Hutchinson Center Conference to Take Up Permaculture, Sustainability
Contact: Hugh Curran, (207) 667-7170/581-2609; George Manlove, 581-3756
BELFAST — ESTIA, an international eco-peace community, will host its second annual eco-village conference on “permaculture” at the Hutchinson Center in Belfast, Friday, Dec. 2, from 1-6 p.m.
Permaculture involves the design and harmonious integration of landscapes and people in order to provide sustainability in food, energy and shelter. The conference will include teleconference links as well as talks, discussions and videos about the role of permaculture in eco-village design. Topics include designing homes for energy efficiency, water conservation, forest gardening and multi-storied orchards, composting and wastewater treatment, soil building and organic gardening, in addition to the role of permaculture as an integral aspect of eco-village education, according to Hugh Curran, adjunct professor of Peace Studies at UMaine, which is cosponsoring the conference with the University of Maine’s Hutchinson Center. ESTIA is an acronym for European Solar Thermal Power Industry Association
Presenters are: Daniel Greenberg from Living Routes in Amherst, Mass.; Julia and Charles Yelton, former residents of Crystal Waters, a permaculture eco-village in Queensland, Australia, and designers of Humustacia Permaculture Gardens in Whitefield, Maine; and Richard Graves, chair of the Maine Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council promoting leadership in energy and environmental design standards.
The cost of the conference is $15 for adults and $10 for students. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis; only 132 seats are available. For registration information, please call 1-800-753-9044.