Regenerative Community Design

Description

Permaculture Canada is at the forefront of developing large scale regenerative community projects. These are aimed at providing food for large groups of people, demonstrating the use of regenerative agriculture and a full range of other permaculture design elements and practices. Lindsay Brandon has managed and designed over 20 of these large scale demonstration facilities, from site visit through to landscape installation phases. These have served the needs for many stewards in activities ranging from community food banks to resort/retreat centers and small intentional communities. The design staff of Permaculture Canada have likewise participated in the design and consultation in these projects which span across the US, Canada, Africa and Asia, ranging in size from a few acres to many hundreds of acres.

A regenerative community demonstration model can include each or all of the following elements:

• Food forest(s) that include a wide array of perennial trees, shrubs and other plants that can be used to fulfill the dietary and natural medicinal needs of the community; and which also support the regeneration of the soil, water and environment.
• Annual plantings to complement the perennials for dietary needs
• The integration of livestock within the property
• Multiple methods and processes for the capture, treatment, storage and use of water on the property (e.g. rainwater collection, greywater treatment and re-use, ponds/dams, streams, swales, springs)
• Well defined and laid out paths and roads enabling ease and efficiency of access to all other features of the property
• Structures that support the operation of the property or for housing; and using a wide array of climate/location appropriate construction methods (e.g. hempcrete, strawbale, rammed earth, mudbrick etc.)
• An education center to host courses and skills training programs
• Soil testing, consultation, and remediation
• An array of commercial enterprises that provide income for the demonstration site and for the community