Anyone in Minnesota?

Lissa Lane wrote:Hey all! I just want to say its great that you folks are here and communicating about this... this lack of permaculture community in MN. I just moved back to the state as well, after a decade or so of traveling and living in very progressive areas. I too was discouraged by the challenges of living in a very 'red' area and came very close to relocating again to a town full of people just like me. Then it dawned on me.... this place is the perfect blank canvas for permaculture.

I love the positive attitude, welcome back! I like the perspective that we have a great opportunity here in Minnesota.

Lissa Lane wrote:I encourage everyone to take a second look and reach for a common thread... be it wild rice, old ways of plowing fields, hunting, canning, beer (everyone likes beer, right?!) or even sewing. People are rich with knowledge and if you ask the right questions, most are more than willing to engage. And those of us with unique skills are potentially very valuable to those who don't yet have them. If we all knew everything, there'd be no reason to converse right? But if we keep inquiring, sharing and learning, who knows, before long we might just turn ourselves into that community we were missing.

I love beer and brew my own, and I'm sure others do too. I look forward to learning from a lot of local people, you're right that we all have a lot to share.

Lissa Lane wrote:And yes, I'd be interested in a meet-up too, although logistics may be challenging in this far reaching state of ours. None the less, lets give it a whirl!

That's great! Perhaps we can figure out a median point in which we all or the majority of us are.

-Kirk

I'm in Northfield and excited to find ll of you. Plannning to buy a small farm and grow a lot of food, edible forests etc, energy-positive house, and Zen community. If that's not too much. I would love a get-together. When I get the farm I will be looking for people to come and farm with me. And probably I need a caretaker/housesitter for 3 months this summer. (Subletter would be nice...) There should be some vegies to harvest, even if I'm still in my cute little house in charming downtown Northfield.
There are so many people here I don't know how to respond. But if anybody is interested in joining me, I would really like to hear about it!

Shodo Spring wrote:I'm in Northfield and excited to find ll of you. Plannning to buy a small farm and grow a lot of food, edible forests etc, energy-positive house, and Zen community. If that's not too much. I would love a get-together. When I get the farm I will be looking for people to come and farm with me. And probably I need a caretaker/housesitter for 3 months this summer. (Subletter would be nice...) There should be some vegies to harvest, even if I'm still in my cute little house in charming downtown Northfield.
There are so many people here I don't know how to respond. But if anybody is interested in joining me, I would really like to hear about it!

Northfield stinks! Go Faribault!!!

jk, I don't live in Faribo anymore. I lived in Northfield back in the day too (Grades K through 3rd).

I have 40 acres for sale up north. Inside the Superior National Forest. Raw land. Hugelkultur heaven. I'd knock off $5k to have a permie neighbor.

Hello fellow Minnesotans.

I am writing to tell you about two Permaculture events that we are hosting, in Southern Central Minnesota. (I90 & I35)

The first one is May 3-5. It is a casual event that we call The Gathering of the Guilds. It is a 3 day Permaculture skill-shares, workshops and networking. Folks talk about their interestss and ideas, share some food and meet like-minded people.

This is a COMMUNITY CREATED EVENT.

We will provide the infrastructure and logistical planning-YOU provide the knowledge. ALL SKILL LEVELS ENCOURAGED. This gathering will offer local permaculturists, farmers, gardeners, activists, and others a chance to spend a weekend sharing skills, making connections, and learning.

More info at: http://CenterForDeepEcology.org/events/gathering-of-the-guilds

The second event is a Permaculture Design Certificate Course. We are hosting it August 26 - September 2.

This is an intensive, 8 day course. This a down-to-earth, practical course in the vein of Bill Mollison.

More info is available at: http://centerfordeepecology.org/events/pdc/


I hope some of you can make it one of our events. I am looking forward to meeting more Permaculturally minded folks who live in our area.

Hi all, I am from Minnesota, over by Rochester! I am new here. I found the site while looking at mass heaters. Now I think this summer I am going to try to start my first garden. At 41 (21 in my years lol) yes it will be my first attempt. I also want to learn how to can and preserve my own foods which will include the deer meat I harvest in the fall!!! Glad to see some like minded neighbors here as well. But I am truly grateful to find this site!!!

Tam

Tammy Marquardt wrote:Hi all, I am from Minnesota, over by Rochester! I am new here. I found the site while looking at mass heaters. Now I think this summer I am going to try to start my first garden. At 41 (21 in my years lol) yes it will be my first attempt. I also want to learn how to can and preserve my own foods which will include the deer meat I harvest in the fall!!! Glad to see some like minded neighbors here as well. But I am truly grateful to find this site!!!

Tam

Hey Tam,

We are practically neighbors! I live near Caledonia. I am working on the same kind of projects. We may have to pick each others brain sometime!!

Cassie

Hey Tam,

We are practically neighbors! I live near Caledonia. I am working on the same kind of projects. We may have to pick each others brain sometime!!

Cassie

Hi Cassie, we are closer than you think...I am in Plainview..I also have some land over by Zumbro Falls! I think that I will be the one picking your brain rather than helping anyone since I haven't done anything like this before lol!

[size=18][/size]HI to all,

I live in Red Wing on 2 acres and am a Master Gardener for Goodhue County. I am excited and nervous because I signed up for Sepp Holzer's PDC course on Spirit Mountain Ridge in Duluth this April. May meet a few of you there. On the permaculture scale, I am a 3. Karen O'Rourke

Howdy Ya'll , Just signed up tonight but been loooking at the site researching things and glad to see that people like minded in this state also . I am from Elbow Lake, Mn . about 30 miles west of Alexandria .

Heath Boeddeker wrote:Howdy Ya'll , Just signed up tonight but been loooking at the site researching things and glad to see that people like minded in this state also . I am from Elbow Lake, Mn . about 30 miles west of Alexandria .

Heath, You should check out what Anthony Anderson is doing. He is working on a Permaculture Food Forest just outside Alexandria.

You can check out his YouTube vids to see what he has been up to: Here

Bill Busse wrote:

Heath Boeddeker wrote:Howdy Ya'll , Just signed up tonight but been loooking at the site researching things and glad to see that people like minded in this state also . I am from Elbow Lake, Mn . about 30 miles west of Alexandria .

Heath, You should check out what Anthony Anderson is doing. He is working on a Permaculture Food Forest just outside Alexandria.

You can check out his YouTube vids to see what he has been up to: Here

Thank you Mr. Busse I will check it out Sir .

Tammy Marquardt wrote:Hi all, deer meat I harvest in the fall!!! Glad to see some like minded neighbors here as well. But I am truly grateful to find this site!!!

Tam

Try Biltong for the deer meat Tammy

(http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/making-biltong-video-series)

Hello everyone,

My name is Lake, I live near the maple grove/champlin area northwest of the city.
I consider myself and expert hortoculturalist, and amature pomologist. I am currently
creating a test garden, project site, or collection of useful plants which grow themselves
with very little to no maintainance (other than harvesting of course, and catalyzing the system
for greater production; ). I love exploring plant varieties for there uses for food, energy,
materials, and medicine.

I also have interests in fire technologies such as wood gasification, and copicing systems.
I am currently working on some passive solar/geothermal hoophouses design variables.
anouther project I'm working on is low to no maintainance plant propogation techniques.
I love most things material, mechanical, biological, or chemical.
I also have interests in networking with other "permies" in minnesota whom share similar interest and would like
to discuss these things.

Way "cool" to hear from all of you.

Lake.

Wow - there are a lot of us here. I'm in Northfield, and I posted about a Zen permaculture farm that I plan to start - but not alone! We should get together. The person who wanted cheap land and no restrictions - better go to Wisconsin though. MN is about leaning on people, but our politics are better. Wisconsin has crazy politics but they don't enforce their building codes. (I know some land that might be for sale in Douglas County - if you like red clay.)

I was hapy to see Owatanna and - but it wasn't Faribault, I don't know where Faribault County is. And Apple Valley is close for me, I have family in Burnsville.

Shodo (64, female,...)

Hi Folks - I've been able to work with permies in MN for the last 10 years. Let's just say there are a lot of permies in MN!! I don't think they are necessarily on permies.com but they are definitely out there. Homesteaders, farmers, urban, rural, North Shore, Ely, Twin Cities, Central MN, South eastern MN. If you don't know PRI Cold Climate, check them out, events more Twin Cities based currently. www.pricoldclimate.org
Center for Deep Ecology has the Gathering of the Guilds. Southwoods Center www.southwoodscenter.com

The map is not very populated but if you are doing permaculture work - please add your pin to the MN Map: http://www.pricoldclimate.org/resources/cold-climate-permaculture-sites-map

yours in permaculture,
Lindsay

Center for Deep Ecology

presents

Gathering of the Guilds

3 Days of Permaculture Skill-shares, Workshops and Networking

May 3-5, 2013

At Harmony Park Music Garden
(79503 298th St., Clarks Grove, MN 56016) Open Map

Gates open at Noon on Friday – Come early to set up your camp and help us create the event.

This is a COMMUNITY CREATED EVENT.

We will provide the infrastructure and logistical planning-YOU provide the knowledge. ALL SKILL LEVELS ENCOURAGED. This gathering will offer local permaculturists, farmers, gardeners, activists, and others a chance to spend a weekend sharing skills, making connections, and learning.

WE NEED YOU to facilitate a workshop or share a skill. Some ideas include:

Sheet Mulching
Animals in Permaculture
Hugelkulture
Composting
Urban Permaculture
Bees and Pollinators
Mushroom Cultivation
Vermiculture (Worms eat my garbage)
Seed Saving
Freezing, Canning and Drying
Fruit Tree Grafting
Humanure
Tree Pruning for Tree Health
Wild Edibles Walk
Grey Water Systems
Rainwater Catchment, Storage and Use
Seed and Plant Swap (Bring your extras and bring home some new additions)
Your Special Knowledge

This is a family friendly, Drug & Alcohol Free event.

There is onsite tent and RV camping, a Community Kitchen to provide 6 meals, a kids space with ongoing activities.

We request a $25 donation to cover toilets, food, and site rental.

NO DOGS!

NO OUTSIDE FIREWOOD!

For more info: [ulr=http://centerfordeepecology.org/events/gathering-of-the-guilds/]Center for Deep Ecology - Gathering of the Guilds[/url]

For questions please email: gotg2013@centerfordeepecology.org

Wow I'm Excited for this! I hope I will be able to attend.

Lake Bleeker wrote:Wow I'm Excited for this! I hope I will be able to attend.

*The GATHERING OF THE GUILDS has been CANCELLED. Mother Nature has scheduled a cold, rainy weekend. Due to the outdoor nature of this event, we believe that the amount of effort to stay warm and dry will not be conducive to a successful educational weekend.

Last fall's Gathering of the Guilds was such a success that you will definitely see a return of GOTG, but due to a tight schedule at Harmony Park, that will probably be in September. Watch our website and Facebook page for notifications. We hope to see you then!

Bill Busse wrote:

Lake Bleeker wrote:Wow I'm Excited for this! I hope I will be able to attend.

*The GATHERING OF THE GUILDS has been CANCELLED. Mother Nature has scheduled a cold, rainy weekend. Due to the outdoor nature of this event, we believe that the amount of effort to stay warm and dry will not be conducive to a successful educational weekend.

Last fall's Gathering of the Guilds was such a success that you will definitely see a return of GOTG, but due to a tight schedule at Harmony Park, that will probably be in September. Watch our website and Facebook page for notifications. We hope to see you then!

Thanks for the info. I am excited to attend this September as well.

What's Happening at The Center for Deep Ecology?

Here in Southern MN, it's been colder than normal and raining for what seems like a month now. We've done a lot of planting between showers.

This spring we added 25 Nannyberries, 25 Elderberries, 25 Serviceberries, and 10 Eastern Red Cedar. We grafted 16 Apples, 9 Pears, 8 Plums and 2 Cherries. It has been a great asparagus year and the morels have been plentiful.

This has reminded us of why The Center for Deep Ecology has embraced Permaculture and is moving away from annual plantings and toward food forests that require minimal work. As weather becomes more unpredictable, Temperate Climate Food Forests will provide us with another tool for creating resilient communities.

Gathering of the Guilds

We were forced to cancel Gathering of the Guilds II – A Permaculture Skill-Share. Meteorologists had predicted rain and low temps in the 30s for the event. It turns out that we got 18 inches of snow that weekend. Look for a Gathering of the Guilds in September.

Watch the webpage for info on the next Gathering of the Guilds.

Permaculture Workshops at Project Earth

The Center for Deep Ecology will be giving garden tours and sharing permaculture skills at Project Earth, June 21-23. Project Earth is a 3 day co-created community celebration. Project Earth is at harmony Park Music Garden in Clarks Grove, Mn. We will be offering workshops all weekend, so as to spread the news about permaculture.


Permaculture Design Certification Course August 26 - September 2

If you don't know already, The Center for Deep Ecology is hosting an 8 day Permaculture Design Course. This practical, down-to-earth training will give you the tools you need to grow food, manage resources, better utilize energy and build community.


The course instructor, Wayne Weiseman, has taught over 100 PDC courses, and was trained by Bill Mollison, one of the founders of Permaculture.


If you register for the class before July 1, you get to take $100 off of the tuition rate. Bring a friend and you'll save another $50 a piece.

If you've already signed up, you will be receiving the course text, Rosemary Morrow's "Earth User's Guide to Permaculture.” Books will be mailed out after the July 1, early-bird registration deadline, so you can come to the course with a little bit of a head start.

If you just can't wait to start studying, we suggest reading Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemenway. It has an urban focus and is a great beginner's Permaculture book.

More PDC info here.


Until then...

We look forward to seeing you at one of our many Permaculture events this season.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Keep up with Center for Deep Ecology happenings at our website: CenterforDeepEcology.org

"Like us" on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CenterForDeepEcology

What's happening fellow MN permies? Hope everyone had a great warm season and you are now beginning to enjoy the colder and possibly more restful season. I myself am wrapping up my conventional farm harvest (and all the other fall chores) and can hopefully find a bit more time for much more interesting and fulfilling things like practicing permaculture and working on my round-wood hybrid passive solar house.

Just wanted to try to get the thread going again since I haven't really interacted much with other permies right here in my own region. I'm also considering requesting a podcast on bringing broad-scaled to the heartland which in my opinion hinges on convincing established farmers to start moving down the permaculture path or at least just get some exposure to the concept and principles. As far as I'm aware of Mark Shepard's is the only permaculture farm that's 80+ acres within hundreds of miles. That's not enough, there needs to be a lot more. Any thoughts?

Hello again everyone! Wow this is crazy, somehow after I started this thread I totally forgot about this site and only today I tried registering only to find I already had, 3 years ago! lol I am so happy you all have kept this thread going, there are so many of us in MN, it's great!! I am now working in North Dakota but still come home for a week every other month so I may be able to meet up with some of you, if you are still here, that is! Any updates from any of you? I read through all the responses and there are so many of you I want to get to know better! As for me, since I have been working in ND for a year and a half, I haven't gotten a place of my own yet, I live on site where I work so I have no need for housing and when i'm on my breaks I just stay with my mom since it's only a week or so.

I am currently taking a free online permaculture class (http://www.permaculturedesigntraining.com/) and now that i'm saving up some money finally, I am getting more serious about my future plans. I am still unsure if I want to settle down in MN or somewhere more south and warmer. I will probably try to live in MN part time and somewhere else part time (once I am done with my job, that is, but right now i'm making such good money I don't want to quit!). I also am unsure if I want a permanent house or to live in an RV (another dream of mine...although not very eco friendly). I will most likely try to do both. I just have such strong wanderlust but I also want to be able to have my own garden which requires a permanent residence.

I will go through these responses in better detail and respond to a few of you but if anyone wants to talk, i'm open!

Good afternoon! My name's Garrett and I'm new here. I'm going to be starting a small free range chicken operation in Minnesota in the Spring, just outside of Lake Superior. I didn't know if anyone would be interested in starting an eco-village as I will have plenty of additional land. No weird cult-y vibes, just good, simple living. But anywho, I would like to be as self sustaining as humanly possible so even if you just want to bounce ideas back and forth I would love to hear from you! Thanks for your time!

Garrett Wilmer wrote:Good afternoon! My name's Garrett and I'm new here. I'm going to be starting a small free range chicken operation in Minnesota in the Spring, just outside of Lake Superior. I didn't know if anyone would be interested in starting an eco-village as I will have plenty of additional land. No weird cult-y vibes, just good, simple living. But anywho, I would like to be as self sustaining as humanly possible so even if you just want to bounce ideas back and forth I would love to hear from you! Thanks for your time!

Welcome Garret! Congrats on your new business, sounds like fun. I'd be curious to hear about how your journey goes, keep us updated What made you want to start a free range chicken operation?

Welcome again,
Kirk

Thanks for the warm welcome! Well I planned on originally having them to just feed myself and my family, but later turned to them as a source of income for things like property taxes and whatnot. I want to be as off the grid as possible. Eventually the idea grew and grew until its where its at now! My kickstarter will be going live next week so fingers crossed it gets funded! I'm not relying on it, but it would speed things up substantially.

Anyone in this conversation still active? Anyone working in the Duluth area? If yes, please get in touch!

Hi Starr,

I still check this out occasionally, missed the notification this time.  I'm not very close to Duluth, much closer to Iowa.  I know of permie groups in the twin cities and there has been a get together around labor day at harmony park north of Albert Lea for several years now.  I'll mention to that they hosted the north american permaculture convergence in 2014 in case you missed it.

S Haze wrote:Hi Starr,

I still check this out occasionally, missed the notification this time.  I'm not very close to Duluth, much closer to Iowa.  I know of permie groups in the twin cities and there has been a get together around labor day at harmony park north of Albert Lea for several years now.  I'll mention to that they hosted the north american permaculture convergence in 2014 in case you missed it.

I wanted to go to that get together at Harmony Park but I didn't have any more time off work since i used it up going to other festivals there, lol I love that place, I wish we could live on that land!

Hello MN Permies, I'm Chaz!

Currently looking for a place to help and live near Eden Prairie (SW suburbs) once my lease is up in April. Constantly dreaming of sustainable living and doing projects, but will need to save a lot before I can do anything on my own. I've got a 9-5 (my first!), but would love to lend a hand where I can, get outside, and escape this cooped-up rent trap asap!  Any ideas?

I've worked with Arduino, Raspberry Pi (pocket computers) and sensors of all types for monitoring and controlling woodburning stoves, prototyping hydroponic windowsill apparatuses with artificial light, and little alarm circuits.  It's super fun, and I'd love to build more little projects if someone needs them!
I've also done lots of gardening, landscaping, roofing, and siding - I'm young (24), so don't hesitate to reach out if you need a hand!

Hi I'm new to this forum, first time posting.  I live in northern Minnesota up by Bemidji.  Anyone else live near me, specifically with sheep?  I'm looking to get some sheep this spring.

Hello Minnesotans! I am transitioning 5 acres to permaculture just south of Austin, MN. I would love to meet other permies.

My property is near International Falls.  I have solar, a new sauna, well, added a bed room, brought in a shipping container that is my garage.  It truly is heaven on earth as I have well over a mile of river with lots of wildlife.
I’m not there full time, YET, but will be soon!  Ducks, rabbits, chickens, Squab are in the list.  I have been gardening for a few years with great luck, so far anyway.  I have canned, pickled and dehydrated pretty much everything available as practice and I know I will live the simple life and not just survive but thrive!
The acreage is endless so the sky is the limit.

I’m hoping someone on here can teach me how to reply to the various comments.
Several folks in here I know I could learn a lot from.  It will just be fun to be a part of a like minded community.

I'm also up in northern Minnesota, was starting to wonder if anyone else from MN was even active anymore.

Hi fellow Minnesotans.

We are a Permaculture design and implementation business in the Twin Cities. We are building a crew for the season and seeking able bodied individuals to work with us installing designs and general landscaping.

We have plenty of work, we just need more people to pay to help us get the jobs done.

If you are interested, email us a cover letter and resume at greenguilds@gmail.com.
www.greenguilds.com

Have a great season.
🌳☀️🌻

Hi all, I guess I never went looking for this kind of thread when I started hanging out here. We moved from Jordan (55352) to 20 acres in Carlton County (55720) almost two years ago. I'm permaculture-inclined but no where near an expert -- I'm building out more gardening space each year; developing several locally-adapted landraces; planting fruits and nuts; Working on a hugel-mound; building a deep-litter henhouse, etc. I'd like to get to the point where I'd be comfortable supplying all the calories and nutrients the family needs from our land.

Part of the landrace-development effort that most troubles me is finding relatively local folks to swap saved seeds with. If any of you save seeds from your garden, and particularly if don't think heirloom purity is a thing of value, I'd be interested in establishing a trading relationship. And if there are enough of us, maybe a seed-swap get-together.

from Mark Scofield

I am looking into purchasing a small house and outbuildings in a rural area in Minnesota to practice small scale permaculture.  Shelly Stern, if you are interested in potentially joining me please respond in kind.  Thanks!

Hello everyone!  

Are any of you a part of the Twin Cities Freedom Cell group?  I'll post the next potluck details here after it is scheduled.  A great way to connect with like minded people.  

Felicia Rain wrote:Hello everyone!  

Are any of you a part of the Twin Cities Freedom Cell group?  I'll post the next potluck details here after it is scheduled.  A great way to connect with like minded people.  

Hi Felicia, nice to see you here! I'm Oldpink on telegram

Michelle Jenkins wrote:

Felicia Rain wrote:Hello everyone!  

Are any of you a part of the Twin Cities Freedom Cell group?  I'll post the next potluck details here after it is scheduled.  A great way to connect with like minded people.  

Hi Felicia, nice to see you here! I'm Oldpink on telegram

Oldpink!!  Lots of love...