People have become increasingly concerned with the resiliency of our food, water, energy and economic systems and are looking for personal and community security. This has propelled a global permaculture movement that is permeating the United States and has made its way to the Midwest. Permaculture has traditionally been used to design systems for large land areas, but recently people have discovered how the principles can be applied to any piece of land or living situation.

The suburbs were originally designed to be car centric resource intensive places for people to live and commute to work. This design has caused a dependence on oil and the automobile, transformed nature into pavement and buildings, and created a culture of stress and competition. The time has come for a suburban permaculture redesign! Permaculture provides the ethics, principles, and design strategies that will transform the suburbs into productive self-sustaining communities that are economically and environmentally resilient.

Our programs include educational courses, food forest design and installation, and community outreach. Click the headings to visit each program page.

EDUCATION

The Resiliency Institute provides permaculture and re-skilling education through evening and weekend classes, workshops, and certification courses. Classes are taught by knowledgeable and experienced regional instructors with class sizes ranging from 6 -30 attendees. Whether you are a novice or an expert, you will find a class that is right for you.

FOOD FORESTS

The Resiliency Institute wants to grow food security using permaculture design. Replacing resource intensive lawns with edible forest gardens and installing food forests in public parks and along public pathways, makes fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables abundant and available for everyone. We offer food forest design and installation to non-profit and private businesses with land and public access.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Participating in community organized events as an exhibitor and presenter provides us with an opportunity to engage communities and groups in a dialogue about permaculture and the benefits of food forests.