Practical Permaculture to Get You Started

Course Description: We’ll start with seeing ourselves as part of nature- our gardens as part of the larger ecosystem, and how we can build simple systems to make lasting changes. We’ll go over the design process, consider soil life, how to work with water, build plant communities and best of all, ways to tend the permaculture garden so it is a truly sustainable way of growing with nature. We’ll dedicate time to start creating your own permaculture garden design.

All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.

What to Bring: Come with a loose sketch of the property/area that you want to design. Bring a notebook or sketch paper, pencil with eraser, pen, and colored pencils if you have them.

Instructor Bios:

Michelle Bruhn homesteads in suburban Minnesota. She’s a local food advocate, Master Gardener Volunteer, writer, garden educator, and farmers’ market manager. As the founder of ForksInTheDirt.com, an information hub for garden and farm-to-table living, her passion is helping folks “dig” their food. When not in the garden, Michelle enjoys spending time with her backyard flock, family, and friends while immersing herself in nature (usually with a foraging basket in tow).

Elaina Moss is a master gardener that lives in Minneapolis on a 1/6 of an acre. She focuses on regenerative permaculture gardening methods and growing a wide variety of fruit trees (18), berry bushes (44), edible vines (7), along with other perennial edible and medicinal plants, even in her lawn.

Make a day of it! On the way to WEI, visit charming Lindstrom, MN, for Northwoods Roasterie coffee and a pastry from the Lindstrom Bakery. After class, visit Wild River State Park (only 10 minutes from WEI). Franconia Sculpture Park is also nearby and open ’til 8pm daily.

If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.