About us
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
8
- $10.00
Soap Making with Local Animal Fats
Ellen Blackburn Karelitz's Home, 18 Littlehale Rd., Durham, NH, USCome and discover how to make beautiful soap the traditional way with local ingredients.
Beef tallow, lard, and goat fat are all excellent additions to a soapmaking recipe. In this workshop we will discuss sources of animal fat and observe aspects of the rendering process that makes the fat available for use in soapmaking.
We will process the fats and oils with lye and move through the process of saponification to create soap,and pour into molds to cure.
Each participant will be able to observe the entire process and will be given a pre-made bar of soap to take home and try, as well as instructions for rendering and the soap recipe.
Limit of 6 participants.
COST: sliding scale of $25-50. A nonrefundable $10 nonrefundable deposit is required to secure your place in the class. You can pay here through paypal or send a check to: Seacoast Permaculture, 219 France Rd, Barrington NH 03825. If the cost is high for you, reach out and we can work something out.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Ellen Blackburn Karelitz is a teacher, writer, floral designer, Master Gardener, life-long learner and dabbler in many things. She has served on the Durham Agricultural Commission, the Board of Seacoast Permaculture and as the garden steward at Wagon Hill Community Garden in Durham. She has been making soap for family and friends for over 20 years.
NOTE from SP Organizers: Want to stay in the loop beyond our Meetups? Sign up for the monthly Seacoast NH Permaculture email newsletter to get notified about additional local and online events, hands-on projects, and resources. Sign up here. Unsubscribe at any time.
4 attendees 
ONLINE Permaculture Topics: Practical Reverence
·OnlineOnlineIn this interview, Potawatomi botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer introduces us to the serviceberry as a model for a gift economy that recognizes the sacredness of the Earth. Speaking about her recent book, based on an essay she wrote for Emergence Magazine in 2020, Robin offers a framework for embodying a practical reverence: an ethic of care, reciprocity, and gratitude for the Earth and her abundance.
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 listen to (60 mins) or read this interview: https://emergencemagazine.org/conversation/practical-reverence/
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/ or send 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 involved in organic growing and homesteading, education and social justice movements. These are not formal classes but conversations shaped by the participants.
NOTE from SP Organizers: Want to stay in the loop beyond our Meetups? Sign up for the monthly Seacoast NH Permaculture email newsletter to get notified about additional local and online events, hands-on projects, and resources. Sign up here. Unsubscribe at any time.
9 attendees
Give & Take: Swap Our Harvest, Handcrafted Goods, Project Extras, Winter Reading
Farmwood Village Club House, 13 Brookmore Road, Dover, nh, USAt the end of the harvest season and in time for the holidays, let's swap! We practice community, the sharing economy and recognizing abundance when we swap - join us!
Here are some ideas for what you can bring to swap...
Harvest: garlic, honey, winter squash, root veggies;
Handcrafted Goods: artwork, hand knit clothing, jewelry, body scrubs, soaps, pottery, cards;
Crafting Supplies: fabric, yarn, knitting needles, canning jars, wax, equipment you haven't used lately;
Reading materials to educate and entertain us for the coming winter.You can use the comment section below to plan ahead and see if there is interest in something before you pack it up to bring.
COST: suggested donation of $5-10 payable that day. Cash or checks please!
Please be on time so you won't miss the introductions when everyone explains what they are offering. This is an important part of the process. No one goes home empty handed and everyone usually leaves with more than they came with, through some sort of swapping magic! The process takes about 90 minutes depending on the number of participants.
And please consider joining us for the Harvest Feast Potluck and Annual Meeting, which takes place after the swap. Click here to sign up for the Harvest Feast Potluck.
NOTE from SP Organizers: Want to stay in the loop beyond our Meetups? Sign up for the monthly Seacoast NH Permaculture email newsletter to get notified about additional local and online events, hands-on projects, and resources. Sign up here. Unsubscribe at any time.
4 attendees
Harvest Feast Potluck & 2026 Annual Meeting
Farmwood Village Club House, 13 Brookmore Road, Dover, nh, USLet's celebrate permaculture and our community together as we look back on 2026! We will have a potluck, a short report and discussion about the group's activities, and then time for connection and conversation.
For the potluck: anything is welcome but local, organic, or homemade from your land and/or hands is extra exciting! This is a chance for you to show off what you've grown and created. We'll have heating and clean up facilities there, but if you can bring your own potluck kit of plate/bowl/utensils/cup/napkin, that is a great help. Please also include a list of ingredients in your dish for those who may have dietary or food allergy concerns.
Annual Meeting: After the potluck we'll share a report on what we’ve done this year and what is to come in 2026. We’ll have time for questions and feedback and welcome your thoughts and insights regarding our organization and greater community.
Consider joining us for the Harvest Swap happening immediately prior to the potluck from 3:30-5:00. Share extra garden produce, handmade items, books etc. Please register for this separately on this Meetup page.
Permaculture is about community and people as much as it's about gardening, conservation and energy. There are so many interesting people in this group, and often our meetups are focused on what we are working on/learning - this will be an opportunity to connect a little less formally.
COST: a donation of any amount is welcomed at the event! Cash or checks please.
NOTE from SP Organizers: Want to stay in the loop beyond our Meetups? Sign up for the monthly Seacoast NH Permaculture email newsletter to get notified about additional local and online events, hands-on projects, and resources. Sign up here. Unsubscribe at any time.
4 attendees
Past events
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