Permaculture & Gardening Group
Who We Are: Residents of the Waukesha County area who enjoy gardening and learning more about how we can incorporate permaculture ideas into our landscape, gardens, homes and lifestyle.
What We Do: As a group, we seek to learn from others, share ideas and food, tour locations, host discussions and build community.
For Information Contact us at perma@waukeshacountygreenteam.org
Join Us at Our Next Meeting: Check Upcoming Events below. Email us at perma@waukeshacountygreenteam.org for information.

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Upcoming Events
We have the power to create change as we strive to live lightly, consume thoughtfully and garden organically!
Climate Smart Garden Soil - February 13, 2023 at 6:30pm
Waukesha State Bank Community Room, Oconomowoc
Climate change represents a major challenge to our horticultural endeavors with its extremes in temperature and precipitation. This session will examine recent growing season conditions in southeast Wisconsin portending future challenges, discuss key soil health indicators included in the Cornell Soil Health Scorecard, and offer tips to improve the indicators to improve overall soil function to meet the challenges of climate change.
Jim Stute is an independent research agronomist from East Troy and works to develop best practices for crop and soil management in regenerative systems which he uses on his own farm. He holds graduate degrees in agronomy from UW-Madison and is a Certified Crop Advisor.
Cost $5/person at the door.
Exploring Permaculture Principles Series - Jan 17, Feb 27, Mar 22 at 7:00
Pewaukee Public Library
The Permaculture and Gardening Team of the Waukesha County Green Team is hosting a three-part
series exploring six of the 12 Permaculture Principles. These in-person events will focus on learning
about each principle, identifying examples of it, and identifying methods to incorporate it more fully in
our lives. Registration is free.
Missed a presentation?
Community Education
A list of community programs on Permaculture & Gardening topics that we offer can be found on the Community Programs page.
Each year the Permaculture & Gardening group hosts guest speakers and Share and Learn discussions on a variety of topics. What topics would you be most interested in attending? Click here to share your ideas!
Community Gardens
Are you thinking about participating at a community garden, starting a community garden, want to get ideas or take a tour? Visit our Community Gardens page to view community gardens in Waukesha County.
What is Permaculture?
Permaculture is a sustainable design philosophy that emphasizes the relationship and interconnectedness of all natural things. Through permaculture design we seek to maximize the transfer of natural energy through water, living soil, trees, & seed to establish a productive environment for growing food, building and maintaining shelter, wisely using resources, and holistically living in a sustainable way.
In permaculture design, natural patterns and characteristics of nature specific to a site and location are identified, observed, and used to develop sustainable closed loop systems, which are labor and energy efficient, productive, diverse, and resilient. Incorporating permaculture principles and design into an environment is an ongoing process. As the environment grows and develops, so do the opportunities for increased synergy among functional elements and energy flows.
Principles of permaculture design are actively being applied to home and farm environments in urban, suburban and rural locations.
Characteristics of Permaculture Design
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Uses observation and replication of the interconnectedness of nature and ecosystems as a model for designing small scale systems
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Emphasizes replication of natural productive phenomena such as flow of water and wind, slope and edge
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Uses perennial plant species as efficient stores of energy and food production
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Utilizes the transfer of energy through ecosystems
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Seeks to maximize the power of useful work
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Values renewable resources
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Values the knowledge of indigenous peoples and traditional cultures
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Is about taking personal responsibility for our own existence and that of our children
Permaculture and Gardening Resources
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Complete Guide to Composting - SEW-MG/DNR
Other Permaculture Organizations
Permaculture and Gardening Group Handouts and Resources
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July 13, 2021 Don't Garden Naked: Cover Crop Options for Your Home Garden
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Youtube Video of Presentation
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April 6, 2021 Building Soil for a Successful Garden
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Mar 2, 2021 Successful Seed Starting
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Oct 20, 2020 Growing and Harvesting Sweet Potatoes
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Sept 22, 2020 The Joy of Growing Garlic
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Aug 26, 2020 Permaculture in Your Landscape
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Jul 21, 2020 Tips for Growing Tomatoes
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Feb 26, 2020 How to Live a Permaculture Lifestyle - Permaculture | Permaculture in Your Garden
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Nov 15, 2018 Year Round Gardening
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Apr 21, 2018 Vermaculture
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Apr 12, 2018 Gardening in Small Spaces
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Mar 15, 2018 Edible Landscape
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Feb 28, 2018 Seed Starting For Your Garden
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Nov-2013 Growing Methods for Gardeners
Presentation by Mike/Carolyn Paik and Debra Schneider
For more more related information see the handouts from the Feb 2012 Soils and Succession Planting Program listed below.
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Nov-2012 Raising Chickens with Cindy Rasmussen
An Introduction to Chicken Raising Handout
Waukesha Municipalities Zoning for Raising Chickens Survey Results
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Feb-2012 Soils and Succession Planting Program with Brian Gifford
Soil Ecology and Vegetable Families
Vegetable Germination and Growth Temperatures ["How to Grow More Vegetables" by John Jeavons]
Vegetable Plant Families ["How to Grow More Vegetables" by John Jeavons]
SouthEasternWisconsin Master Gardeners Vegetable Gardening Spring and Fall Planting Schedule
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Links to Broadforks
Johnny's Seeds
Gulland Forge
YouTube Video on How to Use a Broadfork