Yarducopia’s Permaculture Series: PermaFest Documentaries, PermaWhat? Classes, & PermaAction Cafes

In Fall of 2024 we kicked off a series of monthly permaculture potlucks,  films and discussions. During these gatherings, we heard requests for permaculture classes in Anchorage as well as places to gather and discuss ways to collectively take action and improve Anchorage using a permaculture lense. The PermaWhat and PermaAction Cafes formed to meet these needs. Below are details from the events.

Check out our Calendar and Newsletter for future events.

PermaAction Cafe

PermaAction Cafes are monthly gatherings at the Seed Lab (downtown) to share a meal, discuss project ideas, and work in groups on these projects.

The overarching intent of these working group is to improve Anchorage and have positive impacts not just for ourselves but for future generations.

**Notes from PermaAction Cafe 3/15/2025

The three project ideas that had the most interest for a break-out group were:
  1. Mapping of ANC resources like vacant lots, neighborhood composting sites, resources for gardening (manure, spent grain, etc),  fruit trees, food forests. Mapping might be on google maps or ArcGIS or...
  2. Improving community-scale composting in Anchorage by finding property/property owners and setting up neighborhood compost sites, or a summer curbside collection program of food scraps, or working with the Mayor/Assembly on pro-composting MOA policy, or...
  3. Building a demonstration garden or food forest (loussac library?)
At our April 17 Cafe, we'll take 20-30 minutes to review and add to this list, then we'll have 1-1.5 hours to break into groups that will focus on one of these projects. Feel free to jump between groups, contribute to more than one, and find what is the best fit :)

PermaFestival Documentary Series

The 2024 PermaFestival Film Line-up

  1. Together We Grow (38 minutes / link to film on YouTube)
  2. Living the Change
  3. Inhabit
  4. Indie Alaska compilation of local food producers (link to Indie AK film collection on YouTube)

PermaWhat?! What the Heck in Permaculture Class Series

Classes covered the basics of permaculture: the prime directive, three ethics, and 12-ish principles. Check out this curriculum summary by scrolling down or clicking here.

Permaculture Prime Directive: The only ethical decision is to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children's. 

Permaculture Ethics

  1. Earth Care
  2. People Care
  3. Fair Share
  4. Future Care (slightly contentious)

Permaculture Principles

  1. Observe AND Interact
  2. Catch and store energy
  3. Obtain a yield
  4. Apply self regulation and accept feedback
  5. Use and value renewable resources
  6. Produce no waste
  7. Design from patterns to details
  8. Integrate rather than segregate
  9. Use small, slow solutions
  10. Use and value diversity
  11. Use edges and value the marginal
  12. Creatively use and respond to change

 

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