We are pleased to announce a special presentation with Texas-based permaculture designer and educator Kirby Fry, who will
speak on Permaculture Design and the Natural Regions of Texas on Saturday, October 18 at 10:00 a.m. at Legacy Plaza Pavilion.
The talk will explore how permaculture design—a holistic approach to land use that mimics natural ecosystems—can be applied across Texas’s diverse ecological regions.
Attendees will learn how to use time-tested, sustainable techniques to restore soil health, conserve water, support biodiversity, and produce food—all while working in
harmony with nature. The core ethics of permaculture were established by many Indigenous cultures who
worked with nature (not against it), valued its diversity, and produced no waste.
The modern concept of permaculture—short for permanent agriculture (later expanded to permanent culture)—was developed in the 1970s by Bill Mollison and his student
David Holmgren in Australia. It emerged as a response to the environmental degradation caused by industrial farming and unsustainable land practices. Mollison, an ecologist and biologist, observed that modern agriculture was depleting the earth’s resources and disconnecting people from nature. He and Holmgren proposed a healthier approach: designing human habitats based on the patterns and relationships found in natural ecosystems. They introduced permaculture as a design system that emphasizes sustainability, self-reliance, and regeneration.
From these early roots to renewed contemporary implementation, permaculture has grown into a global movement, applied on rural farms and in urban gardens, ecological restoration projects, and even social systems. Today, it serves as a practical framework
for building resilient communities and restoring degraded landscapes, which is vital in regions facing climate and water challenges, such as Central Texas.
Kirby Fry studied with Bill Mollison and has worked across Texas as a practitioner, teacher, and advocate of permaculture design and sustainable land use. His engaging presentations draw from real-world projects that empower landowners and communities
to rethink how we interact with the land.
“We are excited to welcome Kirby Fry to the Gardens,” said Courtenay Smith, Executive Director. “His passion for circular systems speaks directly to our mission of conservation and honoring Indigenous traditions of natural land use.”
This event is free for TBG&NAIC members and $5 for nonmembers.
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