San Diego County is fortunate to have an active and growing permaculture and ecological design community -  from individuals, to organizations, to businesses, we have a healthy diversity of ongoing sustainable and regenerative pursuits.

Pemaculture is all about local - observing local systems and building off of local resources. In order to do that we need to have and build community. To do this we need to be connected to one another! We hope this list helps you do just that - get engaged in your community, plant your seeds and watch them grow!

Here at Permasystems we've complied a list of local resources active in this area:

San Diego Sustainable Living Institute - http://sdsustainable.org/
"We believe that we can make simple, daily changes that promote a more harmonious balance between humans and the earth.   We know that every action towards sustainability is the right action.  We can produce an abundance of local food with limited water resources, we are able to regenerate poor soils, we are equipped with the tools to build community and we will leave each piece of land better than when we found it, all the while enjoying ourselves and the process."

H2OME - http://www.h2o-me.com/
Offering consultations on water reuse and storage opportunities, H2OME provides a complete solution from consultation to installation, including passive and active rainwater harvesting and greywater use in conjunction with appropriate plantings and landscaping.

San Diego Permaculture Meetup - http://www.meetup.com/SanDiegoPermaculture/

San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project - http://www.sandiegoroots.org/index.php
A network of citizens, farmers, chefs, gardeners, teachers, and students working to encourage the growth and consumption of regional food. From farm to fork, we focus awareness and work toward a more ecologically sound, economically viable and socially just food system in San Diego.

Suburban Food Farm - http://www.suburbanfoodfarm.com/
They specialize in edible plants, vegetable gardens and especially fruit trees.

Jared's Real Food - http://jaredsrealfood.com/
Jared’s Real Food was established to promote health and optimal living for everyone. They do that by growing top quality nutrient dense vegetable, fruit, and herb varieties. They are a small, people-centered, ecologically conscious, artisan farm that produces food which is both authentic and nourishing.

Sky Mountain Institute - http://www.skymountain.org/
Sky Mountain Institute is a nonprofit eco-educational, Ecopsychology research, and Creative Therapy training center founded in 1981, dedicated to exploring the relationship between the creative arts and the healing of self, family, community, and planet.

Finch Frolic Garden - http://www.vegetariat.com/finch-frolic-gardens/
Finch Frolic Garden is a 1.68-acre permaculture based habitat located in Fallbrook, CA.   It is privately owned by Diane Kennedy.  Finch Frolic Garden is not open for general public admission, but can be visited through privately arranged tours.

Indigenous Regeneration - http://indigenousregeneration.org/
Indigenous Re-Generation is a 501c3 that exists to inspire Native Communities on re-generative living concepts, through food cultivation, medicinal farming, culture and eco-village education programs, to achieve re-indigenization and true Tribal sovereignty.

Kumeyaay Community College - http://kumeyaaycommunitycollege.com/
The Mission of Kumeyaay Community College is to promote a quality education for the Kumeyaay / Diegueño Nation, California Native American Indians, and other individuals interested in a unique and supportive educational experience.

Coastal Roots Farm - https://coastalrootsfarm.org/
Coastal Roots Farm in Encinitas cultivates healthy, connected communities by integrating sustainable agriculture, food justice, and ancient Jewish wisdom.

Diego Footer's Permaculture Voices - https://www.permaculturevoices.com/
Podcasts, videos, and educational content to help you on your journey.

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A keyhole garden bed can be one of the best ways to efficiently use an area for planting, especially when space is limited. The idea is simple, provide easy access to an area by creating a keyhole-looking entrance/path into the area (check out the photo to get an idea of how it looks).

An internet search will yield a plethora of different designs. Most of them are round but ours we made rectangularish to even better utilize space in our limited area of the side yard.

The goals for our planting bed were simple - we wanted it slightly raised to make it easier to work in and because the bed would sit on the north side of our house where the sun doesn't shine as much a higher bed would be able to receive more sun. We also wanted to utilize mostly natural and local materials.

We built it using local roundish river rocks, sand, clay earth from our yard and a small amount of cement. The mix ratio was 2 parts sand, 2 parts clay, and 1 part Portland cement. This ratio provided a nice consistency that balanced the use of natural materials with a final product that would withstand the elements of weather for many many years.

After finishing the wall we gave it ample time to cure. Then we filled the bed with a healthy compost blend and started planting.

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