Erin from the Karma Marketplace in Penetanguishene sent us this. We are doing a workshop there on May 5th.

Thanks Erin!

By Jennifer Harker of the Midland Mirror, Apr 26, 2012

Learning from Mother Nature

Participants in permaculture workshop May 5 will discover a new/old way of growing

Learning from Mother Nature. Hundred Mile Huronia’s Jenn McCallum said participants in a permaculture workshop on May 5 will learn a style of growing food that’s more productive, kinder to the environment and requires less legwork by the gardener. Jennifer Harker photo

PENETANGUISHENE – Permaculture may be a fancy word, but it’s actually a simple idea. “Permaculture is a type of ecological gardening that aims to be beneficial to the garden, to the environment and all wildlife in the area,” explained Jenn McCallum, marketing and communications co-ordinator for Hundred Mile Huronia.

It also benefits the gardener, as a permaculture garden takes very little input once established. Weeding, watering and maintenance are minimized, as plants are selected for their ability to shade each other, offer natural pest control and provide valuable nutrients in a supportive cycle. “It’s a way of modelling a garden after nature, where you work with it instead of against it,” McCallum said. “Nature doesn’t need any help.”

She pointed to natural edibles that grow lushly along the sides of trails without additional water, weeding, fertilizer or pesticides as an example of permaculture in action. With a little planning, home gardens can achieve the same effect. “Initially there is some work to set it up, but after, it should mostly take care of itself.”

Hundred Mile Huronia is a yearlong project aimed at promoting local food in the area. It will present a permaculture workshop on May 5 at the Ecology Garden in Penetanguishene. “We’re bringing in Jennifer and Tim of All Sorts Acres from Guelph,” said McCallum. “They have an ecological farm and they will show us how to design permaculture gardens.”

Topics will include practical principles to design a yard, garden and landscaping, as well as the top 10 permaculture plants for the region and how to create a “food forest” – a sort of engineered, biodiverse, richly productive garden. Hundred Mile Huronia is presenting the workshop to encourage the community to learn more about working with nature in their own garden. The symbiotic relationship between various plants and animals is not new. Terms such as bio-organics, biodynamics, agri-forestry and permaculture are simply being used to describe and resurrect ideas that were prominent pre-1950s, before the advent of intensive, large-scale farming.

Historically, there are many examples of symbiotic planting, such as the First Nations use of the three sisters (corn, beans, squash). The three plants provide mutual shade, support, nutrients and natural pest control.

“The idea of permaculture is really important for sustainability,” McCallum said. “Food in the grocery stores has travelled thousands of kilometres to get to us. If you grow your own, it’s a matter of metres, and no oil was required to transport it. Low-intensity gardening doesn’t require a lot of water, which is a worldwide issue.”

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Come and join Tim and Jennifer at Karma Marketplace to learn about practical permaculture with a focus on perennial food forests.
Permaculture is a design system that looks to nature for guidance and information. It is a dialogue between you and the space you are in.

This day-long workshop will focus all aspects of permaculture with a focus on perennial food forests. Topics covered in the workshop include:
•    the ethics and principles of permaculture
•    how these are applied in daily life
•    nature awareness and observation
•    site analysis and assessment
•    forest structures and dynamics
•    plant functions and usage
•    inter-planting, guilds, and plant selection
•    local top 10 list of PC plants
•    the role animals (of all sizes) play in ecosystems
•    the $100 Food Forest
•    question and answer period

An illustrated hand out will be given out to take home including planting plans and plant lists to take home.

Facilitators:
Jennifer Osborn is an artist, farmer, and Permaculture Designer. Her background includes working extensively with animals and observing nature.She currently runs All Sorts Acre, a permaculture micro-farm with chickens, sheep, and forest gardens in various stages.

Tim Fisher is a composting specialist and co-farmer at All Sorts Acre. The list of things he has composted is impressive when he worked in large scale composting facilities. He now focuses on small scale composting and how to facilitate soil health using both permaculture and biodynamic methods.

Location: Penetanguishene, Ontario 40km north of Barrie
Time: Sunday September 11, 10am -5pm
For more information please contact: The Karma Marketplace