Our History
From Small Classes to a Thriving Permaculture Community
What began as a handful of permaculture students sharing potlucks in 2007 has grown into Edmonton's leading nonprofit for regenerative education, community events, and hands-on skill building.
Our Story
The Edmonton Permaculture Guild grew from a simple truth: people who learn together want to stay together. What started as a handful of students gathering for potlucks has become Edmonton's leading nonprofit for permaculture education and community building.
This is how we got here.
2007: The Seed Is Planted
The Edmonton Permaculture Guild traces its roots to 2007, when Ron Berezan of The Urban Farmer began teaching small permaculture classes in Edmonton. Students from those early sessions wanted to stay connected. Potlucks followed. Then came the Edmonton Permaculture listserv, a digital gathering space for a growing community of practitioners.
2010: First Convergence
In spring 2010, the community hosted its first Edmonton Permaculture Convergence. About 100 people attended a full day of workshops, talks, and an epic potluck lunch. Topics included edible plants, urban chickens, beekeeping, education, and community building. The energy was undeniable.
2013: Harvest Fest and Incorporation
The 2013 Harvest Fest brought together kombucha brewers, beekeepers, cheese makers, fermenters, and basket weavers for a day of workshops, dinner, and live music. The event revealed the depth of talent in our community.
That same year, following a successful run of Permablitz events, we incorporated as a nonprofit society. The process was a steep learning curve, but it formalized what so many Edmonton permaculture enthusiasts had been building toward for years.
2014 – 2017: The Resilience Festival Era
In 2014, we partnered with The Local Good to organize Edmontons first Resilience Festival. The weekend celebration showcased local products, skills, and community knowledge.
By 2017, the festival had grown to include over 40 vendors, a film festival, Conversation Café, childrens permaculture programming, and the Resilience Forum. Workshops ranged from cheese making to the First Nations Blanket Exercise. The festival became a flagship event for the Guild and a highlight of Edmontons sustainability calendar.
2020 – 2023: Regrouping
The COVID-19 pandemic hit community organizations hard. The Guild paused major events, met up online instead of in-person, and quite frankly, slowed down considerably.
2024 – Present: A New Chapter
Today, the Edmonton Permaculture Guild is building on its foundation with renewed energy. Our Permaculture Design Course is now the cornerstone of our programming, offering comprehensive certification for those ready to design regenerative systems.
Year-round workshops, community events, and our practitioner directory continue to serve Edmontons growing network of permaculture enthusiasts.
The seed Ron planted in 2007 is still growing.