4th Annual Whanganui Permaculture Weekend
Whanganui’s premier sustainability event is back for a forth year with a fantastic line up of events during the weekend of September 10th-11th.
The Whanganui Permaculture Weekend highlights innovative local projects, offers hands-on workshops, a seed swap, working bee, shared meal and movie night. Education is a highlight of this year’s programme, which includes highlights of teaching and learning at the secondary school level, the tertiary level, and adult learning.
Richard Pedley of Wanganui Collegiate will share the school’s new agriculture programme with a presentation and tour. The theme or Richard’s offering is permaculture education in schools. The school’s website describes the new programme as follows:
“At Wanganui Collegiate School we are offering an agriculture programme aiming to prepare students for a dynamic and fast changing future, with a growing awareness of sustainably produced, local, high quality food.”
Jake Schultz of Universal College of Learning (UCOL) will provide an overview of two new course offerings: Certificate in Apiculture (beekeeping); and, Sustainable Agriculture. Describing these courses, Jake says,
“Food and everything that surrounds it is the property that brings us all together, no matter what part of the planet you are from. Within that, the sustainability of our food systems and the future of it is key. Because without it, we lose everything.”
The Permaculture Weekend wraps up Adult Learners’ Week/He Tangata Mātauranga, which is brought to the River City by Adult and Community Education Aotearoa, the Whanganui Learning Centre, and The ECO School. On Saturday Nelson Lebo of the ECO School will offer two workshops on backyard food production: an introduction to organic gardening and fruit tree care, and an organic gardening master class.
When it comes to organic production, Nelson says, “It’s all about working smarter rather than working harder. My motto is tools, timing and technique: using the right tools at the right times in the right ways. That’s how you get 10 hours of work done in five hours.” 
Some events are offered on a donation basis while fees may apply to others. Some are free. The full schedule is below. Free if otherwise noted.
Saturday, 10th September
9-12 Tools for a Resilient Household: permaculture calendars, broad forks, solar ovens, rocket stoves, permaculture books, and stirrup hoes. REBS Stall, River Market
10-11 Introduction to organic gardening and fruit tree care, Nelson Lebo, Moutoa Gardens
11-1 Rope Making and Rourou Making, Tracey Young, River Market. Meet river side of i-site.
1-3 New UCOL Programmes: Bee Keeping and Organic Gardening. Jake Schultz. Room E-2-15, UCOL Complex, Taupo Quay
2-5 Organic Gardening Master Class. Nelson Lebo. Registration and fee: theecoschool@gmail.com
2.30-3.30 Composting workshops – Theory – Hadi Gurton, 83 Maria Place Extension
3.45-5 Composting workshop – Practical – Rachel Rose, 77 Anzac Parade.
Sunday, 11th September
8:30-10 Permaculture in Schools. Richard Pedley, Wanganui Collegiate School
10-12 Matai Street Community Garden Tour and Working Bee. Phil Holden. Matai Street. By donation
12:30-2 DIY Weta Hotels for children. Dani Lebo, 223 No. 2 Line. Materials fee
2-4 Seed Swap. Whanganui Seed Savers. Quaker Meeting House, 256 Wicksteed St. By donation
3-5:30 Wetland Restoration Working Bee. 223 No. 2 Line
6-7:30 Shared Meal, 217 No. 2 Line
7:30-8:30 Film: Origin of the Apple, 217 No. 2 Line
Eco Thrifty Living 
even though i am far away i am still close. Thank you for doing your part on our planet~!!