Baltimore- let's do this!

Hey there Charm City Permies! My partner and I have a small gardening business where we help people get started with their Permaculture dreams. We do site analysis, design, install and maintain things like herb spirals, compost systems, edible landscapes, guilds and food forests for people in Baltimore. I am looking to meet more likeminded people in the area. Our hope is to build community around Permacuture in an urban environment and encourage engagement around issues of biodiversity, sustainability, and nature awareness. In addition to giving Permaculture talks, workshops and helping organize volunteer work days - we have our Facebook Page: Roots & Sky Garden Design
Here is our Website: Roots & Sky - website

Please get in touch!
Lisa

Hi Lisa. I grew up in Baltimore and am on the eastern shore now. Let me know if you have any classes. I tried your web site, but all the links in the menu go to the same page with no info on it, Myabe it is my browser. Best of luck!

Brett

Hi Brett!

I checked the link to our website www.rootsandsky.com, and it works as far as I can tell. We currently do design, installation, and maintenance for homeowners and I am planning a free 'Intro to Permaculture' talk at a few of our nearest libraries. I would be open to doing more workshops in the future, but don't have any classes planned at this time. Is there something specific you are interested in doing?

Nothing in particular. I am new to permaculture. I know a little bit about landscaping and ornamental plants and ponds, but it has been many years since I grew anything to eat. I remember it was a lot of work and interested in learning techniques to make it simple to grow food to eat. I am also interested in homesteading and natural building (I am a home improvement contractor). So I would be interested in attending one of your talks about permaculture.

Great! I know that getting started can be daunting. I would suggest first looking at your growing space and making note of the hours of sunlight that reach different areas of your yard. Think abut areas where water might be an issue, microclimates, etc. and make notes on your observations. Make a list of all the things you would like to do to be more sustainable, and then start small- maybe look at making a small guild of some kind in your yard. If you don't already have them, think about systems for compost and collecting/storing rainwater. We have installed edible raingardens- which is an interesting way of increasing food space and decreasing runoff. There also might be grants available in your county to help offset the cost of a rainwater harvesting system. Look into it! Not sure if you need any extra information but some of the Permaculture books I found most helpful and inspiring were Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison and Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemmingway. They have both in our local library, maybe you can get them on loan? I will be in touch about the talk, but let me know if I can be of any more help in the meantime.

I sometimes stop by and trawl this board in hopes of finding some local people. I'm down here in the midshore and have recently been aching to meet some like-minded gardeners. I'm very new to the concept of permaculture (about a year and a half) and I have tried and failed a lot - which I hear is good. I wish I lived closer, Lisa, but maybe I could come help with an operation one day? I love to learn hands on and if you have any weekends where you might just need a pair of good hands I would love to be of assistance.

Right now I just have my mom's backyard (I rent her house) which is about 1/6 an acre by my guess, maybe less. I have been focusing a lot on annuals simply due to space and wanting to see a return on my work, but I have a few berries/asparagus planted as well. I'm hoping that by the time I can buy my own home I will be a master. Who knows, we'll see.

I was just presented the opportunity to hold a hands-on workshop applying the 12 Permaculture Principles in the building an Herb Spiral for a local Herbalist who has an apothecary in Baltimore. This workshop will be in Joppa MD, tentatively for a weekend in April. I will be in touch with more details!

I'm excited to meet more local Permaculturists!

Dougan, thanks for posting! Sounds like you have a great situation to apply things that you learn about Permaculture. You can accomplish a lot on 1/6 acre! I really like challenges, they help you get creative So much can be done when you think vertically, work out intensive systems and apply the Permaculture Principle 'Stacking Functions' ...getting many yields (outputs) from one element (thing) in your system. I'm not sure about your situation, but I'd encourage you not let the status of a 'renter' change your feelings about the land. We're all technically renters on this planet, right? We can rent the heck out of it, and leave it better than we found it

If anyone wants to send me an email: rootsandskygardening@gmail.com, I will send info on the upcoming Herb Spiral workshop and the Intro to Permaculture talk.

Hello!

I'm excited to announce that I'll be teaching 2 Hands-On Permaculture Workshops in exciting settings in the Baltimore area! These intimate workshops will allow for in-depth questions about the processes and reaching a deeper understanding of Permaculture Design Principles - which relate to both gardening and a sustainable lifestyle.

Both classes are limited in size, so register early!
Thank you!
Lisa from Roots & Sky Gardening

Sunday May 22: Creating Fruit Tree Guilds
Hidden Harvest Farm ~ 1825 N Calvert St. // Station North Neighborhood, Baltimore // 11am – 3pm
Imagine harvesting your own apples, berries, currants, figs, herbs, nectarines, and pears! Join us in the first phase of helping transform Hidden Harvest Community Farm's Orchard into a Food Forest! You will learn the roles of different plants in a Guild and how they create an efficient, low-labor, healthy mini-ecosystem. With resources provided and instructor guidance, you will leave ready to complete a fruit tree guild design for your own space.
Space is Limited, tickets available now: http://fruittreeguildhiddenharvestbaltimore.bpt.me
$10/HH Volunteers & Mbrs, $15 / General Public if purchased by May 1st, $20 afterward
(Workshop Raindate Sunday May 29, 2016) https://www.facebook.com/events/1187024051331881/

Saturday June 4: Build an Herb Spiral Garden in the Medicinal Garden of Natural Fibers Artist- Louise Wheatley
Joppa MD address provided upon registration // 9:30am -3:30pm
Grow Teas, Medicines, and Spices in your own yard with an Herb Spiral, a great design for small-space urban herb gardening! Learn everything you need to know to design and build your own Herb Spiral in the 1-day class. This unique intimate workshop in a beautiful rural setting will allow for hands-on participation, in-depth questions about the process, learning how to conduct their own site analysis, choosing from recommended herbs, and a deeper understanding of microclimates.

To register please contact: rootsandskygardening@gmail.com
$60 via Paypal ~ or ~ personal checks accepted: Email rootsandskygardening@gmail.com for details.
Please Register by May 15: Only 13 spaces available! (Workshop Raindate June 11, 2016)
https://www.facebook.com/events/913367575427896/