Permaculture lecture with Graham Calder
Setting precedence for more lectures to come
The recent lecture on permaculture with specialist Graham Calder, hosted by the Greenhouse and Garden Committee at Knowlton Academy in Brome Lake, was so successful that it’s probable that there will be others organized for the community in the future.
Calder drew in a full house at the school’s theatre. Interested parties flocked from as far as Coaticook, Eaton Corner, Stanstead, Mansonville, Roxton Falls, Cowansville, and points between to hear about what permaculture is all about. The upshot resulted in an abundance of information exchanges motivating those who came to learn, as well as the speaker who left wanting to buy property in the region.
Susan Muir, chair of the Knowlton Academy Greenhouse and Garden Committee (KAGGP) whose work is specialized in architecture and permaculture design, was delighted to see such a large crowd attending the event. “They came from all over and from all walks of life.” She said that Calder shared his knowledge and understanding with great eloquence, demonstrating how permaculture offers a framework to design systems that are ecological and economically viable.
Muir says that, “It is clear that through the permaculture lens we begin to see the world around us differently and feel inspired to develop simple sustainable solutions to the so-called ‘problems’ in our lives, seeing things from a holistic point of view.”
The KAGGP is a model project providing a platform for applied learning to elementary school students so that they glean sustainable outcomes. It strives to be community-inclusive. Thanks to the overwhelming enthusiasm from the community it far surpassed its expectations in its first year and the committee is optimistic about the upcoming season where students, family, and community members will once again together become engaged in nurturing their “secret garden.”