Neiger explains that in permaculture , people often get very excited before they have the depth of training needed . “ The intention and perspective is powerful and good . However , the [ current ] system for training in permaculture is a two-week course . It changes people ’ s perspective , but it doesn ’ t provide in-depth training . Novices don ’ t have the knowledge to back up their excitement ,” Neiger said .
But as permaculture becomes less of a fringe movement , its aesthetics , its applications and its influence are changing . Permaculture courses are appearing in dozens of universities around the world . Nationwide , beautiful permaculture landscapes are popping up on campuses and at public institutions . The movement ’ s original idealistic young fans are being joined by scientists , engineers and other professionals , including horticulture and landscape design experts . A recent survey on sustainability , conducted by the Association of Professional Landscape Designers , suggests that 25 percent of the respondents use permaculture in their designs .
EMERGING ORGANIZATIONS
Meanwhile an organization has emerged to shepherd North America ’ s permaculture movement into the future : the Permaculture Institute of North America . “ PINA was created to address a need to develop a higher level of credibility and professionalism for permaculture practitioners working in the public sector ,” said board member Livingston-Stark . “ PINA ’ s goal is to support professional development for permaculture practitioners , specifically in the fields of education and design . PINA will also become a resource for people interested in hiring a permaculture designer , or wishing to attend a quality Permaculture Design Certification Course .”
“ Permaculture is a new paradigm for thinking about environments ,” says Peter Bane , PINA board member and author of The Permaculture Handbook : Garden Farming for Town and Country . “ After 40 years , it is beginning to leave the arena of the homestead where it took root , and expand into the public arena . We have begun to move into positions of authority in society . We are looking at stormwater conditions and urban heat island problems ; we are looking at food deserts in our cities . Permaculture has answers for all these issues , where our conventional professions often do not . We are getting an audience . It ’ s about time !”
Perhaps it ’ s also time for garden communicators to reconsider the view that permaculture and gardening are competing philosophies and to look , instead , for the places where they intersect .
Above : Jono Neiger , author of The Permaculture Promise , holds the site plan for the soon-to-be removed highway project . Below : Students from Jono Neiger ’ s Advanced Permaculture Course in Akron , Ohio , discuss regenerative design opportunities for the site of this soon-to-be removed highway .
RESOURCES :
• Essence of Permaculture , a summary of Permaculture Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability by David Holmgren , http :// bit . ly / 2h2da0m
• Permaculture Institute of North America , http :// pina . in
• Permaculture Design Magazine , http :// permaculturedesignmagazine . com
• Scott Mann ’ s Permaculture Podcasts , http :// thepermaculturepodcast . com
• Edible Forest Gardens website of Dave Jacke , http :// edibleforestgardens . com
• Gaia ’ s Garden by Toby Hemenway , http :// chelseagreen . com / gaias-garden
• “ Permaculture and Horticulture : Gardening with the Future in Mind ” by Dale Hendricks in Hardy Plant Society / Mid-Atlantic Group , Vol . 29 , No . 3 , http :// www . hardyplant . org / assets / docs / Feature Articles / hendricks _ permacultureandhorticulture . pdf
PHOTOS COURTESY SABRENA SCHWEYER
Sabrena Schweyer , FAPLD , is a permaculturist and a national expert on sustainable landscape design . Co-owner of international award-winning firm , Salsbury-Schweyer Inc ., she is best known for creating landscapes and gardens that are ecologically sensitive , as well as beautiful , personal and healing experiences for all those who enter .
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