I didn't have access to as many tools, resources, and as much land as I thought, but I was able to experiment freely in some borrowed land in the Gaspésian highlands. The growing season was incredibly short, and the summer days and nights were chilly compared to my native Utah. 

According to local farmers and gardeners, the last spring freeze date is after le Saint-Jean, the 24th of June. This year it froze for the first time in mid-September! That's a growing season of about two and a half months!

I experimented with a number of species, primarily focusing on seed propagation and inexpensive, low-energy, low-effort, renewable  plant management. I was surprised to find a number of mega-cold climate permaculture plants growing in Rimouski.

-There are two massive plantings of Hippophae rhmanoides surrounded by freeway onramps. I collected seed in spring from last years berries (still persistant), but it was hard to get to. The other exit seems to have much better access.

-There are two large, healthy Black Locust trees on rue Blais that I plan to collect seed from.

-In the upper part of Rimouski, in the nicer residential part of town, there are probably hundreds of Lindens (I've identified at least two species). 

-In Parc Lepage I've found a few Juglans cinerea and I'm stratifying the nuts for next year.

-Not to mention the mycological motherlode in the region! There are Morels, Inkcaps, and Bolets by the ton in the forests, and no one seems interested. 

Despite the chillyness of the summer and the shortness of the season, there is an incredible number of useful native plants, animals, and fungi to provide a rock-solid foundation for permaculture systems. 

The primary problem I've encountered so far is that most of the people I've met don't think permaculture works in this climate, and I have yet to find much interest at all in the form of local groups or associations. I might just have to start one.

If you're reading this and you're interested in forming a group (nothing too formal, just human interaction and edification with the bonus of plant and fungi exchange) please write to me at [email protected].

I was surprised to find out that there's a small permaculture CSA, le jardind du grand ours or something like that, advertised at UQAR, and a permaculture cold climate nursery in Mont-Louis (a bit far, but it looks like an excellent project and it's not here as far as I've seen).