What we’re about
Permaculture aims to regenerate healthy, productive landscapes and communities by consciously applying ecological principles to the design of human habitats. It is a theory, a mindset, and a lens for looking at the world in order to create a sustainable and just planet for all. Permaculture’s three ethics - Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share - and its twelve principles are used to design systems that create and foster healthy relationships. Through this discipline, each of us can take greater responsibility for ourselves and our world by developing life skills for sustainable living to become active participants and producers.
“Permaculture gives us a toolkit for moving from a culture of fear and scarcity to one of love and abundance.” -Toby Hemenway (permaculturist & author)
What we do: We build community, share ideas and learn how to move forward mindfully and in tune with the ethics of Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share. Through the Seacoast NH Permaculture Meetup and other partner organizations we bring people together by offering workshops, speakers, movies, discussions, swaps, potluck meals and other events.
"We don't know what details of a truly sustainable future are going to be like, but we need options, we need people experimenting in all kinds of ways and permaculturists are one of the critical gangs that are doing that." -Dr. David Suzuki (geneticist, broadcaster, environmentalist)
Our mission: Seacoast NH Permaculture Group empowers individuals and communities to work together to create resiliency through the use of Permaculture in the NH seacoast area and beyond. We inspire and teach each other by sharing skills, knowledge, and regenerative practices, nurturing our connections and celebrating our work.
“You cannot save the land apart from the people or the people apart from the land.” -Wendell Berry (farmer, environmentalist, author)
Land Acknowledgment: Indigenous cultures, past and present, have been an inspiration to our learning and the development of permaculture. To honor them and to deepen our connection to and understanding of the land we are living on, we share that the Seacoast of NH is the traditional ancestral homeland of the Abenaki, Pennacook and Wabanaki Peoples. We are grateful to them for stewarding this area so beautifully for thousands of years and continuing that work now. They invite us to join their efforts – see indigenousnh.com to learn more.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- ONLINE Permaculture Topics: Social ForestryLink visible for attendees
How do we tend to land and culture at the same time? In this episode, Morag Gamble explores social forestry with Tomi Hazel Vaarde - from ancient indigenous knowledge to stories of forests. Tomi reflects on design as something that emerges from connection with place and community. "Social forestry is tending the land as people of place. How do we cooperate with each other to do useful things in these places? It's always site specific, and it's always culturally specific." Tomi Hazel Vaarde is a prolific permaculturist, advising farms, stewarding forests and teaching environmental sciences for more than 50 years. Tomi's latest book (April 2023) is Social Forestry: Tending the Land as People and Place, an acclaimed guide of practical placemaking advice and ancient lore for anyone wanting to have a reciprocating relationship with their communities, themselves, and their awe-inspiring forests and landscapes.
To clarify - for these discussions, we watch/listen to/read material ahead of time and then discuss it. The authors or speakers are not joining us - we are talking about their work ourselves.
Before we meet review Morag Gamble's interview of Tomi, either:
listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/978904/12950645-episode-97-social-forestry-with-tomi-hazel-vaarde-and-morag-gamble
OR watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSde-04ZSBM
OR read the transcript here: https://ourpermaculturelife.com/social-forestry/In our Permaculture Topics Discussions & Book Studies, we aim to expand our knowledge of topics related to permaculture and to have an ongoing series where members can connect to build our community. This series has a particular focus on "social/societal permaculture." Since Spring 2020, we've been especially engaging with topics such as: people care, story, right relationships, new economics, community resilience, honoring indigenous knowledge, strength in diversity, and forests & gardens as teachers.
COST: Suggested donation of $5-15 at https://www.seacoastnhpermaculture.org/ . If you do not want to use paypal, we always take checks to Seacoast Permaculture, 219 France Rd, Barrington NH 03825. *We are not requiring you pay before signing up but there are limited spaces so please take your RSVP seriously.*
JOINING ONLINE: Our online programs are offered via Zoom. When you rsvp "yes" the Zoom link will become visible to you on this event page. Whenever you are logged in to your meetup account and come to this page you will be able to see it, click on it, or cut and paste it to get to the meeting. We will send you a message with the link through meetup, but your settings for your email or in meetup may mean it does not reach you, so *please remember to come to this page for access!*
The series is facilitated by Seacoast Permaculture members who are involved in organic growing and homesteading, education and social justice movements. The facilitators will help the conversation move along, making sure everyone gets a chance to share. These are not formal classes but conversations shaped by the participants to help us get the most out of the material.
- Plant and Seed SwapWagon Hill Farm, Durham, NH
Have plants or starts to share? Are you in search of new varieties for your garden? Would you like to make some new 'planty' friends? Bring your extra plants and seeds to share with others at the swap. Other garden related items to share are also welcome like extra pots, tools, books, etc.
Please know what your plants are, some basic care and preferred growing conditions. Consider labeling them.
Use the Meetup comment feature on this page to make a specific ask of a plant you are looking for or to list plants you intend to bring.
Please follow these safety guidelines to prevent the spread of jumping worms:
- If dividing outdoor perennials to share, please thoroughly wash all soil from the roots. Bring the plants as bareroot or if re-potting, use a soilless potting mix.
- Read more about jumping worms in either link: https://extension.unh.edu/sites/default/files/migrated_unmanaged_files/Resource007945_Rep11616.pdf
https://joegardener.com/podcast/invasive-jumping-worms/
COST: donations in any amount are appreciated to support the work of Seacoast Permaculture. Please bring cash or checks [preferred] or donate on our website.
If you are not feeling well, covid or otherwise, please do not attend.