Permaculture Food Forest Garden Design and Implementation

Two‑Hour Service‑Learning Workshop

Discover the essentials of food forest design in this fast-paced, hands-on workshop. Participants will explore how perennial, layered food systems work, learn key permaculture principles, and practice simple site observation techniques. Together, we’ll co-create a small planting plan and complete the first phase of planting key fruit tree species and starter guilds of native shrubs to support a long-term community project.

Participants Will:
Learn the essentials of food forest ecology and permaculture principles

Conduct a rapid site observation using pattern literacy and simple mapping tools

Co-design a small plant guild or micro‑food‑forest layout

Participate in a hands-on installation task of planting.

Reflect on the role of community-led design in building resilient food systems

This short, high-impact session offers an accessible introduction to regenerative design while contributing meaningful service to the land and community.

Lead Facilitators:
Carol Burton, Director of Permaculture
Carol has over twenty years of experience in school and community gardening education, collaborative design and installation of community school gardens and orchards. She is a Certified Permaculture Designer Consultant and a recipient of the Elizabeth Hull Abernathy Award from the Garden Club of America for outstanding contributions to environmental education of youth. She currently empowers community activists in a whole system approach to design their dreams and future selves through the Permaculture Design Certification program.


Randall Mosman, Community Gardens and Outreach Manager
Randall has been growing rare fruits on the Gulf Coast and in the Houston area for 20 years. He has a background in the arts which has taken him around the world where he has become familiar with a number of fruits not easily found in this region.