The Science and Art of Permaculture is the topic of of the next Portland OMSI Science Pub on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at the Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan):

We all know that we face many environmental challenges as individuals and as a society, but coming up with ways to solve these problems can be daunting. There are so many issues – energy production, food and water resources, exposure to toxic chemicals – that one can get paralyzed by just trying to figure out where to start.

Enter permaculture. Derived from “permanent” and “agriculture”, the term is used to describe design systems that work WITH nature and the things that live there (plants, animals, and humans), rather than trying to make biological systems bend to human needs alone. It includes a combination of biological concepts such as organic farming and using native plants in our yards, to ethical considerations such as reducing waste and making sure all members of society have enough resources to thrive. Join us for a lively presentation and good conversation about the design science of permaculture, including a description of what is it, how it got started, and why we should do it.

The presenter is Deke Gunderson, PhD., professor of environmental science and former co-director of the B Street Permaculture Project at Pacific University.

The science begins at 7pm but arrive early (5pm doors open) to secure your beer, grub, and a seat! There’s a $5.00 suggested donation/cover charge. Minors with adults are welcome, otherwise this event is 21 and over.