KAPAA — Kauai has a chance to rebuild better, more sustainable systems after monumental rains have flooded the island and destroyed homes and property, according to Efellie Laing.
The Pilaa resident believes permaculture can be the key to Kauai’s future, and is hosting an event with fellow permaculture students at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Kapaa Elementary School cafeteria.
“It’s long been my wish to bring permaculture people together and talk about long-term strategies for our island,” Laing said. “The goal is connecting, sharing resources and creating study groups.”
Michael “Skeeter” Pilarski, who teaches permaculture design on Kauai, will be at the event, as well as co-founder of Permaculture magazine, Hannah Apricot, who has used permaculture to help rebuild Cuba after its economic collapse.
The keynote speaker will be Jenny Pell, who has done long-term permaculture planning on Maui and who just returned from disaster relief efforts in Puerto Rico.
“We’ll have the room set up so we can have suggestion boxes, places for people to share their resources and experiences, and opportunities for people to get together if they’re interested,” Laing said.
The event has grown out of a permaculture reunion set for Tuesday night at Lydgate Beach Park, where Pilarski’s students are planning to get together and swap stories.
“It’s a natural outgrowth of our interest and it’s perfect timing,” Laing said. “We’re open for new learning opportunities and, for what it’s worth, we need all the help we can get.”
More information: Laing at 821-2244 or Apricot at 226-7003.
•••
Jessica Else, environmental reporter, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.
