Permaculture, a contraction of "permanent agriculture" and "culture," is a design system for sustainable, regenerative living that mimics natural ecosystem patterns to create self-sufficient, low-maintenance, and productive environments. Learn from expert Joan Herzog who transformed her ¼ acre lot in Camden into a lush bird and insect haven with over eighty-five native plants and large beds of fruits and vegetables. Joan gives a two-hour classroom presentation at Rose Hall on Thursday afternoon, followed by a Saturday morning visit to her garden nearby. Early October, Thursday Classroom: Easy techniques for plentiful late-season crops and harvesting of herbs, flowers, perennial vegetables, fruits, and berries. Joan will share the essentials of putting produce and herbs by for winter including dehydrating, making easy jams and juices, and storing root crops. She'll also cover how to start plans now for next spring’s gardens! Saturday morning garden visit: Joan will demonstrate planting cool-season annual crops and oat, rye and pea cover crops. Learn proper pruning and layering of berries and native bushes, fall dividing of perennials for "freebies," and the planting of native bushes, trees, and fall native ephemerals. Instructor Joan E. Herzog is a Permaculture Garden Designer, retired Registered Dietitian and health columnist with a passion for organic gardening. In five years, she converted a ¼ acre city lot into a lush bird and insect haven with over eighty-five native plant species and large beds of fruits and vegetables. Joan has taught hundreds of food/nutrition workshops and is thrilled to transition to teaching permaculture garden techniques. She swears that gardening is your best bet against an aging body and brain.