Permaculture and Syntropic Agroforestry

A Two‑Part Series for the Houston–Gulf Coast Bioregion
Explore how syntropic agroforestry and permaculture principles come together to create resilient, wild medicinal and food forest plant rich garden systems into resilient, self‑renewing ecosystems. This two‑part series introduces succession-based design, layered planting, and regenerative soil-building adapted to our humid Gulf Coast climate where rapid growth, fungal pressure, and year‑round productivity shape how we design.

Part 1: Thursday, Jan 15th, Time: 7pm -8pm *OPTIONAL BONUS*
Online Session (1 hour – Zoom) -NOTE: All Registered participants who cannot attend the Live session, will receive the recording!
A foundational introduction to syntropic agroforestry, how it aligns with core permaculture ethics and principles, and how to design a small medicinal planting suited to Houston's heat, humidity, and rapid growth cycles. gardening and its application to medicinal plants. We’ll explore:
What syntropy is and how it differs from conventional and even typical permaculture garden design
How succession, stratification, and pruning cycles support medicinal plant vitality
Gulf Coast considerations: humidity, heat, rainfall patterns, and species selection
How to begin planning a small‑scale medicinal syntropic row or bed at home or in a community space

Part 2: Hands‑On Practicum (In‑Person)
Sunday, Jan 18th. Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Put the concepts into practice as we build a small medicinal syntropic planting together. Activities include:
Bed preparation and soil‑building using locally available organic matter
Layering pioneer, secondary, and climax medicinal species
Demonstrating pruning, chop‑and‑drop, and biomass cycling
Observing microclimates and reading site patterns in real time
This session grounds the theory in lived experience—participants walk away with the confidence to begin or expand their own medicinal syntropic garden.

Cost: Free
This Community Project is underwritten by Kids Gardening and Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Lot of Compassion grant to help transform a vacant lot to a thriving community garden.

Presenter:
Joanna Botvin is a Permaculture Landscape Designer and Herbalist of Just Bloom and Curalma Botanicals. Her journey began with growing food and from there she learned about permaculture, medicinal plants, and the food that is growing all around us! Education and Foraging have become a central part of her life. Creating a relationship with the natural world is one of the core values to which she dedicates her life and being do in the world in service to people, plants, and the planet.

Facilitator:
Carol Burton is Urban Harvest’s Director of Permaculture with over twenty years of experience in backyard, school and community gardening, and environmental education. Carol is a certified teacher and curriculum specialist in environmental education. She is a Certified Permaculture Design Consultant and recipient of the Elizabeth Hull Abernathy Award from the Garden Club of America for outstanding contributions to environmental education of youth. She received her advanced Permaculture Teacher Training certificate with Jude Hobbs of Cascadia Permaculture. She is also the co-author of Urban Harvest School Garden Guide for the Greater Houston Area.
Director of Permaculture