We were favored with a wonderful sunny fall day to have our backyard Permaculture event.  We were even able to construct a Hugelkultur bed at no cost but our muscles.  (You can find more detailed information here - http://www.appropedia.org/Hugelkultur)  And with all the help, it wasn't that great an effort individually.  We were of like mind and it was quite heartening as everyone willingly joined in.

We started out with a potluck of many yummy dishes and informal getting to know you chatting.  Then I presented the 3 ethics and 12 principles of Permaculture.  It was well received and a lively and enthusiastic discussion followed.  We then considered strategies for preparing our garden beds for winter.  Following this was a natural segue into building the new garden bed.   As we built, Frank pointed out the generous stinging nettle patch that would have to be moved/removed and invited folks to help themselves to the plants.  What he actually said was, "Feel free to grab some of the plants and give them a new home."  One of our participants took him quite literally and never having had experience with the nettles before, did just that.  She barehandedly grabbed a handful of plant.  Another lesson learned.  She was good natured about it and studied the sensation for awhile before returning to the bed building.  I put my work gloves on and after William dug up some roots, I placed the runners into my plastic transport bag.  I hope to establish a nice little bed for them at my home.  They are a nutritious green - the sting goes away with cooking - and a dynamic accumulator (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_accumulator)  for the earth.  Everyone should grow them!

I felt it was a successful day.