Another Experiment at Midwest Permaculture
How one can attractively store woody brush to give it time to break down.
Hello permaculture friends. We wanted to give something a try. We have not seen this exact design in the literature or on YouTube (although it certainly could be out there) but the idea is to use our yard brush while also building a sturdy fence. Continue reading “Living Woven-Willow Brush Fence”
Larry Korn 1948-2019
Free Webinar posted as a Tribute to Larry
We are saddened by the recent passing of our friend, Larry Korn. He is best known for being the translator/editor of one of the most influential books to touch the lives of scores of natural farmers and permaculturists, The One-Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka.
Why is this book so influential?
The Middle East and Northern Africa were once very fertile areas. With widespread annual tilling/plowing, a civilization will always end up losing it’s topsoil and become arid. One-half of the topsoil has now be washed away on the North American continent. The One-Straw Revolution shows us how annual grain growing can be done without tillage so that we can grow food WHILE building topsoil!
The folks at Smart Farm in Barrington, IL, invited us to work with them on a permaculture design for a new 10-acre parcel they were gifted with.
The biggest challenge? This was the low ground in the area and after a good rain, 5 of the 10 acres was under water, including many of their annual gardening beds.
So we designed in some rain gardens and bioswales to move the water in the direction we wanted through the property. Once the deep rooted prairie plants are established we will actually end up holding more water on the land while also keeping their annual beds dryer. Here is the conceptual design. We’ll post the ‘as-built’ design once it’s completed.
It has been a real boon to have Embry Jansen and Sky Pisarski assisting us over the past couple of weeks as permaculture work-traders. They are trading their time for one of our upcoming PDC courses. They have been assisting us with a wide variety of unfinished activities related to our CSC 8.7-acre Permaculture Land Project here in Stelle.
Continue reading “Permaculture Work-traders Finish EarthShelter”
Greetings…
A common question we get is how to maintain the ‘weeds’ or growth on a swale and berm system. I thought this pictoral summary would be helpful to many of you. Let us know what you think and about what you have been doing as well.
Cheers… Bill Wilson
Our colleague and friend, Malvikaa, continues to move forward on her life’s work at ‘swaYYam’ permaculture project in India.
Here are some updates! Continue reading “Spring 2019 Update from swaYYam, India”
| “…this course (at Bending Oak) was solid, loaded, useful, fascinating and endlessly helpful in understanding permaculture design. Everyone came away feeling completely enriched by the training.” PDC Student Graduate |
Next Bending Oak PDC Course: June 15-22, 2019
For information on all Midwest Permaculture PDC courses visit our full schedule HERE. Continue reading “Bending Oak PDC Course – Picture Summary”
“This permaculture summer of mine was magical for me in a lot of ways, and beginning my journey with the work-trade program was certainly a beautiful way to get started on that journey.” Coral
Perhaps you are an experienced permaculturalist and manage an amazing piece of land or you educate others in the ways of the swale. Or perhaps you have a PDC and are eager to learn more. Or maybe you’ve recently begun this journey and are looking at what Midwest Permaculture has to offer. A Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) is a good investment but it can be kind of expensive. If you’re a young 20-something like myself you may not be able to drop a thousand bucks for a week-long training. Fortunately, Midwest Permaculture provides another option: their work-trade program.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. includes lunch.
Price – $20
Call or email to let us know you are coming.
815-256-2215
Workshop will be both out in the field to identify plants and pollinators and indoors with a presentation.
For those interested there will be a casual introduction to Stelle during lunch and then a follow-up tour after 3:00. No additional charge. Continue reading “Plants and Pollinators Workshop”
