Instructors

The Financial Permaculture Design & Facilitation Team consists of an interdisciplinary coalition of individuals from the business, non-profit and education sectors who have come together to create a forum to address the economic and environmental challenges of the day. Through grassroots organizing, participatory design, and democracy we are working with local communities to create holistic and regenerative economic solutions for local and international sustainability.

Below are the biographies of instructors and facilitators for the 2010 Course.

Eric Toensmeier 

Coauthor of Edible Forest Gardens (Chelsea Green), Eric has worked as a small farm trainer at the New England Small Farm Institute Belchertown, Massachusetts) and until recently managed the Tierra de Oportunidades new farmer program of Nuestras Raíces in Holyoke, Massachusetts. There he designed and installed a permaculture landscape in concert with immigrant farmers who are starting farm-based enterprises in an urban context. Eric is a graduate and former faculty member of the Institute for Social Ecology in Plainfield, Vermont.

Jennifer English

Jennifer English, M.S., N. D. is an instructor and consultant in sustainable and healthy lifestyles, permaculture design, and yoga. She has an N.D. in Traditional Naturopathy and an M.S. in Natural Health, a BA in Cultural Anthropology and Environmental Studies, a Diploma in Wildlife Management, a Post Graduate Diploma in Integrative Eco-social Design, and 14 years professional experience leading projects and non-profits in the alternative health and environmental sectors. Jennifer is the Director and Founder of the Center for Holistic Ecology and co-founder of Solar Springs LLC, a permaculture design consulting firm. Jennifer’s areas of specialization include: local economic development, community networks, eco-entrepreneurialism, consumer advocacy and whole ecosystems design.

Gregory Landua

Greg is a co-founder of the Terra Genesis carbon farming consultancy.  He is an active permaculture and ecovillage design educator, founding partner of the Nemawashi Partnership, and core member of the Living Mandala Design Collective.  Along with teaching and practicing permaculture, Greg is an active bioregional organizer and NextGEN fellow helping to craft avenues and pathways for intergenerational dialog and collaboration in the shared enterprise of earth regeneration. Greg has studied marine and terrestrial ecology and evolutionary biology in the Galapagos Islands, translated for Amazonian rainforest guides, fought wildfires in the wilderness of Alaska, and studied the nuances of ecology and ethics.  Greg has B.S. in Environmental Science and Ethics from Oregon State University, and is receiving a Masters Degree in Organizing Learning for Ecosocial Regeneration from Gaia University International, and was a member of the coordination team for the 10th Continental Bioregional Congress.

Questions and Answers

What kind of people should come?

This Convergence is designed to be an inter-generational, trans-cultural, and interfaith opportunity to learn how to leverage local resources, diversity and talent to create business opportunities that give back to the local community, bio-region, country, and the world. Attendees will include lawyers and bankers, small business owners, philanthropists, community organizers, investors, financial planers, accountants, construction workers, permaculture designers, financial advisers, city council members, local officials and students of ecology, education and business, and more.

Are there any pre-requisites required to coming?

While a background and understanding of permaculture as well as business is not required, it is helpful.

What is the format and educational style?

The education style for this event will be content driven participatory design. We will be providing key content from experts in financial planing, investment, ethanol production and engineering, green construction & natural building, cooperative legal structures, and more. We will also be utilizing the knowledge and skills of participants using open space technology and design simulations. For more detailed information about the instructors and facilitators click here.

More Frequently Asked Questions?

From last year's course (2009): Click here to download a PDF file of frequently asked questions and more detailed information from last year's course (2009).

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Financial Permaculture 2010

Documentary of 2008 Summit

Financial Permaculture from Greg Landua on Vimeo.

A documentary about the 1^st Financial Permaculture Summit in Hohenwald, TN. This summit brought together local leaders and international permaculture designers to help create a resilient and healthy local financial system.

Produced by Byron Palmer

The summit and video explore key ideas for just and sustainable communities like:
Total Economic Return
Zero Waste Economy
Local Economy
Ethanol
Local food System
Natural Building
Cooperative
Green Incubator
Business Incubator
Entrepreneurial