2014 Calgary Permacuture Tour...
The Third Annual Calgary Permaculture Tour was a tremendous success!
Click Here to see what our guests enjoyed!
The Third Annual Calgary Permaculture Tour was a tremendous success!
Click Here to see what our guests enjoyed!
2013 Permaculture tour...
It was another Fun-Filled, eye-opening day for the 2013 calgary Permaculture Tour
Click Here to see what our guests enjoyed!
2012 Calgary Permaculture Tour...
Click here to see the write up of our first ever Calgary Permaculture Tour!
It was another Fun-Filled, eye-opening day for the 2013 calgary Permaculture Tour
Click Here to see what our guests enjoyed!
2012 Calgary Permaculture Tour...
Click here to see the write up of our first ever Calgary Permaculture Tour!
Some of the different sites in past years have included the following...
The UrbanFarm Permaculture Project
The URBANFARM Permaculture Project was started in 2013 as an evolving demonstration garden designed to showcase permaculture & food production at work in a northern urban setting and to get people excited about growing an incredible abundance of nutrient dense food in ways that are practical, sustainable AND beautiful.
The Project has been built on the foundation of an existing organically-managed mature garden and landscape in the Calgary community of Palliser, free from pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer use for the last 23 years.
They believe "taking positive, practical steps towards providing for some of your own needs, while respecting and regenerating the natural environment, will give you the tools and resources you need to gain more security, greater peace of mind, and the comfort of knowing you have the ability to build resiliency in an ever-changing world".
The URBANFARM Permaculture Project was started in 2013 as an evolving demonstration garden designed to showcase permaculture & food production at work in a northern urban setting and to get people excited about growing an incredible abundance of nutrient dense food in ways that are practical, sustainable AND beautiful.
The Project has been built on the foundation of an existing organically-managed mature garden and landscape in the Calgary community of Palliser, free from pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer use for the last 23 years.
They believe "taking positive, practical steps towards providing for some of your own needs, while respecting and regenerating the natural environment, will give you the tools and resources you need to gain more security, greater peace of mind, and the comfort of knowing you have the ability to build resiliency in an ever-changing world".
Alberta Aquaponics, Gord and Donna Hayes
Gord and his partner Donna are the co-owners of Alberta Aquaponics. From their Calgary-based urban farm they practice, experiment with, and teach aquaponics in addition to growing thousands of pounds of fresh produce each year. When they were denied their wish to establish a community garden, they decided to create one on their own property and invite everyone to enjoy. With literally hundreds of curious passers-by going through the Hayes' home each week in summer, they are a shining example of community-building and place-making against all odds!
Gord and his partner Donna are the co-owners of Alberta Aquaponics. From their Calgary-based urban farm they practice, experiment with, and teach aquaponics in addition to growing thousands of pounds of fresh produce each year. When they were denied their wish to establish a community garden, they decided to create one on their own property and invite everyone to enjoy. With literally hundreds of curious passers-by going through the Hayes' home each week in summer, they are a shining example of community-building and place-making against all odds!
Wildwood Community Garden
The community of Wildwood is situated just south of Edworthy Park on Calgary's west side. Here we will encounter a unique permaculture garden with a striking leaf-shaped design. There is more to the "leaf", however, than than simple aesthetic value--learn about this and other permaculture principles applied in the ongoing creation of this garden. Having broken ground in earlier this year, the site is still under construction and will provide us with an insight on what is involved in getting a community-driven project such as this under way.
Verge Permaculture
Join us for a tour of the urban living quarters of Rob and Michelle Avis. Rob, who is a mechanical engineer by trade decided a few years ago to take his life in a drastically different direction: Permaculture. In the last few years he, along with partner Michelle have begun to make permaculture a household name in our city. Rob conducts Permaculture Design courses throughout Western Canada as well as bringing a number of internationally renowned experts in the field of sustainability to the Calgary area. See how an urban home can be transformed from an average house, to a fuel-efficient, life-supporting habitat and how a lifeless piece of property can be made into a lush food forest!
From there, if time permits we will visit Forest Lawn Community Garden a just few minutes away.
From there, if time permits we will visit Forest Lawn Community Garden a just few minutes away.
Radicle Routes
Find out how simply and cost-effectively we can stretch the growing season in Calgary. Radicle Roots founder Joshua Baker and his partner April Lee (Former Master Chef Canada contestant) decided to see how they could construct a greenhouse without purchasing an expensive pre-fabricated one from a home-improvement store. As an added bonus, the structure is built so that it not only captures solar energy, but holds onto it, making huge strides in extending Calgary’s growing season. Josh’s other areas of expertise include earthworks, carbon farming, and keyline design, to name just a few.
The Leaf Ninjas
The Leaf Ninjas is a group of entrepreneurs who design and cultivate highly productive urban farms and permaculture gardens in Calgary, AB. They are proof that growing food in urban areas is highly practical, positive, and fun! Their efforts combining the principles of SPIN farming, permaculture, and martial arts philosophies have forged a path from community land owners to local restaurants--from backyards to farmer's markets, and are here to prove the merit of sustainable, local food and it’s place in urban landscapes everywhere.
The ContainR
Made from retrofitted shipping containers placed like legos across a vacant, unused tract of land in Sunnyside, The ContainR is a place-making venture presents a different picture of what embodies Calgary culture. The project is still in its initial stages of development, but proposes such elements as art studios, hands-on workshops, a library a pop-up stage and a bar and lounge area and a place where people of all walks of life can congregate and connect with each other in meaningful ways. So far the venue has played host to a number of cultural festivities and continues with “The Sunnyside of Afrikadey”, “Bike-In Movie Night” and “Tango Molonga Dance” just to name a few. Check out the website for more!
http://springboardperformance.com/containr/#containr-sunnyside
Made from retrofitted shipping containers placed like legos across a vacant, unused tract of land in Sunnyside, The ContainR is a place-making venture presents a different picture of what embodies Calgary culture. The project is still in its initial stages of development, but proposes such elements as art studios, hands-on workshops, a library a pop-up stage and a bar and lounge area and a place where people of all walks of life can congregate and connect with each other in meaningful ways. So far the venue has played host to a number of cultural festivities and continues with “The Sunnyside of Afrikadey”, “Bike-In Movie Night” and “Tango Molonga Dance” just to name a few. Check out the website for more!
http://springboardperformance.com/containr/#containr-sunnyside
reGenerate Design Ltd.
ReGenerate Design Ltd. is a Calgary based design firm, creating holistic design solutions and empowering people to be leaders for positive change. A newcomer to our tour as of this year, they offer urban design, permaculture and placemaking services in the Calgary area at a range of scales; from urban yards and peri-urban acreages to community gardens and public spaces. At the site we will be visiting this year, rainwater flows from the downspouts through dry creekbeds to cascading mulch basins that weave through the yard and form interesting pockets of food forests intertwined with flagstone and crushed rundle pathways. Don't want to give away too much though, come see for yourself!
ReGenerate Design Ltd. is a Calgary based design firm, creating holistic design solutions and empowering people to be leaders for positive change. A newcomer to our tour as of this year, they offer urban design, permaculture and placemaking services in the Calgary area at a range of scales; from urban yards and peri-urban acreages to community gardens and public spaces. At the site we will be visiting this year, rainwater flows from the downspouts through dry creekbeds to cascading mulch basins that weave through the yard and form interesting pockets of food forests intertwined with flagstone and crushed rundle pathways. Don't want to give away too much though, come see for yourself!
Patterson Springs Farm
Louise Bruns’ century farm is into its fourth generation of settlement and is 80 acres just south of Calgary boasting vegetable gardens, home-made dams to catch water, animals, medicinal plants, three mandala gardens, and much more. Louise will invite us for a beekeeping demo if it is a sunny day and we will then be led on a nature walk to learn about the surrounding ecosystem (you might need raincoats for this).
This is where we will conclude our tour with an organic, locally grown dinner!
This is where we will conclude our tour with an organic, locally grown dinner!
