The 2017 Inland Northwest Permaculture Convergence
Was held on Sept. 1 - 3, Labor Day Weekend in
Hot Springs, Montana
Our theme for this Convergence was: From Water Comes Life...
2017 poster by Kira Mardikes
2017 Topics included:
Water
Permaculture
Ecosystem Restoration
Food production in yard, town and city
Farming
Livestock Production
Medicinal Plants
Primitive/Ancestral Skills
Community Preparedness
Keynote Speaker
Kareen Erbe, Broken Ground
Presenters included:
Charlotte Anthony, Jacqueline Cramer (Beacon Food Forest), Terry Du Beau, Gloria Flora, Gabe Gaul, Debbie Jakovac, Karie Lee Knoke, Michelle Mahler, David Max & Jill Russell, Michael Pilarski, Cindy Santi, Jessica Spurr, Stan & Delyla Wilson, Kelly Ware, and many more!
2017 INPC Report
Wow!! What an inspiring, action-packed event. There were over 250 people attending and over 50 workshops. Lots of old friends meeting and new friends made. Even though we were doing a lot of preparations at the last minute it all worked out. The venues worked out. We had up to 6 power point presentations going at the same time and were able to keep the equipment running. Not a single presenter canceled. The meals were fantastic, thanks to Jenn, Tyler and the kitchen helpers. Approximately 85% of the food we ate was donated by the participants or locally grown.
We had a village within a town. We rented several large tents for an additional dining hall and meeting space. The skylodge made a great space for the primitive skills demonstrations. It was a bit of walking between our different venue sites spread out over 4 blocks, but it was worth it. The weather was nice but the air quality was variable due to the smoke from Montana forest fires. We can’t say that everything went off without a hitch because there were some minor problems, but all in all it was a great event.
Kareen Erbe gave a great keynote address on making permaculture more accessible to more people. There were so many good workshops. We appreciated having Jerome Osentowski, from the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute, attend all the way from Colorado. 44 people attended his Monday intensive workshop on greenhouses.
We so enjoyed Hot Springs that almost everyone at the closing circle voted to do it in Hot Springs again in 2018. We would like to do some hands-on projects in Hot springs next year and put some more energy into design ideas for Hot Springs.
Thank you to all our 22 sponsors. The most sponsors we’ve ever had for an INPC. Thank you to all the presenters. Thank you to all the venues, The Tribal Nutrition Center, Towanda Gardens, Alameda’s Hot Springs Retreat and the Camas Recreation Center. Thanks to all the organizers, locals and people who helped in a myriad of ways. Thanks to everyone who attended.
May the experience bear good fruit for all of us in the years to come. You are invited to send in your reports, stories, and follow-up information to post here or post on the Inland Northwest Permaculture Guild Facebook page.