Siskiyou Permaculture is a collaboration of Melanie Mindlin, Karen Taylor and Hazel Ward started in 2010.  Based in Southern Oregon, we offer permaculture courses, workshops, counseling, walk-throughs and design services. Our permaculture courses are certified through the Permaculture Institute of North America. 

Hazel Ward

Hazel Ward is a long time resident of the Southern Oregon bioregion, first settling here in the early 70’s, and has been advising farms and teaching permaculture for over fifty years.

Their focus for this 21st century has been Social Forestry, restoring oak-pine savannah in Little Wolf Gulch, near Ruch, Oregon, demonstrating natural building, fuel hazard materials utilization, multiple products woods-crafting, wildlife support and desert forest water management.  Read more . . .

Karen Taylor

A transplant to Oregon from central Arizona, Karen brings with her many years of experience as a permaculture practitioner and teacher, interior designer, ecological landscape designer, rainwater harvesting and greywater consultant, group facilitator and photographer.    Karen offers counseling in permaculture site design, rainwater harvesting and greywater system design, healthy home interior design, natural building and group facilitation. 

 

Melanie Mindlin

Melanie is the registrar and primary contact person for Siskiyou Permaculture. She offers counseling and instruction in permaculture home and site design, sustainable land use planning, green building, group process and community organizing, as well as design services.  She coordinated The Fire Ecology Restoration Project which trained people in integrated forest management incorporating making biochar. Melanie founded, and lives in, a cohousing community, but still dreams about moving to or building an ecovillage in the Pacific NW.  Read more . . .

UPCOMING EVENTS

SUMMER TOUR

Social Forestry, evening talk
   Thurs., July 10, 6-8 pm
Bridgespace PDX, Portalnd, OR
Social Forestry, 2 day workshop
   Sat. & Sun., July 12-13, all day
Elkenmist, Skanokawa, WA
Social Forestry Talk
Tues., July 15 6-8 pm
White Salmon, WA
Social Forestry Assessment Workshop
Wed., July 16, all day
White Salmon, WA
Social Forestry 101, 3 hr workshop
Sat., July 19, 10 am – 1 pm
Rainier Beach Farm, Seattle
Skill Share Land Tending
Sun., July 20, all day
Quilicene, WA
Free Workshop & Land Tending
Sun., July 27, 10 am – 1 pm
Lost Valley Education Center
Dexter, OR

Optical Surveying
October 11-16, 2025
Essential skills for every farmer, homesteader, designer and consultant.

PINA Calendar
Some great permaculture courses and events can be found at the website of the Permaculture Institute of North America Calendar.