The story
In 2014 a collaborative project was launched to research the application of permaculture design principles on a regional scale. Designers, community members, and young researchers are collectively exploring pathways towards a more sustainable future for the region. Later that summer an inaugural Permaculture Design Certification (PDC) course was held at Bear Roots Farm in South Barre, VT, awarding 12 students their Permaculture Design Certificates. In addition to the traditional PDC curriculum, the course focused on the regional application of permaculture design, an effort that was spearheaded with a one-day intensive regional design workshop held in the state's capital, Montpelier, VT. These initial events catalyzed the promising opportunities and partnerships that are now serving as the foundation for this ongoing Designing Abundance research initiative. Our objective for 2019 is to continue to bring ecological design solutions to a broader audience via education, on-the-ground demonstration, and "ecomedia" storytelling.
development partners
bright blue ecomedia
Bright Blue EcoMedia is an educational non-profit whose mission is to communicate transitional strategies through film. As a unique blend of academics, media professionals, educators, and artists, we are dedicated to communication of positive solutions. Our creative team has worked together in various forms over the past twenty years. Over the past few years, our vision of combining rich educational content with high quality video production has crystallized as Bright Blue EcoMedia. We believe that entertaining, high quality films, teacher’s guides, and new media can be powerful communication tools, translating complex issues to audiences of all ages.
north branch nature center
Educational Programming
For 22 years North Branch Nature Center has put people in touch with the sights, sounds and sensations of the wild within our capital. North Branch Nature Center has become an integral part of outdoor recreation and learning in central Vermont, serving 10,000 visitors annually. Our 28-acre preserve of forest and fields is nestled in a gentle bend of the North Branch of the Winooski River, just two miles from downtown Montpelier. North Branch is firefly light sparkling in a child’s eye. It is a lecture hall where we learn the secrets of warblers and willows and weather. And it is a quiet place to walk or ski, swim or sit, or simply to do nothing beside the river.
Perfect Circle farm
Buzz Ferver - Natural Builder, Ecological Designer, Farmer,
"I wish I could say I farm because I love to feed people, I certainly do, but that's only some part of it. I am just overwhelming drawn to plants, the subtlety of the witch hazel bloom unrolling, (and the unbelievable fragrance), the monumental character of the Fagaceae , beeches, chestnuts and the oaks. I want to know chestnuts like I know oaks. That's what makes me want to farm, I want to know these plants. When I find myself wondering about the nature of gods I just remember how the trees are.
Many of us feel this same way. This is why I say I like plant people, cause no matter how different we are, all that disappears when we start talking plants. So I am very lucky to be able to start to work on the emerging science and practice of agroforesty through the permaculture lens. At 61 it seems most sensible people wouldn't be planting crops that take 20-30 years to mature.
This is my art, it doesn't have to all make sense... So I will mix it up with some plants that will bear sooner too! And flower we can smell this summer, veggies too.. come and get some from me!"
Many of us feel this same way. This is why I say I like plant people, cause no matter how different we are, all that disappears when we start talking plants. So I am very lucky to be able to start to work on the emerging science and practice of agroforesty through the permaculture lens. At 61 it seems most sensible people wouldn't be planting crops that take 20-30 years to mature.
This is my art, it doesn't have to all make sense... So I will mix it up with some plants that will bear sooner too! And flower we can smell this summer, veggies too.. come and get some from me!"