As Mark, Wayne and I have expand our circle of friends in the permaculture community, we have found interesting individuals who have walked unusual paths, gained unique knowledge, and have become our friends. In order to broaden the scope of our students permaculture education, we like to invite 2 or more of them to join us to each course. Here is a bit about each of these inspiring individuals. We believe you will truly enjoy meeting them during your course.
Larry Korn
Larry Korn is a soil biologist, and ecological landscaper, and is the translator of one of the most influential books to touch the lives of scores on natural farmers, The One-Straw Revolution.
As a young man, Larry spent five years in Japan, two of those with Masanobu Fukuoka, the author of this fascinating book, on his farm in southern Japan. He lived in one of the mud-walled huts in Mr. Fukuoka’s orchard and performed farm chores with the other workers and students, learning all he could about Masanobu's unique form of farming.
Pictured below: Larry in the field with Masanobu
When Larry returned to the states he promised Masanobu that he would do all he could to see that his book was translate from Japanese into English and then published. This is a fascinating story that Larry shares during his presentation with many slides and much detail. We end up hearing stories about Robert Rodale, Wendell Berry, Wes Jackson, Bill Mollison, Gary Snyder and more.
The book was finally published by Rodale Press (Organic Gardening fame) and it created such a stir, not only as an alternative farming test, but as a spiritual text as well, that it went on to be translated into twelve other languages, including French, Dutch, Italian, Hindi, and Spanish.
On two occasions, Larry toured Mr. Fukuoka around the States, introducing him to many farmers and students interested in his philosophy of natural-farming techniques. Click here for more on Larry, his ecological landscaping work, and his detailed impressions of Masanobu Fukuoka.
Bill Mollison
with
Masanobu
Fukuoka
Vicki & Ron Nowicki
This couple has made their living creating beautiful, functional and useful landscapes for clients all over Chicagoland. With 30 years of experience, they are together, an unequaled team when it comes to permaculture design in the urban and suburban landscape.
Vicki with Wayne Weiseman
Vicki Pointing the way to Ron
The Nowicki's will share during a design course, many tips and ideas for the suburban and urban permaculturist. If you have a few minutes, and have been fantasizing about what you might do with some property of yours, link over to Ron and Vicki's website and take a look at the pictures of their home (called Circle GardenFarm) and other properties they have designed. Below are two shots of their home and yard (sure beats a lawn). Why not produce and abundance of food, shade, beauty and wildlife habitat on the land that surrounds one's home?
Nowicki's Back Yard
Ron & Vicki's Home - Back Yard View
Neris Gonzales
Neris came to Chicago in the early 90's to recover, having survived persecution during the civil war which ravaged her home country of El Salvador (late 70's until the early 90's). During the war she was captured and brutally mistreated for teaching her fellow peasants literacy and how to feed themselves (with the use of permaculture).
After finding refuge in the Pilson community of Chicago, she discovered that many in her new neighborhood needed many of the same things as her Salvadorian kinsmen - nutrition, purpose and sustainability skills.
She established the non-profit, educational organization ‘Ecovida’ to address these needs using permaculture as a foundational piece. She is currently involved in a community building project in South Bend, IN. We are honored to have Neris join us for an international perspective on how permaculture can change the way we look at, and live in, the world. Click Here for an article and audio clip of Neris.
