"Permaculture & Backyard Food Production" will be the topic of the next ECCoLoV (Earth Charter Community of the Lower Valley) meeting at 2 PM on August 15, 2010, at the Yurt at Shepardfields, 59 Bogel Road, East Haddam.

The program focuses on permaculture techniques and will include examples of how to set up a rainwater harvesting system, fall gardening, season extension, and keeping chickens in the backyard.

Connecticut (USDA zone 6) has a frost-free growing season of about 166 days (April 26 - October 9), on average. By using simple, inexpensive techniques, and growing the right cold hardy crops, we can keep harvesting fresh vegetables for much longer. August is not too late to plant vegetables for harvesting in the fall and winter.

This program is free to the public. The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful world.