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In 2019, when Camille and Monica met as fellows for the Sierra Club, they immediately connected over their work with youth. This shared passion blossomed into a partnership with Little Growers INC, a grassroots organization in Melbourne, Florida. Melbourne faces several environmental issues. It's a declared food desert, meaning access to fresh food is scarce. The Indian River Lagoon, a vital waterway, is under threat, a near-dead zone. Summers are hotter and dryer than ever, a result of climate change. And the ever-looming shadow of rising sea levels threatens to displace thousands of residents. But within these challenges, a seed of hope was planted. Together with Little Growers, BOD designed an "Intro to Permaculture" class as part of their "Earn and Learn" Summer program. Students aged 12 to 17 learned about the Indian River Lagoon and permaculture-based solutions to their region’s water management issues, with a special focus on rain gardens. It was a success! Our students were excited to learn, connecting their classroom lessons with enriching field trips. One of the most heartwarming moments was witnessing Ahmir, a former star student, step into the role of facilitator. His enthusiasm and knowledge inspired the current students to envision their own paths of growth. "Thank you, Ahmir," we say with gratitude. 💚 The "Earn and Learn" program is the first step in Little Growers' larger vision of equipping youth to design and implement permaculture-based solutions in Melbourne. We are excited to be part of it! The world needs MORE programs like this! BOD is ready to develop a year-long High School Permaculture elective. But WE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU! Click here to make a 100% tax deductible investment in the education of our future leaders! 
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Spring 2024 at Central Park East II (CPE2) We are thrilled to be back for another year of our Spring Gardening Program at Central Park East 2 (CPE2)! This week marked the beginning of an exciting journey as our students planted and transplanted seedlings into the school gardens, while learning about soil and plant care, plus the importance of providing the right conditions for growth. Inspired by Permaculture’s first principle “Observe and Interact”, we created Nature Observation Journals for our students, where they'll document every change they notice in our gardens over the next 6 weeks. We look forward to seeing what they find! Spring Fling! We were excited to be part of the school's "Spring Fling", with another year of our plant sale. Alongside a vibrant selection of herbs, flowers and vegetables, we prepared a helpful plant care guide for our customers. Thank you to everyone who came by! Cultivating Sustainable Minds As we reflect on this week's endeavors, we're reminded of the profound impact that hands-on learning and environmental education can have on young minds. Through our partnership with CPE2, we're honored to be a part of shaping the next generation of eco-conscious leaders. We are determined to create a more sustainable future for them! Sowing the seeds of change, one garden bed at a time. Photo credits to our amazing intern Chase Barnes! This May 15th marked the end of another powerful year of learning through our Permaculture Design Lab at The Renaissance Charter School (TRCS). Over 24 weeks, students engaged in hands-on, project-based learning, exploring how climate education can take root in a real place: Sky Farm. The program wrapped up with a special moment: students presented their final rooftop farm designs right where it all began: in the classroom. Alexa, Sky Farm’s manager, joined us to hear their ideas firsthand. Watching students share their visions about the very rooftop they reimagined and designed was a reminder of how real this work becomes when it’s grounded in place and purpose. We’re deeply grateful to teacher Ariel Sacks, who leads this program with heart and dedication. We are also grateful to the entire TRCS community for making this partnership possible, supporting us in deepening ecoliteracy and designing real solutions here in the city. s 96-hour High School Intensive was born from a vision by the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation's concern about the city’s limited access to fresh foods, lack of eco-literacy among the local youth, and animal habitat loss due to the city’s rapid development. They saw a need for urgent action. Thus, a powerful collaboration emerged to create a youth workforce development program. Partnering with Oregon State University’s Permaculture Department, Beyond Organic Design took the lead in crafting the curriculum — a 96-hour deep dive into permaculture concepts, design, whole-systems thinking, and community education skills. In this program, mornings are dedicated to hands-on work in both public and private sites around the community. Afternoons are dedicated to diving into the curriculum, building technical skills in permaculture design and sustainable solutions. Upon successful completion, students will receive a certificate from OSU, a testament to their dedication and a powerful stepping stone towards a career in sustainability. We believe these young designers will become the driving force behind a greener future for all! Our program is set to be launched this Summer, after which the curriculum will be open-source. Follow us to stay up to date! Want to support this work? We are developing a year-long Permaculture High School elective, but we need YOU! Your generous, 100% tax-deductible investment will directly fund the education of our future leaders. Join us on this journey of transformation. CLICK HERE TO INVEST NOW!
We wrapped up an exciting and bustling final week of camp! Our campers showcased their creativity as they finalized their group permaculture farm designs, indulged in culinary delights by baking banana bread and crafting chocolate truffles, expressed their artistic side by painting their own birdhouses, and even created fertilizers for the garden.
Continuing on the next page... In our Permaculture sessions this week, we delved into a review of our knowledge about pollinators and beneficial insects through engaging activities like an insect matching game and a spirited round of jeopardy. The competition was fierce, and it was evident that the students had truly mastered the material! We explored the art of designing for animals under Monica's guidance and discussed the permaculture tools used to cater to their needs. The highlight was the students' final permaculture farm designs, beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully crafted. In our culinary endeavors this week, we embarked on a journey of flavor with homemade banana bread and delectable chocolate truffles. In the D.I.Y. corner, we brought our creative visions to life by painting charming mini birdhouses. As a special touch, each camper selected a beneficial bug or pollinator to illustrate. In the garden, students engaged in final observation drawings and notes, carefully replanted seedlings, and had the exciting opportunity to take one of their plants home. To nurture our garden, students ingeniously created their own fertilizers using eggshells, coffee grounds, and banana peels. While a last-minute bus issue thwarted our plans for Thursday's field trip, we turned it into an enjoyable movie day followed by a delightful ice cream treat. We wrapped up our week with a refreshing outdoor session at Travers Park. This combined class allowed us to reflect on the incredible journey we've shared over the past few weeks. Looking back, it's truly astounding to see the multitude of projects and lessons we've accomplished in such a short span of time. The culmination of our efforts came as we harvested ripe tomatoes from the garden—a perfect conclusion to our fulfilling summer adventure! |
