What started out as a mid summer reunion of permaculturists across the Southeast who wanted to take a weekend break from the farm, bring their harvests with them to share what they've learned over the past year, stories and celebrate together, turned into a 32 year long tradition that grew to 150+ people and is still growing. Permaculture is a design system for sustainable living and agriculture that emulates the patterns and resilience of natural ecosystems. By working with nature rather than against it, it aims to create self-sustaining environments that produce food, regenerate soil, and support biodiversity with minimal waste and labor.

The SE Permaculture Gathering became a wonderful place for teachers and practitioners who invited their friends, neighbors and family to learn more and motivate each other to continue these positive, resilient practices! This gathering is meant to be a group who helps reinvigorate and support one another to do the good work right during the time we're all feeling a bit tired after the first growing season. There are those who have been practicing for over half a century, and others who have just begun, and they are all welcome. Everyone has something great to share, and we all come as students. We gather for three days and call various "affinity circles" which are groups who discuss different topics or go on nature walks, such as biochar, beneficial bugs, plant propagation, pruning, composting, herbalism and trees, human health and plant health, water conservation, biodynamics, soil conservation, animal systems on the farm, mushroom walks, plant walks, bug walks and more!

Our SEPG group had a focus program on biological control of the hemlock woolly adelgid.

90 trips to Seattle to bring back Laricobius nigrinus beetles was a success to make sure they are everywhere hemlocks are...we have achieved that goal in WNC and are now doing the same thing in New Hampshire.

SEPG and Celo played a big role early on in supporting this program. In 2008 we released almost 300 beetles in Celo, Burnsville, NC; they have spread all over.

We have a healthy hemlock ecosystem because of our group! And a website and guide sheets too.

http://www.beetlessaveneedles.com