10th Anniversary Celebration October 1, 2022
Past Events:
2022 Permaculture Design Workshop
and
McWaters Park Garden Design Charrette
Workshop goals:
To reassess our site, our resources, and our goals
To generate a design and sustainable plan for the future
Thanks to all who joined in!
Here are links to the power point presentations:
Introduction
Site Assessment
Assessment Work Sheets
Polyculture Design Part 1
Polyculture Design Part 2
Polyculture Design Part 3
Polyculture Design Matrix
Kidney Bed Assessment
Kidney Bed Action Plan
Permaculture movie night:
Join us at the Left Bank in North Bennington
Friday 10/12/18 at 7 pm for
INHABIT
A Permaculture Perspective
What if our impact on the earth could be beneficial?
What if we could meet human needs while increasing the health and well-being of our planet?
Could we look to natural systems to learn how to do this?
THESE QUESTIONS ARE AT THE HEART OF PERMACULTURE.
The documentary movie, INHABIT, explores the environmental issues facing us today through an intimate look at permaculture practices and practitioners in the rural, suburban and urban landscapes of the Northeastern and Midwestern United States.
$5 suggested donation
To view the trailer for Inhabit: https://vimeo.com/143308503
Any questions? Email Cinda at cindamorse@myfairpoint.net or call at (802)447-0225
Join us at the Left Bank in North Bennington
Friday 10/12/18 at 7 pm for
INHABIT
A Permaculture Perspective
What if our impact on the earth could be beneficial?
What if we could meet human needs while increasing the health and well-being of our planet?
Could we look to natural systems to learn how to do this?
THESE QUESTIONS ARE AT THE HEART OF PERMACULTURE.
The documentary movie, INHABIT, explores the environmental issues facing us today through an intimate look at permaculture practices and practitioners in the rural, suburban and urban landscapes of the Northeastern and Midwestern United States.
$5 suggested donation
To view the trailer for Inhabit: https://vimeo.com/143308503
Any questions? Email Cinda at cindamorse@myfairpoint.net or call at (802)447-0225
Permaculture Night Out
Thanks to all who came - this presentation in available though a link on our resources page.
Join the McWaters Park Permaculture Gardeners
for a slide show at the North Bennington Train Station
We will be viewing selected segments from
the Midwest Permaculture series
Introduction to Permaculture
Followed by discussion
and a short presentation of the Edible Forest Garden
at McWaters Park in North Bennington
December 13th at 6 pm
at the North Bennington Train Station
For more information write to WalloomsacTransition@gmail.com
Thanks to all who came - this presentation in available though a link on our resources page.
Join the McWaters Park Permaculture Gardeners
for a slide show at the North Bennington Train Station
We will be viewing selected segments from
the Midwest Permaculture series
Introduction to Permaculture
Followed by discussion
and a short presentation of the Edible Forest Garden
at McWaters Park in North Bennington
December 13th at 6 pm
at the North Bennington Train Station
For more information write to WalloomsacTransition@gmail.com
The McWater’s Park Permaculture Gardeners present
permaculturist, farmer and nut grower
Keith Morris
for an
Introduction to Permaculture
Friday, March 3rd 7:00 – 8:30 pm
suggested admission $10
followed by
A Permaculture Workshop:
Transforming your traditional gardens into a permaculture landscape
Saturday March 4th 9 am to 5 pm and
Sunday March 5th 9 am to noon
Sliding Scale: $125 to $175 - registration required
Both events will be at the North Bennington Train Station
This course is intended for gardeners who would like to learn about permaculture and consider integrating perennial ecosystems that produce food into their existing gardens. We will be considering apples, asparagus, hazel nuts, tree nuts and others plus learning to use plants for nitrogen fixation, mineral extraction, attracting beneficial insects, mulch and other functions. Specific plant needs and habits will be covered as we plan for mutually beneficial interactions.
Keith Morris is a farmer and designer who joins us from Willow Crossing Farm and Prospect Rock Permaculture in Jeffersonville, Vermont. His work promotes economically viable farms and homesteads with systems that are integrated and patterned to increase ecological health while meeting human needs.
Any questions?
Email Cinda at cindamorse@myfairpoint.net or call at (802)447-0225
To register please send in this Registration Form with a $50 deposit to
McWaters Park Permaculture Gardeners
c/o Cinda Morse
716 Rollin Rd
North Bennington, VT 05257
2015 Workshop:
McWater's Park Permaculture Gardeners presents
A Workshop in Plant Propagation
with Erik Schellenberg
Thanks to all who came and to Erik for an inspiring weekend!
For those who missed it, we were lucky to be joined by Joe Bossen of Vermont Bean Crafters and orchardist Eliza Greenman to round out a most excellent weekend of fun learning.
Applied botany, seed saving, grafting and more!
March 6th, 7th, and 8th, 2015
At the North Bennington Train Station
Please join biologist, permaculture instructor, farmer and Cornell Extension Service researcher, Erik Schellenberg, for our three day workshop focusing on applied plant botany and propagation techniques. This workshop will focus on understanding more about how plants live and reproduce. Over the three day course, participants will delve into the theory behind classical plant breeding and genetic engineering, seed saving, and various forms of vegetative reproduction. Participants will get hands-on experience with techniques ranging from division to grafting, which they can then apply to their own home garden and orchard projects.
Participants may join in for the whole weekend or select just one topic.
Friday March 6th, 7pm-9pm: Basic plant botany, genetics, plant breeding, and techniques for saving seed
Saturday March 7th, 9am-12am: Seed saving in greater depth plus germinating difficult seeds
Saturday March 7th, 2pm-4pm: Vegetative propagation including layering, cuttings and division
Sunday March 8th 9am-12am: Grafting including splice, whip and tongue, rind and bridge grafts and budding
Costs:
Friday night only: $10 suggested donation
(Please note that the material covered Friday night will lay the foundation for the other sessions so please plan to attend in addition to any other sessions.)
Full weekend: sliding scale: $120 - $175
Saturday morning: $65
Saturday afternoon: $45
Sunday: $65
Scholarships are available - please inquire by email.
To register, please complete a REGISTRATION FORM and send with a $50 deposit to the address indicated on the form.
For any questions please email WalloomsacTransition@gmail.com
What to bring:
- Lunch for Saturday and Sunday
- A food contribution for the potluck supper Saturday night.
- A thumb drive can be handy for sharing materials.
- Small pruners, grafting knife, paraffin tape, grafter’s wax if you have them and are joining the grafting portion of the course
- Tree seeds (if you want to start your own nut trees, for example)
(Please note that there is a train station in Bennington - we will not be there. We will be in North Bennington)
More about Erik Schellenberg:
Erik earned his B.S. in Biology from University of Vermont. During his time at UVM, he developed a growing interest in environmental issues, sustainable agriculture, and generally, the relationship of humans to the natural world around them. On his own initiative, he spent a summer working on a Zapotec family farm in Oaxaca, Mexico, closely observing the traditional methods of multi-crop forest farming in a mountainous setting. This experience, in addition to extensive reading in the field of traditional land-use methods, led him to pursue a graduate degree at the Natural Resource Management Institute, University of Manitoba, where he researched resource management among the Inuvialuit of northern Canada under Dr. Fikret Birkes author of Sacred Ecology.
Since finishing his Master’s, he has worked in the environmental impact assessment industry, determining potential social and economic impact of mining and other development projects. As a side business, he also organized and operated an organic CSA, putting into practice food growing techniques he had studied and observed.
From 2012-2014, Erik worked with Ben Falk, helping to manage several operations on the Whole Systems Design research farm and teach permaculture design courses. Currently, Erik is working for Cornell University's extension service on a project to strengthen the growing local food movement in New York, particularly in the areas of vegetable and orchard crops.
Movie and Discussion Series
The series was a great success--thank you to everyone who came!
If you missed the series and would like to view the movies, follow the links on the "Learning Resources" page
Calling all gardeners and growers, thinkers and planners:
Join us at the North Bennington Train Station for three movies about Permaculture and Edible Forest Gardens.
Farm for the Future -
Wednesday November 30th at 6pm
This BBC production opens the series with a look at the difficulties with our current
agricultural system. It is a beautiful and engaging movie which will whet your appetite
for learning more.
Global Gardener: Permaculture with Bill Mollison -
Wednesday December 7th at 6pm
Bill Mollison, the father of permaculture, travels the globe in this four part series. We
will watch two parts, the Tropics and Cool Climates, to see how permaculture weaves
together microclimate, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils, water management
and human needs into intricately connected productive communities.
Establishing a Food Forest -
Wednesday December 14th at 6 pm
Join Australian Geoff Lawton on a Permaculture adventure as he demonstrates how to
grow a food forest from start to finish. The aim of Geoff’s food forest approach is the
creation of systems which are productive and abundant
The series was a great success--thank you to everyone who came!
If you missed the series and would like to view the movies, follow the links on the "Learning Resources" page
Calling all gardeners and growers, thinkers and planners:
Join us at the North Bennington Train Station for three movies about Permaculture and Edible Forest Gardens.
Farm for the Future -
Wednesday November 30th at 6pm
This BBC production opens the series with a look at the difficulties with our current
agricultural system. It is a beautiful and engaging movie which will whet your appetite
for learning more.
Global Gardener: Permaculture with Bill Mollison -
Wednesday December 7th at 6pm
Bill Mollison, the father of permaculture, travels the globe in this four part series. We
will watch two parts, the Tropics and Cool Climates, to see how permaculture weaves
together microclimate, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils, water management
and human needs into intricately connected productive communities.
Establishing a Food Forest -
Wednesday December 14th at 6 pm
Join Australian Geoff Lawton on a Permaculture adventure as he demonstrates how to
grow a food forest from start to finish. The aim of Geoff’s food forest approach is the
creation of systems which are productive and abundant
2014 Workshop:
Thank you to Kieth and everyone who came for a great course!
Join permaculturist, farmer and nut grower
Keith Morris
for an evening presentation on
Growing Nuts in the Northeast
-a talk for gardeners and farmers
Friday, January 31st 7:00 – 8:30 pm
at the North Bennington Train Station - suggested admission $10
To be followed by
A Permaculture Workshop:
Designing a Self Supporting Edible Landscape
Saturday February 1st from 9 am to 5 pm
Sliding Scale: $100 to $150 - registration required
This course is intended for gardeners who would like to design and plant ecosystems that produce food. We will be considering apples, asparagus, hazel nuts, tree nuts and others plus learning to use plants for nitrogen fixation, mineral extraction, attracting beneficial insect, mulch and other functions. Specific plants' needs and habits will be covered as we plan for mutually beneficial interactions.
Coffee and tea provided - please bring a lunch.
Keith Morris is a farmer and designer who joins us from Willow Crossing Farm and Prospect Rock Permaculture in Jeffersonville, Vermont. His work promotes economically viable farms and homesteads with systems that are integrated and patterned to increase ecological health while meeting human needs.
Thank you to Kieth and everyone who came for a great course!
Join permaculturist, farmer and nut grower
Keith Morris
for an evening presentation on
Growing Nuts in the Northeast
-a talk for gardeners and farmers
Friday, January 31st 7:00 – 8:30 pm
at the North Bennington Train Station - suggested admission $10
To be followed by
A Permaculture Workshop:
Designing a Self Supporting Edible Landscape
Saturday February 1st from 9 am to 5 pm
Sliding Scale: $100 to $150 - registration required
This course is intended for gardeners who would like to design and plant ecosystems that produce food. We will be considering apples, asparagus, hazel nuts, tree nuts and others plus learning to use plants for nitrogen fixation, mineral extraction, attracting beneficial insect, mulch and other functions. Specific plants' needs and habits will be covered as we plan for mutually beneficial interactions.
Coffee and tea provided - please bring a lunch.
Keith Morris is a farmer and designer who joins us from Willow Crossing Farm and Prospect Rock Permaculture in Jeffersonville, Vermont. His work promotes economically viable farms and homesteads with systems that are integrated and patterned to increase ecological health while meeting human needs.
Click here to down load a registration form
Click here for a map showing the North Bennington Train Station
Click here to read a description of Keith's lecture on nuts to be given at NOFA winter conferences. In his talk for us, he will be addressing home owners and gardeners concerns as well as those of farmers.
Click here for a map showing the North Bennington Train Station
Click here to read a description of Keith's lecture on nuts to be given at NOFA winter conferences. In his talk for us, he will be addressing home owners and gardeners concerns as well as those of farmers.
Thank you to Eric and everyone who came for a great weekend!
Join permaculturist and perennial food plant expert
Eric Toensmeier
for
An Introduction to Permaculture
Friday, January 11th 6:30 – 8:30 pm
at the North Bennington Train Station
suggested admission $10
To be followed by an intensive
Edible Forest Garden Design Workshop
Saturday and Sunday - January 12th and 13th
Sliding Scale: $175 to $225
This course is geared towards gardeners who would like to design and plant an edible forest garden. An edible forest garden grows food using perennial plants in a planned ecosystem. It is a form of Permaculture appropriate for
New England.
During the workshop we will be looking in depth at perennial food plants, and designing plant ecosystems, also known as guilds. There will be time for generating our own garden designs for McWater's Park and our homes.
Eric Toensmeier joins us from Holyoke, Mass where his urban garden is a model of how to apply permaculture in a small space with poor soils. He is author of Perennial Vegetables - a Gardener's Guide to Over 100 Delicious,
Easy-to-Grow Edibles and co-author with Dave Jacke of Edible Forest Gardens, both published by Chelsea Green.
Click here to download a registration form
Course Description:
Friday Evening: 6:30 to 8:30pm
Overview: The Practice, Ethics, and Principles of Permaculture.
An introduction to lay the foundation for the weekend.
Open to the public for $10.
Saturday Morning: 9 to noon
An in depth look at food producing perennial species
Saturday Afternoon: 1pm to 5pm
Designing guilds to support food production
Saturday Evening: 6pm
Potluck Supper: Opportunity for further discussion and idea-sharing.
Sunday Morning: 9 to noon
Designing: Applying our knowledge to our own gardens and the McWater's Park site.
Cost:
Friday night only: $10 suggested donation
Full weekend: sliding scale: $175 - $225
What to bring:
The McWaters Park Permaculture Gardeners
c/o PO Box 481
North Bennington,VT 05257
Join permaculturist and perennial food plant expert
Eric Toensmeier
for
An Introduction to Permaculture
Friday, January 11th 6:30 – 8:30 pm
at the North Bennington Train Station
suggested admission $10
To be followed by an intensive
Edible Forest Garden Design Workshop
Saturday and Sunday - January 12th and 13th
Sliding Scale: $175 to $225
This course is geared towards gardeners who would like to design and plant an edible forest garden. An edible forest garden grows food using perennial plants in a planned ecosystem. It is a form of Permaculture appropriate for
New England.
During the workshop we will be looking in depth at perennial food plants, and designing plant ecosystems, also known as guilds. There will be time for generating our own garden designs for McWater's Park and our homes.
Eric Toensmeier joins us from Holyoke, Mass where his urban garden is a model of how to apply permaculture in a small space with poor soils. He is author of Perennial Vegetables - a Gardener's Guide to Over 100 Delicious,
Easy-to-Grow Edibles and co-author with Dave Jacke of Edible Forest Gardens, both published by Chelsea Green.
Click here to download a registration form
Course Description:
Friday Evening: 6:30 to 8:30pm
Overview: The Practice, Ethics, and Principles of Permaculture.
An introduction to lay the foundation for the weekend.
Open to the public for $10.
Saturday Morning: 9 to noon
An in depth look at food producing perennial species
Saturday Afternoon: 1pm to 5pm
Designing guilds to support food production
Saturday Evening: 6pm
Potluck Supper: Opportunity for further discussion and idea-sharing.
Sunday Morning: 9 to noon
Designing: Applying our knowledge to our own gardens and the McWater's Park site.
Cost:
Friday night only: $10 suggested donation
Full weekend: sliding scale: $175 - $225
What to bring:
- Lunch for Saturday and Sunday
- A food contribution for the potluck supper Saturday night.
- A notebook and if you like, maps/photos/designs you have of your site.
- A thumb drive can be handy for sharing materials.
The McWaters Park Permaculture Gardeners
c/o PO Box 481
North Bennington,VT 05257
Introduction to Permaculture and Edible Forest Design
with Mark Krawczyk and Keith Morris
at the North Bennington Train Station
Friday 1/13/12 to Sunday 1/15/12
Thanks to Mark and Keith and every one who came
for a great weekend!
Join two of Vermont's outstanding teachers Mark Krawczyk and Keith Morris for a Permaculture and Edible Forest Garden Design weekend intensive.
The course is geared towards farmers, gardeners and planners who would like to bring Permaculture principles to their farms, landscapes and communities. It is designed to give you a solid foundation in Permaculture principles and applied design, and leave you inspired by the potential for abundance on your land and in your community.
This course is open to everyone, but is also an important step for community members who would like to participate in planning the Edible Forest Garden for North Bennington's McWater's Park.
We'll balance the weekend with lecture, site visits, detailed analysis, mapping, discussion and a collaborative design charrette. We will focus on topics most relevant to our site to help the group directly apply concepts to the project at hand.
Join us for this exciting weekend!
Friday Evening: 6:30 to 8:30pm
Overview: The Practice, Ethics, and Principles of Permaculture.
An introduction to lay the foundation for the weekend. Open to the public for $10.
Saturday Morning: 9am through late morning
Introduction to Design: Design overview, goals articulation, site analysis skills and design case studies.
Saturday Afternoon: Late morning to 5:00 pm (lunch at noon)
On-Site Analysis: Participants work in teams to "tell the story" of the McWater's site. What does the existing orientation, access, slope, hydrology, vegetation, soils, microclimate, etc. suggest? What are the most important ecological and social qualities? How do they help shape the solutions we will ultimately choose?
Saturday Night:
Potluck Supper: Opportunity for further discussion and idea-sharing, followed by an evening session most relevant to our site.
Sunday Morning: 9 am to lunch
Focused Topics: We'll gear class sessions to respond to the site. This will most likely include: Permaculture earthworks; edible forest gardening; agroforestry; composting.
Sunday Afternoon: Lunch to 5:00 pm
Design Concept Plans: We will develop design concept plans for the site, working to integrate our observations with our goals.
Overview: The Practice, Ethics, and Principles of Permaculture.
An introduction to lay the foundation for the weekend. Open to the public for $10.
Saturday Morning: 9am through late morning
Introduction to Design: Design overview, goals articulation, site analysis skills and design case studies.
Saturday Afternoon: Late morning to 5:00 pm (lunch at noon)
On-Site Analysis: Participants work in teams to "tell the story" of the McWater's site. What does the existing orientation, access, slope, hydrology, vegetation, soils, microclimate, etc. suggest? What are the most important ecological and social qualities? How do they help shape the solutions we will ultimately choose?
Saturday Night:
Potluck Supper: Opportunity for further discussion and idea-sharing, followed by an evening session most relevant to our site.
Sunday Morning: 9 am to lunch
Focused Topics: We'll gear class sessions to respond to the site. This will most likely include: Permaculture earthworks; edible forest gardening; agroforestry; composting.
Sunday Afternoon: Lunch to 5:00 pm
Design Concept Plans: We will develop design concept plans for the site, working to integrate our observations with our goals.
Costs:
Friday night only: $10 suggested donation
Full weekend: sliding scale: $175 - $225
Scholarships may be available for those in need who wish to be part of the McWater's Park design team.
To register, please send a registration form and a $50 deposit as instructed on form.
Avery Wood
116 McCarthy Acres
North Bennington,VT 05257
What to bring:
- Lunch for Saturday and Sunday
- A food contribution for the potluck supper Saturday night.
- Boots, coat, hat and gloves (It's January, after all)
- A notebook, camera, and if you like, maps/photos/designs you have of your site.
- A thumb drive can be handy for sharing materials.
Permaculture Introduction Handout - sorry too big to upload - please email if you need a copy.
