Permaculture - A Design Course on Sustainable Living on MV in Sept.

Publicity/sound bytes abound these days on: Green living, local food, concerns over climate, water and soil, using more local/renewable resources, alternate transportation, and Green/natural building. Designing/remodeling homes, landscapes and whole communities for lower resource use, more recycling and reuse, less oil-based transportation, and more local businesses, employment, products, and food production are becoming more important to the economy, the environment, and human welfare. Sustainable Strategy efforts are springing up for cities/towns, schools, colleges, open spaces, farms, and neighborhoods.

Permaculture, according to its founder, Australian Bill Mollison, is “about sustainable designs for human settlement.” We are pleased to announce that a Permaculture Design Course will be held at the Martha’s Vineyard Hostel from Sept. 9th – 18th, 2008. As many as 25 students – from the Island, New England/NY/NJ, and as far away as Texas – are expected to attend. They will range from professionals – farmers, architects, landscape designers – to landowners, homeowners, renters, gardeners, students, and retirees. The course fits those with experience and those just beginning to get to know their land and bio-region.

Martha’s Vineyard is more than just another quaint tourist destination. It still has a small-town, rural, and community atmosphere – it turns out that people here work real hard to keep that going. There are a surprising number of small farms, a deep environmental/conservation ethic, and innovative ideas in architecture/energy. Green, sustainable, frugal and alternate energy have been around for a long time – under the name of “the way we live/think here.” The timing - in mid-September - should be a perfect combination of early fall, bountiful harvest, and off-season traffic and travel. And, at last, many Islanders can kick-back and enjoy their Island a bit.

Dick Pierce, New England native, frequent Island visitor, and noted Permaculture spokesman and teacher will lead the course. He will be assisted by a line-up of local presenters and site visits to local farms/gardens and building sites that should make the whole Island proud:

-Jim Athearn of Morning Glory Farm – farmer, retailer, businessman, Is. native
-Randi Baird - Island Co-Housing – a co-founder, current resident, prof. photog.
-John Abrams, Co-Owner - South Mountain Corp. builder, developer, author
-Rebecca Gilbert and the Native Earth Teaching Farm - the animals do the work
-Ali Berlow & Noli Taylor - Island Grown Initiative – support local ag., food, bus.
-Karin Stanley - Polly Hill Arboretum – tours, local plants/trees, local knowledge
-Clarissa Allen and Mitch Posen - Allen Farm – sheep, wool, chickens
-Anna Edey of Sol Viva - sheep farm, wool dyeing, home designer, author
-Bret Stearns, Dir. Natural Resources, Wampanoag Tribe – Shellfish Aquaculture

There is more information on www.permie.us and discounts for full-time Island residents. The first 2 days is the Basics Course - Islanders can attend only this section if they are pressed for time. Dick Pierce can be reached via email at DickPierce Designs@gmail.com or on his cell phone at 512-992-8858. He’ll be on-Island from July 18 – August 1; you can call him to talk about Permaculture and the Course.