Midwest Permaculture

Bill Wilson
Permaculturist - Educator - Communitarian

I consider myself a communitarian, a permaculturist and a life student & educator.  I hold two Permaculture Design Course Certifications as well as an Advanced Permaculture Training Certificate. I feel that I was a 'permaculturist' before I ever heard the word. It's in my blood. My work as the co-founder of Midwest Permaculture (along with my wife Rebecca) involves heightening the awareness and understanding of Middle America to the many benefits of a permaculture approach to living. Rebecca and I are also certified trainers of the inspiring Transition Town Initiative that has recently caught a foothold in the United States. I have been an active participant in the unique community of Stelle, Illinois for over 30 years. Becky (my partner of 25 years) and I have four sons, and as of 4-years ago, our first grandchild. Raising our family in Stelle has been a wonderful opportunity and experience.

Public Talks — Workshops — Seminars

I enjoy sharing my passion for creating a world that works for everybody. I clearly can see how this will be co-created when there are enough of us who are ready and able to see it. In my presentations I am able to keep things interesting and moving, and at the same time, leave folks feeling inspired and motivated to be a greater part of a sustainable future.  Slides and video footage are a common part my presentations.

The cornerstone presentation is my 3-Hour Introduction to Permaculture which leaves attendees inspired and with a clear understanding of what permaculture is. I have given many talks and presentations (some as short as 20 minutes) in many situations including conventions, boardrooms, churches and fairs. Most notable are the keynote I gave at an Ecological Sciences Symposium at Purdue in late 2008 and the many presentations I have made in recent years at the MIdwest Renewable Energy Association's annual Energy Fair (over 20,000 attend) and the Chicago Green Festivals (over 30,000 attend).

Topics I Typically Speak On:
             Introduction to Permaculture               The Transition Town Initiative
          Peak Oil - Disaster or Deliverance             Permaculture Rain Garden
              The Heart of Sustainability                      The Community of Stelle

A Bit About Stelle Stelle (rhymes with well) started as an intentional community in the early 70’s and is located in the NE portion of Illinois, about half way between Chicago and Champaign.  As with most beginning-intentional communities, the vision of creating an ideal community proved to be much more difficult than the actual creation of it.  After 10-years of much struggle (some fabulous experiences and times as well), we decided to change the closed intentionality of our community in 1982 and opened our doors to the public as a simple homeowners’ association.  Over the years however, there have always been some portion on the community interested in diverse aspects of sustainable living.  Because of this and because of the advantages of being a small community (pop. 110), the efforts of 2-3 dozen active residents has resulted in an organic garden co-op, community tool co-op, a dinner co-op, a solar-powered telephone company (which includes solar-powered, community wide WiFi), a windmill-assisted fresh-water treatment facility, Illinois’ first straw-bale home, and more.  Rebecca and I have been intimately involved with most all of this over our 30 years of living in Stelle.

Stelle Wind Generator

If you would like more information on Stelle:
Stelle Community Association

If you would like more information about the non-profit, educational organization that Becky and I helped to found, and its ongoing efforts:
Center for Sustainable Community