The keynote presentation will be given by Dave Jacke, award winning author of Edible Forest Gardens.

How can we regenerate healthy human communities and natural ecosystems while meeting our own needs? What is the future of food in an era of economic disruption, peak oil, and climate chaos? Healthy forests maintain, fertilize, and renew themselves naturally, while creating habitats of high productivity and deep beauty. These ecosystems can serve as models for garden and culture design and offer the same benefits. Edible forest gardens mimic the structure and function of natural forests and grow food, fuel, fiber, fodder, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, and fun!

This presentation introduces the forest gardening vision and presents living examples of gardens as well as a sampling of perennial edibles you can grow. It shows how the underlying ecology of forest ecosystems can teach us ways to organize our own communities and cities to meet the challenges of the future right here, right now. We will also ask what role our species can and should assume in our local and global ecosystems and how that translates to concrete action where we live.

The evening will end with a panel discussion about bringing sustainability to our community.

This presentation is part of the Seeds of Sustainability event series.

Cost
$10 per person. Pay at the door or pre-register online.
Free for University of Iowa students—show your student ID at the door.