Permaculture Tour 2013 - Memories of the Day!

Verge Permaculture

Well another tour day has come and gone and was worth the wait! If you missed this years, don’t worry, next year’s is already in the planning stages!! 

Here is a very brief summary of the 2013 tour…

Our adventure began at Wildwood Garden under sunny skies with some introductory games, a lesson in permaculture and of course a tour of the 10,000-square-foot garden. It was here we became acquainted with each other, as well as with the concept of permaculture itself.  From there we boarded our tour bus and ventured through town toward Verge Permaculture, while co-host Chrissy Begus entertained and educated tour-members while en route between destinations.

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Rob Avis explains his front yard water purification system

Upon arriving at Verge, guests were led through the front yard food-forest where much of the foliage is now towering where it was only knee-high a couple of years ago. Upon entering the back yard oasis, we crowded into the passive solar greenhouse, (which grows year-round without the aid of electricity) to find tomatoes the size of melons, as well as squash hanging from the ceiling. After discussions on the countless advancements to their home, such as a thermal array for hot water and solar tubes for lighting during the day, we were whisked to the lair of the Leaf Ninjas!

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Luke Kimmel discusses some of the Leaf Ninja's adventures in Ramsay

Guests were shown their top-secret micro-green production yard and permitted to try a nibble or two. We were then led into a huge walk-in cooler which had originally been assembled by carrying piece after piece for several blocks down the streets of Ramsay on foot. From there we were taken to the Ninjas’ central hideout where co-founder Luke Kimmel discussed the eclectic food-scape before us. He suddenly vanished only to return moments later with salads for everyone—freshly-picked from one of their urban farms! 

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April serves up some hot pizza fresh out of the cob oven

After our snack on the front porch, we continued on the next leg of our tour—Radicle Routes in South Calgary. We were greeted in the front yard by Founder Joshua Baker who led us to another food-filled greenhouse. By far the smallest plot of land on our tour, and at the same time a testament to how much can be grown when thoughtful design is implemented. We met his loving partner, April, in the backyard, who—being a chef by trade—served pizzas out of their broiling-hot cob oven!

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Guest are led through mandala gardens at Patterson Springs

At once we set off into the countryside over rolling hills and headed to our final destination—Patterson Springs Farm. After snaking through the woods for several kilometres we pulled up to the yurt and drank in the fresh air. 

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Guests take a closer look at an outdoor, compost-heated shower

Patterson’s Louise Bruns provided a talk on medicinal, edible and poisonous plants and guided us through the century farm. Guests were shown everything from an outdoor shower whose water is heated with compost, to a triple mandala garden. We soon returned to the yurt to find tables set and waiting for our arrival.

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Dinner as always was locally-grown, organic, and awesome! The feast included free-range chicken, roasted wild elk, eggplant-mushroom-tomato casserole with potatoes, a garden salad with fresh-picked raspberries and nasturtiums, a selection of fresh-brewed rhubarb and ginger kombuchas, and multiple desserts including saskatoon-rhubarb-raisin pie and much more!

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A huge thanks goes out to everyone who helped to make the 2013 tour a reality, as well as to all the guests in attendance as we look forward to the 2014 tour season!!!

“…The variety of information, practical hands-on experience, and the genuine interest people take in improving community. You guys delivered so much more than I ever expected, and every single person we met, and site we visited was incredibly inspiring. You guys are phenomenal!!!”

~Phoenix [2013 Tour Guest]