By Scout Nelson
On September 19, 2026, the South Dakota Specialty Producers Association’s Olivia Torbert-Jennings and South Dakota State University Extension’s Robin Buterbaugh co-hosted an in-person event focused on permaculture and food forests in Brookings, South Dakota.
The event gave participants an opportunity to learn more about the basic ideas behind permaculture. Buterbaugh provided an in-depth introduction to permaculture theory and design principles. The session helped participants understand how different parts of a growing area can work together.
Permaculture is a way of planning and managing growing spaces by considering natural systems. Instead of looking at each plant or part of a garden separately, the approach considers how plants, soil, water, sunlight, animals, and people can support one another.
The event also included hands-on learning. After learning about permaculture principles, participants practiced designing their own food forests. This activity allowed them to use the information they learned and think about how different plants could be arranged in a useful and natural system.
A food forest can include many types of plants growing together. Trees, shrubs, vines, herbs, vegetables, and other plants can all have a place in the system. Different plants can provide food, shade, ground cover, or other benefits.
Learning how these plants can work together helps participants understand the main ideas behind food forest design. It also gives people a chance to consider how similar ideas could be used in their own yards, gardens, farms, or community spaces.
As part of the event, participants also visited the developing Brookings Food Forest. The visit gave them a chance to see the ideas discussed during the event in a real local setting.
Seeing a developing food forest can make the concepts easier to understand. Participants were able to connect the information from the workshop with a project that is already taking shape in their community.
The visit also helped create interest in continuing the conversation after the event. The group became interested in the topic and discussed the possibility of creating a Brookings Food Forest Coffee Club.
The proposed coffee club would give people interested in food forests and permaculture a place to meet, share ideas, ask questions, and help each other. A community group can also provide an easy way for people with different levels of experience to learn together.
The event also created an opportunity for people to become involved with the Brookings Food Forest through volunteering. Community members who want to receive information about volunteer opportunities can join the Brookings Food Forest Volunteer list-serv.
Volunteer involvement can be useful for community food forest projects. People can contribute time, ideas, skills, and knowledge while also gaining experience. Working together can help a developing project continue to grow and provide learning opportunities for the community.
The Brookings event shows how educational programs can connect people with local projects. Participants did not only listen to information about permaculture. They also practiced food forest design and visited a local food forest to see the ideas being used.
Community events focused on permaculture and food forests can be useful for both beginners and people who already have gardening or growing experience. Participants can learn new ideas while sharing their own experiences with others.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-joshua-resnick
Categories: South Dakota, General