Hello Reader,

“Permaculture Is a Practice — Community Is the Soil.”

March is when possibility returns. While the soil is still waking from winter, our community is already gathering — sharing ideas, supporting one another, and designing the growing season ahead. Permaculture reminds us that resilience doesn’t start in the garden; it starts with relationships.

Upcoming Events:

Spring Speaker Series – No Cost to You

Join us throughout the spring for our Spring Speaker Series, featuring local organizations and individuals who are passionate about sharing practical knowledge on building sustainable systems and transforming our yards into regenerative, perennial landscapes.

Each month, speakers will explore topics such as building healthy soil, practicing ethical foraging, and integrating Edmonton-area native plant species into home gardens.

A special feature this year is an introduction to phenology, the ancient practice of observation that helps us attune to the seasonal rhythms and ecological patterns of the landscapes around us.

In June, we will be graced with the presence and knowledge of Denis Manzer, from Calgary, an expert ethical forager and mushroom aficionado presenting the film, the Food Beneath our Feet.

Together, these talks offer inspiration and practical insights for growing resilient communities rooted in learning, sharing, and regeneration.

The Speakers Series is a no cost event however, as a Non-Profit Organization, we always appreciate donations.

This month we are honored to host two groups doing good work in this city:

• Community Gardens and Food Sovereignty with The New Grocery Movement
• The Edmonton Tool Library

Millcreek Healing Park Presentation by the New Grocery Movement & Special Guest Edmonton Tool Library

Learn community garden strategies from the New Grocery Movement. Discover how the Mill Creek Healing Park project combines food production, education, shared knowledge, accessibility, and neighbourhood connection.

📅 Thursday March 12 (Next Week Thursday)​
🕒 6:30 - 8:30
📍 Ritchie Community League Hall

🔗 Register here​​

Edmonton Seedy Sunday

The Edmonton Permaculture Guild looks forward to seeing you at Seedy Sunday. We will have some giveaways and lots of great news to share with everyone. Drop-by and say HELLO!

📅 Sunday, March 22, 2026
🕒 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
📍 Alberta Avenue Hall at ​9210 118 Ave NW in Edmonton

How-to Compost and Build Living Soil: An Evening with Mark Stumpf-Allen

Learn composting from Mark Stumpf-Allen. Discover soil building techniques, compost biology, and practical methods for creating healthy Edmonton gardens.

📅 Thursday April 9​
🕒 6:30 - 8:30
📍 Ritchie Community League Hall

🔗 Register here​​

The Regenerative Human Talk - Edmonton

Kenton Zerbin is bringing The Regenerative Human Tour across Canada this spring, stopping in Victoria, Nanaimo, Surrey, Kelowna, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, and Ottawa. Each city hosts both a talk and a weekend workshop. The tour addresses a simple gap: we have more information than any civilization in history and almost no education on how to live well on this planet.

Kenton returns to Edmonton after his speaking engagement where 80 people attended EPG's January Introduction to Permaculture gathering, which was a huge hit among attendees.

This 90-minute talk, the evening of April 29th offers a new way of seeing your world and your role in it. You'll leave with simple solutions to improve your life and land, a renewed sense of purpose, along with plenty of inspiration to learn more. Registration is required. Tickets are limited.

📅 Thursday April 29​
🕒 7:00 - 8:30
📍 Roots on Whyte

🔗 Register Here​​

Observing Nature's Rhythms: A Phenology Primer With Nathan Binnema

Learn phenological observation from Nathan Binnema, who spent three years tracking seasonal rhythms at one Edmonton river valley site. Discover how noticing recurring patterns deepens ecological understanding and strengthens connection to place through lunar cycles.

📅 Thursday May 14​
🕒 6:30 - 8:30
📍 Ritchie Community League Hall

🔗 Register here​​

The Food Beneath our Feet - A wonderful Film on ethical foraging

Film night featuring The Food Beneath Our Feet explores ethical foraging and wild food harvesting in urban Calgary landscapes. Features ethical foragers Denis Manzer and Malcolm Saunders from The Light Cellar in Calgary. Q&A with featured forager and director Kimberly Gray follows.

📅 Thursday June 11​
🕒 6:30 - 8:30
📍 Ritchie Community League Hall

🔗 Register here​

... and... We are honored to announce that Denis has consented to stick around for a follow-up event of ethical foraging right here in Edmonton the Sunday following the movie and talk.

Ethical Foraging Workshop: Identify and Harvest Alberta's Wild Edibles

Join us for a guided Wild Foraging Walk with Denis Manzer of The Light Cellar (Calgary). This walk will introduce participants to local wild and native plants, with a focus on ethical foraging practices, seasonal awareness, and respectful engagement with the landscape.

Participants will learn basic plant identification, how to recognize edible and medicinal species, and the importance of harvesting in ways that support ecosystem health. This walk is suitable for beginners and anyone interested in deepening their connection to local food systems and the natural world.

📍📅 Sunday June 14​
🕒 11:00 - 2:00pm
📍 Location provided with registration
​Cost: $45

🔗 Register here​

Location details are shared only with registered participants. This keeps the site healthy and the foraging sustainable.

Permaculture Design Certification Intensive

A Life Changing Opportunity!

Spend 10 days living and learning on site in a whole-systems design immersion, taught by certified permaculture instructor Kenton Zerbin.

Leave with the skills, confidence, and internationally recognized Permaculture Design Certificate to create resilient landscapes wherever you live.

📅 Sunday July 19 - August 1​
📍 Change Center - 1 hour West of Edmonton

Permaculture Design Certification (PDC) Intensive Program taking place this summer from July 19th to August 1st at the Change Center located 1 hour west of Edmonton by the Pembina River.

The 2026 PDC Program is being taught by internationally recognized Permaculture Educator Kenton Zerbin. This immersive course is designed for students seeking practical, systems-based education as well as landowners looking for effective, regenerative solutions for their properties.

Participants will gain in-depth training in ecological design, soil health, water management, food systems, and community resilience, with an emphasis on strategies that can be applied to both small and large scale properties.

Under Kenton’s guidance, students will build a strong foundation in permaculture principles and design thinking, while landowners will learn how to assess their land, manage water and soils, and develop productive, resilient landscapes suited to local conditions.

The program combines theory along with hands-on learning, equipping participants with tools they can apply immediately—whether toward further study, professional pathways, or on-the-ground land stewardship.

This PDC program includes life long learning with your instructor Kenton Zerbin as the entire PDC Program is made available to students online following graduation. In addition, monthly live video calls are accessible to students to provide additional support and ensure full integration of the principles of permaculture.

2026 Workshops

This year, the Edmonton Permaculture Guild is offering a series of hands-on workshops designed to teach practical permaculture skills.

Global Buckets Workshop

Each person who registers for the Workshop, will leave with a complete Global bucket setup including soil and a tomato plant.

Global Buckets are a, low-cost, DIY, self-watering container gardening system modeled after EarthBoxes, utilizing two stacked 5-gallon buckets to create a bottom-fed reservoir. They significantly reduce water usage, eliminate soil-borne weeds, and are ideal for urban gardening, areas with poor soil, apartment dwellers and homeowners with limited space.

These systems are highly productive, enabling significant yields for vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and zucchini.

📅 Saturday May 30th​
🕒 10:00 am to 12:00pm
📍 Location within Central Edmonton provided upon registration

Cost: $30 per person

🔗 Register here​

The additional benefits of Grow Buckers include:

• If you go away for a week, your global bucket will not require watering, and your plants will not get stressed.
• If we get an early frost or a drop in temp, you can easily bring the global bucket inside, saving your precious tomatoes and peppers.

Rainwater Harvesting Workshop

Build a 1,000 L IBC Tote System — From Eavestrough to Garden

Ready to harvest rainwater this season?

Join us for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn how to set up a 1,000-litre IBC tote system on a 3-foot raised platform to ensure adequate gravity-fed water pressure for garden irrigation.

In this practical session, we’ll cover:

• How to safely construct and level a stable 3-foot support platform
• Calculating load weight (1,000 L = ~1,000 kg / 2,200 lbs when full)
• Proper placement for optimal roof catchment
• Installing a leaf catcher on your eavestrough
• Connecting and configuring a first-flush diverter system
• Overflow planning and seasonal maintenance considerations
• Basic freeze protection strategies for Edmonton’s climate

This is a step-by-step demonstration designed to give you the confidence to build your own rainwater harvesting system at home.

Rainwater harvesting reduces strain on municipal systems, lowers utility costs, and builds climate resilience — one barrel at a time.

Whether you're new to water systems or ready to upgrade your existing setup, this workshop will give you practical, local, climate-appropriate knowledge.

📅 Saturday July 11​
🕒 10:00 - 2:00pm
📍 Location provided with registration
​Cost: $30

Registration information coming soon.

We are hosting a Permablitz (or two)

A permablitz is a hands-on work event where a group of people come together to implement permaculture systems on a specific site in a single day or weekend. Guided by permaculture principles, participants may build garden beds, plant trees, install water-harvesting features, improve soil, or establish perennial systems.

Permablitzes serve both as practical workdays and learning experiences.

They allow participants to see permaculture in action, gain real-world skills, and support one another through shared labor. In return, the host site receives a functional, regenerative installation, while volunteers gain knowledge, confidence, and community connection.

A Permablitz will provide step-by-step, real-world demonstrations of permaculture design and installation. These collaborative workdays allow participants to observe the full process—from site assessment and planning to implementation—so people can clearly see how regenerative systems are designed and put into practice.

Sound interesting?

If you're interested in volunteering to help out at a permablitz, reply to this email and let us know or simply update your subscriber profile here.

Permablitz #1 at the Change Center

📅 Saturday June 6th​
🕒 10am - 4:30pm
📍 Change Center - 1 hour West of Edmonton. 54404 Range Road 65, Gainford, AB

No cost to attend – includes lunch and refreshments

In preparation for our upcoming Permaculture Design Certification Program taking place July 19 to August 1st, we will be creating some infrastructure for the course:

• Garden with raised beds & Planting
• Compost Station with pallets
• Washstand build with pallets

The Change Health Center is located 1 hour west of Edmonton by the Pembina River.

There will be some vehicles heading out if you are looking for a ride. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Bring along a shovel if you have one and a good pair of gloves. A hat would also be a good idea if we get a super sunny day.

During the Permablitz, Michael Moore with the Guild and owner of Genesis Permaculture will be explaining what we are building and why along with details about the upcoming Permaculture Design Certification Program.

If you're interested in volunteering for this or any other permablitz, reply to this email to note your interest in permablitzing.

Permablitz #2 - Edmonton Yard

📅 Saturday June 20th​
🕒 10am - 4:30pm
📍 Location in Inglewood provided to interested volunteers.

• Coffee and muffins in the AM
• Lunch provided along with refreshments
• Light snack in the afternoon
• Bring a shovel if you have one
• A pair of gloves
• A hat in case it is really sunny
• A light jacket if not 😊

A Permablitz is an amazing experience! You will Meet some great people! Build something really cool and learn the how and why of the Permaculture design principles.

Business Listings – do you have a company that is related to green tech, sustainability, Permaculture gardening and design, Ethical Food, Community focused, Regenerative farming etc. drop us a line, we would love to hear from you and add your business and services to our website.

Donations and Sponsorship

Donations to the Edmonton Permaculture Guild help us continue delivering accessible, community-focused programming to the citizens of Edmonton.

Your support enables workshops, educational events, and hands-on projects that build skills in regenerative land care, water conservation, and local food systems.

Every contribution strengthens our ability to share knowledge, foster connection, and support a more resilient and sustainable city.

Sponsoring a student to attend our Permaculture Design Certification (PDC) this summer is a meaningful way to invest in education, community resilience, and regenerative solutions.

Your support helps make this internationally recognized training accessible to individuals who are passionate about caring for land and community but may face financial barriers.

By sponsoring a student, you directly support the growth of local knowledge, leadership, and practical skills that will benefit our region for years to come.

The Edmonton Permaculture Guild is hosting a Children’s Permaculture Camp in August of 2027 ages 10 to 14.

We are seeking sponsors for next year’s Children’s Permaculture Camp at the Change Centre, a hands-on educational experience designed to connect children with nature, food systems, and regenerative living.

Monica Ibacache will be leading the Children’s Permaculture Camp next year. Monica leads the Beyond Organic Design Program in New York, New York. She is Past President of the Permaculture Institute of North America and is a long time friend of the guild.

Sponsorship support helps make this camp accessible to families while providing children with meaningful opportunities to learn about soil, plants, water, and ecological care through play, exploration, and guided activities.

By sponsoring this program, you are investing in the next generation of land stewards and helping cultivate curiosity, confidence, and respect for the natural world in a safe and nurturing environment.

Contributors: We welcome your input! Do you have an article or a story to share to our members and subscribers? Please send us an email with your article and/or story and we will consider it for our next Newsletter.

Free Mapping Program: Interested in trying your hand at designing your own property?

Check out Scribble Maps! It is an online Mapping tool that you can use to design your property and is provided complimentary.

Layout your garden, food forest, chicken pen, compost stations, water harvesting systems, Mushroom foraging in your Zone 5.

Looking forward to seeing you out at one of our events!

The EPG Board