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Commenced:
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01/08/2011 |
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Submitted:
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13/10/2012 |
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Last updated:
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07/10/2015 |
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Location:
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Cleveland, OH, US |
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Website:
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http://www.hummingbirdproject.org/ |
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Climate zone:
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Cool Temperate |
The primary purpose of the Hummingbird Project is to create sustainable systems using permaculture principles that enhance and benefit communities by educating and empowering individuals to improve quality of life and foster stewardship of the earth.
The Hummingbird Project empowers communities devastated by industrialized, chemical farming practices to regain control over their food supply. We provide educational instruction that is fun, simple, and effective so that our students can implement and replicate the sustainable farming practices they learn. In so doing, we support a new generation of farmers as they end the cycle of poverty and rebuild their communities— one farm and one family at a time.
Hummingbird History
The
husband and wife team that co-founded THP—Chris Kennedy and Marilyn McHugh—are a dynamic duo with the
perfect combination of experience; Chris is a schoolteacher and Marilyn is a
biologist. They can be found digging in the dirt side-by-side in East Africa, India, and throughout the United States, where they lead an ongoing series of successful permaculture training courses.
In 2010, the newlyweds left their jobs to take a yearlong ‘round-the-world
honeymoon. Halfway through the trip, in East Africa, their lives were
changed forever after they volunteered on several development projects and
discovered a passion for service. Since then, they have been devoted to
assisting and empowering individuals in resource poor locales. In 2012 The Hummingbird Project was officially granted 501(c)(3) non-profit status in the United States.
Note: The various badges displayed in people profiles are largely honesty-based self-proclamations by the individuals themselves. There are reporting functions users can use if they know of blatant misrepresentation (for both people and projects). Legitimacy, competency and reputation for all people and projects can be evidenced and/or developed through their providing regular updates on permaculture work they’re involved in, before/after photographs, etc. A spirit of objective nurturing of both people and projects through knowledge/encouragement/inspiration/resource sharing is the aim of the Worldwide Permaculture Network.
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MemberA member is a permaculturist who has never taken a PDC course. These cannot become PDC teachers. Members may be novice or highly experienced permaculturists or anywhere in between. Watch their updates for evaluation. |
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Permaculture MatchmakerOne of these badges will show if you select your gender and the "I'm single, looking for a permaculture partner" option in your profile. |
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PDCPeople who claim to have taken a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course somewhere in the world. |
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PDC VerifiedPeople who have entered an email address for the teacher of their PDC course, and have had their PDC status verified by that teacher. Watch their updates for evaluation. |
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PRI PDCPeople who’ve taken a Permaculture Research Institute PDC somewhere in the world. |
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PDC TeacherPeople who claim to teach some version of PDC somewhere in the world. |
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PRI TeacherWith the exception of the ‘Member’ who has never taken a PDC, all of the above can apply to become a PRI PDC Teacher. PRI PDC Teachers are those who the PRI recognise, through a vetting board, as determined and competent to teach the full 72-hour course as developed by Permaculture founder Bill Mollison – covering all the topics of The Designers’ Manual as well as possible (i.e. not cherry picking only aspects the teacher feels most interested or competent in). Such teachers also commit to focussing on the design science, and not including subjective spiritual/metaphysical elements. The reason these items are not included in the PDC curriculum is because they are “belief” based. Permaculture Design education concerns itself with teaching good design based on strategies and techniques which are scientifically provable. PRI PDC Teachers may be given teaching and/or consultancy offerings as they become available as the network grows. |
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Aid WorkerThe individual with this badge is indicating they are, have, or would like to be involved in permaculture aid work. As such, the individual may or may not have permaculture aid worker experience. Watch their updates for evaluation. |
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ConsultantThe individual with this badge is indicating they are, have, or would like to do paid permaculture design consultancy work. As such, the individual may or may not have permaculture consultancy experience. Watch their updates for evaluation. |
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Community ProjectCommunity projects are projects that help develop sustainable community interaction and increase localised resiliency. |
Building An Earthship & Community
A reflection on our recent visit to Higher Elevation Permaculture Center in Driggs, Idaho: you will not only learn about permaculture, natural building and how to build an Earthship, but more importantly–> Community!
Cleveland Seed Bank, Ohio (Summer 2013)
We will offer educational activities, seed saving workshops, seed swaps, and outreach to preserve the vital resource of local seed for our community.
Biogas Digesters, India (2013)
Biogas digesters— an investment requiring minimal financial input and education— will have dramatic impact on the quality of life of India's rural subsistence farmers.
Living Soil Saves Lives, India (Fall-Winter 2012-13)
Based on the tremendous success of the first Living Soil training, THP returned to India to establish additional soil labs in the suicide belt.
Living Soil Educational Courses, India (Winter 2011-12)
The Hummingbird Project first took root as an educational outreach program to teach Indian farmers about the importance of healthy, living soil after we learned that suicides claimed the lives of at least 17,368 farmers in 2009.
Daraja Academy Permaculture Project, Kenya (Summer 2010)
THP led a variety of permaculture classes to teach schoolgirls how to improve access to clean water, improve soil fertility, and increase the amount of food grown on campus.
Rooftop Garden, New York City (Spring 2013)
THP embraces the changing of the seasons by installing a permaculture rooftop garden at the popular Hourglass Tavern in Hell's Kitchen.