Permaculture experts are on a quest to teach others how to live sustainably.
Growing one’s own food and reducing energy consumption are among topics at the Southern Alberta Permaculture Convergence in Turner Valley July 7 and 8. Sessions will take place in the Sheep River Library and Flare ‘n’ Derrick Community Hall.
“Permaculture is a design system for sustainable human habitat,” said co-organizer Barb Hazenveld, of Turner Valley. “It encompasses not only aiming towards self-sufficiency and growing your own food, but energy efficiency in your home. It’s a lifestyle choice.”
Hazenveld, a permaculture educator and designer for more than 25 years, studied horticulture at Olds College and travelled to Botswana on a research tour on sustainable agriculture to learn how a local permaculture group lived sustainably in such an extreme climate.
Last year, Hazenveld helped organize the Southern Alberta Permaculture Convergence in Turner Valley in its first year, attracting more than 90 people.
Among this year’s topics are urban permaculture, seed saving, native bees and pollinators, food forestry, plant community design, rain water harvesting, cultured foods, fungi and soils.
“We put out a call to presenters at the beginning of January and we said these are the topics we are interested in,” she said. “Some people wanted to present last year but we already had a full slate so we contacted them this year.”
Keynote speaker Javan Bernevitch, a permaculture teacher in B.C., will talk about how to develop a business in permaculture. Other experts will discuss various aspects of living sustainably, said Hazenveld.
“There is a movement of people that realize we need to try to live more sustainably,” she said. “The energy sources we have are running out. We need to do something for future generations, we can’t keep on raping and pillaging the earth for resources.”
Hazenveld said too many people focus on beautification over sustainability.
“People will plant a nice-looking spruce tree in front of their house and don’t understand why their heating bill is so high,” she said. “Everywhere I look I see examples of bad designs. I had to be in permaculture for 20 years to really get it. It takes a long time to retrain the way you look at things.”
Hazenveld is noticing a growing interest in a more sustainable way of life.
“Those of us that are running permaculture workshops are finding there’s a lot more interest,” she said. “It’s like we’re trying to go back to a way that our grandparents lived.”
Louise Patterson Bruns, her husband Eldon and daughter Lindsie and her family have been converting their farm and garden southwest of Red Deer Lake to permaculture principles the last six years.
“We are trying to be as self-sufficient as possible,” she said. “What we can’t grow and produce ourselves we like to source from our neighbours and from farmers markets. It’s a design system to live harmoniously with the land and eat nutritious foods.
“I have found more efficient ways to garden and get more produce out of my garden.”
The family is also developing a food forest featuring trees, bushes and ground plants that produce edible foods and developed a medicine garden to grow their own salves and teas.
After presenting on fermentation at last year’s convergence, this year Patterson Bruns will prepare a nutritious meal using organic food from her garden and local producers.
To register for the Southern Alberta Permaculture Convergence go to www.foothillspermaculture.com. Tickets cost $100.
