Introduction to Permaculture and Sustainable Living with Diane Suhm and Kumara Sidhartha

This approach to the design process guides us to mimic the patterns and relationships we find in nature and can be applied to all aspects of human habitation, from agriculture to ecological building, from appropriate technology to education, and even to economics.

This workshop will be an introduction to permaculture with different themes each week over four weeks.  We will focus on the land at Edgewood Farm and everything you learn can be applied to your own property.  Week One will ben an introduction to Permaculture, including the definition, characteristics, benefits and repercussions of permaculture design; Week Two, permaculture tools and designs, a tour of the grounds, planning and designing a project; Week Three we will focus on topics such as plant selection, amending the soil, composting, ways to live more sustainably and regional resources.  Each session will also end with a discussion about plant-based meals and the preparation of food from local sources/farms.

Diane Suhm and Kumara Siddhartha are certified permaculture designers.  Their mission is to promote systems and living spaces where everyone, all living creatures, can be happy and healthy and live in a beautiful, safe environment.  They are committed to everyone’s health, happiness, and overall well-being.  Diane has long been an advocate of ethical principles that promote kindness and the well-being of the environment and all living creatures.  When she discovered permaculture as a system of design and policy, she was overjoyed to find a practice that wove everything together.  Kumar is a physician, public health specialist and advocate for a kinder and more sustainable world.  Born in india, he moved to the US to complete his residency training in internal medicine, and his primary care job brought him to Cape Cod.  “Food is medicine” has been the guiding principle of his practice since 2002 at Emerald Physicians, where he serves as medical director.