Warm sunny days and crisp nights set the scene for the 12th annual Permaculture and Building Resilient Communities Convergence from Oct 5-8 at the Solar Living In Hopland, CA, USA. Over 500 folks gathered, celebrated, learned and shared a large variety of activities, from inspiring presentations, hands-on workshops, relaxing body work and rocking music into the night.

Gaia U was well represented by co-founders Andrew Langford and Liora Adler, Advisory Board member Starhawk speaking from the main stage and presenting workshops, Jay Markert, a lead organizer of the event as well as Rachel Avilla, Anya Gandelman Gaia U student associates and Karmendra Rossi, Gaia U grad. Fairlight Ahigren who served up her awesome fully organic and local pizzas all weekend got inspired and joined the recent Gaia U cohort, adding her CA, USA presence to a group from 9 countries and all continents. Welcome Fairlight!

Andrew and Liora left on Saturday evening to be available to help with clean-up at the Full Belly Farm annual Hoes Down festival and were not present on Monday when the Convergence itself became a fire refuge camp with the Solar Living Center opening its doors. Read on for more information about the Convergence, the fires and how you can be part of the community that has come together in support.

 

Message from the Northern California Permaculture Convergence Organizers:

Thank you to everyone for co-creating an amazing weekend together! It does not stop here.

In these challenging times happening around the world and now right here in our local NorCal communities with the recent fires still underway, it is all the more important to come together and build community resilience.

The Convergence itself became a fire refugee camp on Monday with the Solar Living Center opening up its doors. Those that were still there breaking down and cleaning up came together and cooked up cob oven fired pizzas to feed everyone, showing the power of community coming together in times of despair.

The raging fires continue to have direct impact on our community, with some people who attended the Convergence in person loosing their homes and belongings to the fire. Our heartfelt condolences go out to them and to one of our sponsors – Frey Vineyards, which was also lost to the fire.

The Convergence is starting a California Fire Victims Fund to raise funds which will go directly to support victims who lost their homes to the fire. Click here to donate.

We Want Your Feedback!

Help us make the Convergence better for future years!

We have created a survey to gain your valuable insights into what you loved most, what could be better, and what you might change or add to the next Convergence.

Please take a moment to complete our survey here.

Permaculture Convergence Online!

Did you miss the Convergence in person, but wished you could have been there?

Or perhaps you attended but there were several workshops you really wanted to go to, but were not able to with the plethora of things happening.

The good news is that you can still catch the Convergence and the workshops you missed via Permaculture Convergence Online!

You may have noticed our amazing team of videographers diligently recording main stage, workshop areas, and more… not only this Convergence, but the past few years.

We are excited to announce that we will be launching Permaculture Convergence Online, a membership platform showcasing video recordings of workshops, keynotes, and more from this year’s Convergence as well as from the 2016 & 2015 Convergences!

These videos will start rolling out beginning Nov 1, with a launch of the Convergence Online platform projected for Jan 15, 2018

Membership Will Include:

* Video recordings of keynotes and workshops from Permaculture Convergences and other educational events

* Forums and message boards to engage in dialog with practitioners around the world

* Members-only conference calls and webinars

* Special offers and discounts on courses, programs, services and events.

Pre-Register by Nov 1 for a 50% off this yearly membership (regularly $95)

Register here.