plant we nurture, each fruit tree we plant, is a step in the right direction. 

But in line with permaculture teaching, doing this randomly and without thought about what the end result might be, does not work well. Planning a design and then filling it in as available time and funds permit, or as new ideas and concepts come to the fore, produces the best results.  

Follow the VegHeadz as we continue to plan, plant, observe, explore, and adjust.   

Climate Solutions 101

 These six short videos —Climate Solutions 101 — from Drawdown.org, the leading source of climate information and ideas, are excellent.  Well worth watching and a great resource to share with others.  

https://drawdown.org/climate-solutions-101

Beginning June 29, a 72 hour Permaculture Design course will be offered at the Leon County UF/IFAS Extension.  For details, click the link below.  Many of the techniques used in the VegHeadz vegetable demonstration garden are derived from permaculture sources.  What is permaculture?  Click on the link to a recent article published in the Tallahassee Democrat. 

Permaculture Design course information: 
htthttp://blogs.tallahassee.com/community/2016/06/21/what-is-permaculture/

What is Permaculture:
https://www.facebook.com/events/169397130577102/?ti=icl

Upcoming Permaculture Events

Permaculture structure at LuLuLand

There are a number of events coming up for those who want to learn more about permaculture.  They all look very interesting and include hands-on activities as well as opportunities to connect with others.  All are welcome.  Thank you Anna Lee!!

October 1st - Garden Tower Workshop at Bless The Waters - 1311 Tom Still Rd. Tallahassee 32305

   
      This is a great excuse to come visit the developing Bless The Waters Urban Permaculture Site as well as to participate in erecting two Garden Towers.  These towers are a terrific design for growing over 50 plants in a small space and using vermiculture to feed them.  Bring a seedling to install once the tower is up!  

         We'll begin by 11 AM and likely run until 3 PM, weather dependent. Bring seedlings, snacks to share, and an open mind !

  

October 8 - Brains Brawn & Beauty - Women in Permaculture Workshop at LuLuLand - 4560 Charires Cross Rd Tallahassee 32317. 

        This is a day long workshop focused on women's particular attributes and perspectives on healing ourselves & our planet through permaculture design.  Areas of discussion and demonstration will include:

        -  Breaking the Grass Ceiling
        -  Remembering women's contributions through history
        -  Communing with Nature
        -  Loving Self, Loving our Planet
        -  Beauty and Function in Permaculture Design
        -  Empowering women to design& build structures we need
        -  Using tools well - with special guest Bill Oterson (and perhaps another guest) 
        -  Working with your body's needs in mind
        -  Hands on building project (weather dependent)
        -  Building our social network
        -  Moving forward

Women of all ages welcome and needed.   

We'll gather at 9 AM, begin the workshop at 10 AM and go into the evening.  Sun sets at 7 or so, and a fire can happen then if there is a desire stay longer to enjoy this for a while (weather dependent). .Bring chairs or blankets, food to share in potluck, Work gloves and clothing.  Donation of $20 suggested or trade in work time.

BIG EVENT COMING!!!  

North Florida Bio-Regional Permaculture Gathering  November 3, 4 & 5 at LuLuLand

All ages welcome!  We'll work wiuth parents to set up a special play and learn space for children.

Just interested in Permaculture and want to know more?  Come with an eager and open mind to learn and participate!

Think you are well versed in permaculture and still want to know more?  Come share your experience with others, learn more, and build our community!

This will be a camping out event at beautiful LuLuLand.  Of course, you don't have to camp here, but you would miss out on some of the adventure and fun!  Water and tea will be available, but food is bring your own & share as a potluck as you choose.  Having someone bring prepared food is a possibility if there are enough people who want that and are willing to pay in advance...you'll have to let us know if this is your preference.

There will be an entry fee, but teams will be needed to make this event happen and work time can be scholarship

ed in lieu of entry fee.  Sign up ahead of time to be assigned to a team as more information details are released.  Team members will be encouraged to come on Thursday November 2nd to set up your personal camp and to get instructions and team building play time ahead of the event opening on the 3rd.

This is a fun and fullfilling permaculture opportunity for anyone seeking information about permaculture, how-to coverage of a multitude of subjects, hands on experience, interactive dialogue, inspiration, connection, relaxation, music  & FUN! 

 

Beyond Sustainability

Thought we would share the article published today in the Tallahassee Democrat about Permaculture as well as some of the pictures that were submitted but not printed.  If you haven't been to Lululand lately, you must see the progress Anna has made in the last year.  It's amazing!!

Cob experiment at Lululand

Cob  workshop

Chicken and duck enclosure
 

Chickens enjoying bench made from water trough



Grape arbor at Lululand
 

Living roof on fowl shelter at Lululand

Regine's rain barrels

Touring Regine's gardens

Hugelkultur at Lululand

Does Humanity Have a Future?

TALLAHASSEE PRESENTATION BY AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR PAUL HANLEY
Monday, May 2, 2016 – 6:30 PM - 8:15 PM

Where: Leon County Extension Office, 615 Paul Russell Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32301

Author Paul Hanley is dropping into Tallahassee next week. In his new book ELEVEN, this 26-year veteran environmental columnist with the Saskatoon StarPhoenix goes a long way toward demonstrating that virtually “everything that needs to be done to make the world just and sustainable is being done somewhere, successfully, already.”

Paul will be giving a talk and answering questions at Leon Extension next Monday, May 2^nd, 6:30-8:15 pm. The talk is free and open to the public without prior registration.

Hanley is a recipient of the Canadian Environment Award (2006) and the Meewasin Conservation Award (2014). He is editor and co-author of Earthcare: Ecological Agriculture in Saskatchewan (Earthcare 1980) and The Spirit of Agriculture (George Ronald 2005).

ELEVEN received the University of Saskatchewan President’s Award for Non-fiction (2015) and the ABS North America Award for Distinguished Scholarship (2015).

Anyone interested in the future of the earth and humanity will find it enlightening and inspiring to hear Paul's review of existing proof-of-concept "solutions" in various places around the world. These include local farmer-initiated projects to restore abused and degraded lands to productive ago-ecosystems using techniques of “restoration agriculture,” including conservation practices that get water back into arid landscapes that have been driven into desertification.

Paul also addresses resource depletion, caused by unsustainable increases in waste/pollution, population growth, and of course climate change. He discusses “proof-of-concept” examples of rethinking our prevailing socio-economic systems to enable humanity to embrace restorative solutions that already exist.

Paul is the father of FSU Assistant Professor of History Will Hanley. The talk is being sponsored by the Indianhead Acres Neighborhood EcoTeam, and hosted by Leon Extension.

http://iefworld.org/node/708

Encouraging Good Bugs

The Permaculture Gardeners are a small group of folks who get together occasionally to share their experiences in gardening by following permaculture principles.  Recently one of the things they discussed was wasps and how beneficial they are in helping to control garden pests.

Providing habitat is one way to attract these garden helpers to your area.   4" PVC caps can be secured to a post near the garden with the open side of the cap pointed down to provide a sheltered location for wasp nests.  Another option used successfully by one of the gardeners is to hang an empty 2 lb. plastic coffee can  upside down on a 4 to 6 foot stake near the garden.  The wasps like a sheltered sunny location and seem to find the coffee can fills the bill. 

If you will leave the wasps alone, they will leave you alone.  They prey and feed on soft insects such as caterpillars, flies, and beetle larvae.  Why don't you give it a try?

Aquaponics Workshop, January 8, 2016, Leon County Extensiuon Office

An Extension Sea Grant Agent, Dr. Laura Tiu, will be giving an Aquaponics in the Panhandle workshop on Friday, January 8th, 2016, from 1 - 5 pm at the Leon County Extension office.

Please help spread the word to anyone you think may be interested!
You can pre-register at this Eventbrite link: http://aquaponics-leon-extension.eventbrite.com

Flyer with more details

Perennial Vegetables available at local nursery

Permacuture gardener Regine Maligne-Lynch reports that Tallahassee Nurseries now has a small selection of perennial vegetables available including Chaya and a perennial spinach.  If you go there, please let them know this addition to their offerings is appreciated and suggest other perennial vegetables you would like to see them carry.

Long Hot Summer

Things have been quiet in the local Permaculture community. Vacations, other activities, and hot, hot weather have kept us on the go or indoors. We're looking forward to fall, cooler weather, and contact and updates from our Permaculture friends.