High Plains Permaculture

2012 Design Competition – PRI

vortenjou — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:32:28 +0000

From a PRI Cold Climate press release –

Are you interested in sustainability, gardening, architectural design or permaculture? Are you a designer? An architect? A woodworker? A creative gardener? Would you like to be make a contribution to local food systems? Then … we have a design competition for you.

The Permaculture Research Institute Cold Climate (PRI), www.pricoldclimate.org, is launching its second permaculture design competition – Cycling Re-Sources. The competition was developed to bring together individuals and design teams seeking solutions to challenges facing our region This year’s Design Competition focuses on the 3Rs of gardening — Recycle, Retain, and Reduce the use of resources. Farmers and gardeners need solutions that consider water conservation, nutrient retention, and modular design for different site requirements. We are asking designers to model self-sustaining growing systems for food crops. Designers are invited to model their design solutions for a panel of judges. The top designs, up to 8, will be selected for display at an Exhibition and Awards Reception where the winning team or designer will be announced. The winning design team is awarded $500 towards realizing their vision. A cross-disciplinary approach is encouraged and PRI will assist individuals in finding others with complementary skills and experiences if you are interested in team participation.

Those interested in submitting a design are encouraged to attend a pre-design meeting being held on January 5, 2012. If you are outside the Cities and cannot attend, other arrangements will be made.

The registration deadline is January 6, 2012. For more information on design criteria and how to register, visit http://www.pricoldclimate.org/research-and-demonstration/design-competition/2-uncategorised/49 or email Karen at Karen@pricoldclimate.org. Our sponsors include: The Cornerstone Group, Happy Dancing Turtle, Design 45, Red Stag, Bryant Lake Bowl, Pat’s Tap, Barr Engineering, Peace Coffee, Ecological Gardens, Earth Tea, and Eggplant Urban Farm Supply.

Screening of Garbage Warrior

vortenjou — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:52:10 +0000

Join us Sunday, March 27 at the Bismarck Public Library for a free screening of Garbage Warrior, a documentary about Michael Reynolds and his Earthship earth-sheltered housing design. A truly DIY housing option, earthships rescue huge amounts of material from landfills to create artistic living spaces with thermal mass, light and greenhouse space built right in. I’ve been interested in these for ever! 2-4pm – basement meeting room C. Hope to see you there!

Self-Reliance Fair

vortenjou — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:09:25 +0000

Meet us at Kirkwood Mall in Bismarck on Saturday, September 11 from 10-2 – we’ll have a booth at a Self-Reliance and Emergency Preparedness fair. Come for the permaculture and stay for the wool spinning!

May 1st

vortenjou — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:26:59 +0000

Our next meeting is Saturday, May 1st at 9am, in Barnes and Noble. We’ll share some stories about the history of the movement, recent changes, and our current spring plans. Those who are interested can join me to install a variation of a rain garden afterwards – if you bring a shovel I’ll bring plants and snacks!

December 8 – Dirt! The Movie

vortenjou — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:59:57 +0000

Our December meeting will be a showing of Dirt! The Movie. It showed at Sundance this year, and is due to hit the cable channels shortly. 7pm, Tuesday December 8, Bismarck Public Library meeting room D.

Nov 10: Rainwater Harvesting

vortenjou — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:15:53 +0000

Craig Stange, a f orester with the USDA-NCRS-ND, will be speaking on Rain Gardens and Rainwater Harvesting on November 10th, 7pm in the Bismarck Public Library Meeting Room D. He’s very passionate about this topic, so if you haven’t had a chance to catch him at other events around the state this year, definitely come hear him now! It should be a really engrossing 2 hours. Plus he has great handouts.

Talk at NGPRL Friends and Neighbors Day

vortenjou — Sat, 30 May 2009 18:26:15 +0000

Becky Schnabel will be speaking on Permaculture as part of the Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory’s Friends and Neighbors Day, Thursday 16-July. Tentatively titled “Permaculture Possibilities”, the talk will feature some successful permaculture projects from backyard to farm to city level, and give you a framework for delving further into this flourishing and vital topic on your own.

Mandan, ND

Website in Progress.

vortenjou — Mon, 18 May 2009 05:26:59 +0000

High Plains Permaculture is a new group in 2009, for those interested in the unique challenges of implementing permaculture concepts in the semi-arid northern climate of North Dakota and surrounding areas. While we work on getting this site (and an events calendar) up-and-running, you can leave us a comment to be added to our mailing list!

Members have expertise in fungi, soil structure, forestry, rain gardens, fruit, edible landscaping, vegetable gardening, alternative housing/energy and even pastured poultry, and one is working on getting Permaculture Certification.