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: Convivial Conservation to Bridge the Human/Nature DivideLink visible for attendees
Bram Büscher, an activist-scholar in sociology at Wageningen University in The Netherlands, has launched an ambitious international project to invent noncapitalist forms of land conservation. He calls it "convivial conservation." Instead of locking up land as wilderness or using it to make money through ecotourism and genetic patents, "convivial conservation" is about enabling humans to become integral, respectful co-creators with nature. The new Convivial Conservation Centre, with staff in five countries and many allies worldwide, champions constructive, symbiotic human relationships with local ecosystems and the bridging of the deep divide separating humans from nature.
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 this 51 mins podcast: https://david-bollier.simplecast.com/episodes/bram-buscher-bridging-the-human-nature-divide-through-convivial-conservation
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/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 involved in organic growing and homesteading, education and social justice movements. The facilitators help the conversation move along, making sure everyone gets a chance to share. These are not formal classes but conversations shaped by the participants.
- Fermentation Exploration 1: Introduction to FermentationLink visible for attendees$5.00
Welcome to the first in our three part summer fermentation series online!
Summer is a great time for a learn-and-try exploration of simple fermentation projects. All are welcome—both beginners and those with experiences to share! The idea is to read/research/discuss and then try what you are most interested in. We will meet three times, and we will all share what we learned and describe how our fermentation projects turned out. We will also have an optional email group to stay connected about our projects in between sessions.
Warm-enough temperatures are key to successful fermentation, so the summer months are great to experiment. We will meet on Zoom on three Thursdays from 7-8 p.m. Sign up individually - we hope you can come to all of them but you can attend just one or two. Here are the dates and areas of emphasis:
July 3: Introduction to Fermentation—Read and join us to discuss chapters 1-4—especially chapter 4— in Wild Fermentation by Sandor Elix Katz. This readings will talk about fermentation across cultures and time, and chapter 4 will explain in detail why fermentation is safe and great for pre- and probiotics. Also, explore other early chapters to see what you’re interested in trying—we’ll preview some great easy ferments for beginners.
[From July 3-July 31: Experiment with whichever fermentation projects catch your eye! Great starter projects include sour pickles, sauerkraut, fermented vegetables, and lightly fermented beverages like kvas.]
July 31: Fermentation Project 1
August 21: Fermentation Project 2Important FYI about resources for the series:
Please be sure to get a copy of Wild Fermentation (or another high quality book/reference about fermentation, though we will specifically reference Wild Fermentation). Wild Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz is a great beginner’s guide and will anchor our learning and efforts. We also encourage the sharing of favorite fermentation blogs, books, and so on. This is a great series for the fermentation-curious beginner, and we also welcome experienced fermenters who would like to try new things and share their knowledge. This is not a class but rather a small group for learning, trying, and sharing results and knowledge.COST: The fee for each session is $5. Further donations to Seacoast Permaculture are welcome as they are what keep this group alive.
About Wild Fermentation author Sandor Ellix Katz
Sandor Ellix Katz is a fermentation revivalist. A self-taught experimentalist who lives in rural Tennessee, his explorations in fermentation developed out of his overlapping interests in cooking, nutrition, and gardening. He is the author of four previous books: Wild Fermentation, The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved, The Art of Fermentation—which won a James Beard Foundation Award in 2013—and Fermentation as Metaphor. The hundreds of fermentation workshops he has taught around the world have helped catalyze a broad revival of the fermentation arts. The New York Times calls Sandor “one of the unlikely rock stars of the American food scene.” For more information, check out his website: www.wildfermentation.com.About Your Hosts:
Jennifer Montgomery is a member of the Seacoast Permaculture group, and she enjoys exploring various permaculture practices and engaging in stewardship of natural resources in New Hampshire. She has been experimenting with hügelkultur garden beds, the protecting and planting of native perennials, and the planting of pollinator gardens. Her interests in at-home fermentation—especially fermented beverages, dairy, and vegetables—have motivated her to explore Wild Fermentation and other resources. Her favorite projects so far include sauerkraut, kefir, berry kvas, kombucha, and yogurt.Deb Ganster earned her permaculture design certification in 2010, and has since been gradually integrating the ethics, principles and practices of permaculture design at her off grid farm in South Berwick ME.
