Kenton Zerbin

On Sunday, 17 students graduated from my 20th intensive Permaculture course. My heart is full, my tribe recharged, my purpose clear.

Since 2011 I’ve been running courses for students and consulting for clients - inspiring and guiding others how to reconnect with our physical and social world. By growing food, making homes, and caring for land, we re-find ourselves, community, and a relationship with our planet that we are proud of.

My favourite moments are graduating a class and re-visiting consulting clients to help them with each step of their property journey.

And THAT is why this picture is so special.

I came to Deniz & Maya (and their baby boy Mavi) as their consultant and mentor. In bursts of effort we have been building Straight Fin Farms, one project at a time. And along the way, they made me a part of their beautiful family.

So when I needed a location to run a Permaculture Intensive Workshop in Eastern Canada, we rolled up our sleeves to make it happen in a beautiful convergence of community, consulting, and education.

I led the family and students in building 6 raised garden beds, 7000 litres of rainwater harvesting, and a compost bay system. We hired a professional chef and I lined the class list with a yoga teacher and massage therapist. Basically, try to make this the most wholesome, healthy, and amazing adult summer camp I could.

I can’t begin to tell you how special the whole experience was... the students... the food... the late evenings full of laughter... the mornings kayaking or yoga on the dock....

My cup is full. And I’m affirmed - no matter how difficult it is to pull something like this off - I need to keep running an event like this every year for the rest of my life.