Permaculture is more than a collection of techniques; it is a culture of sharing, experimentation, observation and learning from one another.
So what would happen if we designed a convergence in the same way?
From 4–7 March 2027, permaculturists from across Europe will come together online for four days of inspiration, practical knowledge, conversations and connection for the European Permaculture Convergence.
Permaculture has always attracted people who are searching for another way of living: closer to the land, less dependent on extractive systems, and more aligned with ecological limits.
But over the last years, another version of permaculture has become increasingly visible. It is well designed, beautifully photographed, technically sophisticated, and often only accessible to people with substantial financial resources.
In Europe, permaculture teachers, diploma tutors, apprentices and learning communities explore how to strengthen our existing diploma pathways, improve the quality of our diplomas and how tutors can be supported. Each from a different angle, from a different perspective.
When we brought the EuPN back to life, we hoped we could leave some of the old problems behind and focus on building something useful for the wider permaculture community in Europe.
Unfortunately, it seems we are running into similar patterns again.
In recent calls and conversations outside the EuPN, a narrative has started to circulate that is both misleading and damaging. It appears in sentences like:
At the Permaculture Network, we are occasionally approached with initiatives that aim to strengthen the wider permaculture ecosystem. This is one of them.
A research team connected to Utah State University and the Permaculture Institute, Inc. is currently conducting a global study on professional pathways in permaculture. The focus is on a question that many of us have encountered in practice:
How can people actually make a living with permaculture?
At the European Permaculture Network, we’ve added a new feature to the platform: designs.
Members who choose to be listed in the designer directory can now upload a recent design. The idea is straightforward: show real work, grounded in real contexts.
