2025 Permaculture Nursery Starter Bundle
Presentations
(Below is content for the Permaculture Nursery Starter Bundle.
You can choose to watch each presentation on Youtube, download the audio version or read the transcript. Enjoy!)
Starting a Non-Profit Permaculture Nursery
Braden Trauth
Braden Trauth shares how he built a nonprofit permaculture nursery in Cincinnati to grow climate resilience and food security. Operating under a 501(c)(3), his nursery blends plant sales with grants and community support to distribute 170+ varieties of perennial food plants. He emphasizes low-cost, high-impact species like fruit and nut trees, and uses education, pop-ups, and partnerships to reach underserved areas.
The nonprofit model allows tax benefits, volunteer labor, and accessible pricing. Braden highlights the power of nurseries to transform communities—growing not just plants, but local abundance, ecological literacy, and long-term resilience.
Access a Study Guide to go along with Braden Trauthʻs talk.
Get a CHEAT SHEET with actionable, handy tips!
Starting a Fruit Tree Nursery: From Bare Root to Citrus
Greg Peterson
Greg Peterson, founder of The Urban Farm, shared his journey starting a fruit tree nursery focused on permaculture. After noticing a lack of regionally adapted plant varieties, he began propagating his own, prioritizing diversity and hardiness. He emphasized using diverse, seed-grown rootstock to develop deep-rooted, drought-resilient trees suited to his local climate.
Peterson also highlighted practical propagation methods—cuttings, grafting, seedling trials—and the importance of matching plant genetics to regional conditions. His business thrives by offering unique, locally adapted varieties that gardeners can’t find at typical garden centers.
Access a Study Guide to go along with Greg Petersonʻs talk.
Get a CHEAT SHEET with actionable, handy tips!
Growing Perennial Vegetables from Seed
Michalina Hunter
Michalina Hunter shares strategies for launching a nonprofit community nursery. She emphasizes nurturing social enterprise through volunteer engagement, diverse revenue streams (sales, grants, workshops), and strong partnerships with schools and local government. Michalina outlines operational essentials—licensing, inventory management, year-round outreach—and highlights the power of educational programs to build community resilience.
Her model balances mission-driven impact with financial sustainability, offering practical advice on branding, marketing, volunteer coordination, and navigating nonprofit regulations, all geared toward creating a thriving, accessible source of perennial food plants.
Access a Study Guide to go along with Michalina Hunterʻs talk.
Get a CHEAT SHEET with actionable, handy tips!
Starting a Permaculture Nursery from Scratch – Building Your Initial Stock and Propagation Capacity
Graham Towerton
Graham Towerton, a permaculture specialist from Western Australia now based in Michigan, presents on starting a permaculture nursery from scratch. Drawing on decades of experience, he emphasizes strategic planning: begin with a modest space (few hundred square feet), ensure varied light, water access, and winter protection. Understand licensing needs and regulations around disease and invasive species.
Begin propagation with seeds, cuttings, layering—then advance to grafting after a few years. Select region-appropriate annuals and perennials, balancing popular staples with multi-use plants. Finally, manage business by tracking costs, setting competitive pricing, clearing inventory yearly, and collaborating with local nurseries.
Get a CHEAT SHEET with actionable, handy tips!
Nursery Summit Roundtable
Various Speakers
This dynamic roundtable explores the future of permaculture nurseries, ethical seed practices, and community-based solutions for seed sovereignty. Speakers share insights on resisting GMO and patent pressures, launching community-run nurseries and seed banks, and adapting to climate change with locally adapted plants.
With a focus on perennial crops, marketing through education, and intergenerational knowledge transfer, the session inspires action toward a decentralized, ethical, and resilient nursery movement.
Access a Study Guide to go along with this panel discussion.
Get a CHEAT SHEET with actionable, handy tips!
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