2026 Home Food Permaculture: 10-Month Online Workshop (Auerbach)

This article describes a 10‑month online permaculture workshop series focused on helping participants "grow your own produce" using ecological design principles at a home and garden scale. Organized by Fertile Ground and taught by experienced permaculture educator Marisha Auerbach, the series is entering its 13th year, highlighting its continuity and ongoing demand as a trusted educational offering. The program is designed for gardeners of various experience levels who want to integrate permaculture thinking into practical food production, soil care, and long‑term garden planning.

The workshop series runs from February through November 2026 and is structured as ten separate monthly classes delivered online via Zoom. Sessions are held on the first Wednesday of each month from 6–8 p.m., making the schedule accessible to people who have daytime commitments but want to deepen their skills in the evening. Each class focuses on a thematic aspect of home‑scale permaculture. According to the description, core topics include garden design, soil building, succession planting, seed saving, and designing ecological support systems. Garden design content typically covers how to observe a site, position beds, manage water, and create efficient layouts. Soil building explores composting, mulching, and supporting the soil food web. Succession planting addresses timing, crop rotation, and maintaining productivity across seasons. Seed saving introduces participants to basic genetics, seed selection, and on‑farm conservation. Ecological support systems often refer to beneficial insect habitat, polycultures, and integrated planting strategies that reduce pest pressure and improve resilience.

The article emphasizes that these workshops are rooted in permaculture ethics and principles while remaining highly practical. Rather than a one‑off class, the 10‑month format is meant to accompany students through an entire growing season and beyond, allowing them to apply what they learn in real time and then refine their approach month by month. Because the classes are online and recorded in many similar programs, participants can typically revisit material or attend from various locations, though the article itself focuses primarily on the schedule and content themes. Auerbach’s long experience as a permaculture practitioner and instructor is highlighted as a key strength, since she brings years of teaching, gardening, and design to each session.

The workshop series is also described as financially accessible, offering multiple pricing options. Individual sessions can be taken à la carte for a set per‑class fee, allowing those with specific interests or limited budgets to participate selectively. For learners committed to a more comprehensive experience, there is a discounted package for a block of five classes, as well as a further discounted rate for the full ten‑class series. This kind of tiered pricing structure reflects an effort to balance fair compensation for the instructor with broader community access. While the article frames the program mainly for local and regional readers, the online delivery via Zoom makes it relevant for a much wider audience interested in permaculture‑inspired home food production, seasonal garden planning, and resilient household systems.