Permaculture is relationship. Relationship to a place, it’s people, into the future. I like to start by asking the question: “What is the best, next step to take?” Sometimes it is educating yourself, exploring the options. Sometimes it’s aligning yourself with what the landscape needs. Other times is just making a plan and getting to work.
Walkabouts
A walk through the space you inhabit, looking for it’s character, and discovering:
- How you can save time, energy, and money
- Any problems/opportunities that can be addressed
- The local flora and fauna, thinking about how we can be inviting them into or out of our landscapes
- What species and/or spaces can be added that support people and the local ecology
It would be nice to have tea and if possible share what makes that place special to you. We would review how things like the permaculture flower and scale of permanence manifest in the landscape. All this would help generate a list of priorities and potential projects. If future collaboration was warranted we could work out the details of what form that would take.
$100 – ~3 hours
Consultation
Workshops
I work with Midwest Permaculture to provide various Permaculture Design related courses.
I’ve also been working with Symbiosis Ranch to do topical courses. Last year we built a cob oven, this year we built a rocket mass heater in their aircrete dome.
I’m also available for custom educational events. Let me know what you’re interested in and I can design a custom experience for you.
Other Options
I am also available for permaculture mentorship. This could include:
- Reading, video, assignments, and discussion
- A design process
- Site visits and “draw on design” with photos
- Clear goals and boundaries for the project
- Periodic evaluation
- Flexible rates
A work session, post permaculture discovery & design, might look like:
- Pre-determined scope of project
- Meet for a work session ~3-4 hours (depending on timing and tasks)
- Work together to implement design solutions
- ~$100/visit – though all offers will be considered
There are other possibilities that we could explore, I’m open to whatever meets people’s needs if the above frameworks don’t work. Let’s figure out what will!
A note about the pandemic: the appearance of the virus and the associated fear has both highlighted the need for more permaculture and at the same time increased the difficulty of normal interactions. All services can be either in person or remote to continue to facilitate this important work.
I’m especially interested in getting to know this that place I live, broadly speaking Washtenaw County in the state of Michigan. I’m interested in knowing it’s people and discovering the authentic lives and livlihoods they can create for themselves. I’m interested in doing that through a relationship that both meets needs and solves real problems for those involved.