Permaculture in the 'Burbs

I am making an effort this November to write everyday - starting today (better late than never). I want to start writing in this blog again and exploring ideas of urban and suburban permaculture. I have moved to the suburbs - a place I never thought I'd find myself living. Sometimes love brings you to places where you didn't think you'd end up. At first I couldn't really find a way to live a permaculture-based lifestyle here in the burbs. However, I have found my path and actually I think it is a very important one.

There are many people doing cool things in urban areas for the environment and to build community. However, the burbs raise more of a dilemma. As we all know suburbs are built around the idea that everyone owns a car. They are not built on a grid - instead there are lots of curvy streets which makes it a long walk or bike ride to one's destination. They are often not near shopping areas (and the shopping nearby tends to be mostly big box stores). People in suburban neighbourhoods tend to live far from work - I know I do! And so car dependent lifestyles are the norm in the suburbs. And there are lots of lawns. In my neighbourhood most backyards have pools (mine included) and lots of grass (thankfully not mine).

So bringing permaculture to the suburbs is actually more difficult than bringing it to urban areas where there is more potential for community projects in public spaces and where it is easier for people to live lifestyles based around people power not car driving.

Sooo, what can I do in the suburbs?

Well, first my partner and I combined our passions and created an arts and eco festival. This happened in the summer and it was great! We found it to be a fun and rewarded experience that will be an annual undertaking.

We have also created a community organization aimed at building a strong sense of community and promoting environmental sustainability. So far, it is going well. I am very lucky that my suburb is a former town so it actually has a village centre - a strip of shopping that is based around small shops and includes the local library branch. That creates more potential for a less car dependent neighbourhood and for community building.

Lastly, I plan to start a permaculture education business (actually aiming to become a non-profit) based in my backyard. I hope to offer workshops for adults and kids using my garden as a demonstration site. I am redesigning my backyard on permaculture principles by putting in a forest garden, having a dedicated area for cob and natural building, having a more comprehensive composting system and setting up beehives. It is starting slowly this fall with the designing of the garden beds using sheet mulching. In the Spring I hope to offer my first workshops. I also hope to set up teaching gardens throughout my community - especially in the numerous schools in my area.

Exciting stuff! I will write about the journey on this blog and post lots of pictures!