Permanent + Agriculture = Permaculture. Okay, maybe that's a rudimetary way of explaining what permaculture is but, essentially, it's a more sustainable form of agriculture based on perennials - plants you don't need to replant each year. In this episode, we hear about one Vermont farmer who was unknowingly exposed to permaculture while growing up and then became enamored with it during a trip to India.
Nicko Rubin runs East Hill Tree Farm in Plainfield. While working abroad, he came across the book, Permaculture One: A Perennial Agriculture for Human Settlements, authored by Australian scientist, Bill Mollison. Reading that book while working on organic farms in India inspired Rubin to return to Vermont and raise fruit, nut and berry trees.
Hear more about permaculture and Rubin's farm from food writer and Seven Days contributor, Melissa Pasanen. She stopped by The VPR Cafe to chat about her article, "At His Plainfield Nursery, Nicko Rubin Cultivates Permanent Roots."
