Zia Parker has been working hard for two years to turn her 2 acres into a sustainable, small-scale farm in Boulder County.
And she wants to use her land — in a small residential cluster of homes northeast of the Boulder Reservoir — as an outdoor classroom to teach others about her permaculture practice, a type of agriculture that emphasizes farming techniques that are sustainable for local conditions.
“People are very interested in permaculture,” Parker said. “We have a lot of interest in this class.”
County commissioners are set to decide Thursday whether Parker will be able to continue teaching permaculture classes on her land, and if so, how large the classes can be.
Parker has applied for a permit from the land-use department for a “demonstration farm.” Her vision is to teach 20 adults the basics of permaculture — such as how to grow a mixture of plants together that help one another thrive by providing key nutrients and how to conserve water by using dry-land techniques.
Parker is also asking for permission to host a program for 12 children in two five-day blocks during the summer.
County staffers have recommended that commissioners approve both classes but reduce the enrollment caps.
