Ivan Chan
When I first came across the term permaculture, it perfectly connected my lifelong ideals for abundance, deep ecology, and community resilience.
I was a water resources engineer back when all these permaculture ideals tugged at my heart. I am blessed to be experienced in GIS mapping, drainage plans, erosion control, stormwater ponds, ditch designs, navigating regulations, and public presentations.
In 2011 I completed my Permaculture Design Certificate at the Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute.
In 2012, EDEN in SEASON was born. EDEN in SEASON represents the marriage of my 7 years as a professional water resources engineer with my passion for permaculture (ecological and community design), also known as ecological engineering. That year, I started my first edible forest plantings, established a school demonstration garden, and experienced working on a diversity of edible landscapes and landowners.
In 2014, the Garden of Eating is established as EDEN in SEASON’s demonstration farm. The timeline continues on that page.
Our Inspiration
Nature, like ourselves, is an abundant, self-perpetuating organism. Once healed and enabled to blossom, it not only provides us with a long-term food and income stream, it also builds the foundation for a living legacy that regenerates both our spirits and the earth.
Though we have chosen a life away from monetary richness, we choose to be enriched with a land base which is now providing beauty, abundance, healthier soil and ecosystem benefits. Maybe that sounds like your paradise… pure, healthy, forever fruitful, self-renewing, and thrives naturally in your landscape.
By integrating permaculture into your home, you can be assured we are committed to creating an enduring edible landscape that is ecologically sound, sensitive to your family’s goals, and brings you year after year of enjoyment and health. We will walk through the ‘hard stuff’ with you and blaze your way forward.
As the Chinese proverb goes, “the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now.”
Our Values
Other principles we live by:
- be present
- live local
- act multigenerational
- practice conscious lifestyle choices
- collaborate in community and social outreach
Our Community
Behind myself and the farm itself, relationships are fostered with:
- complementary properties to establish more mushroom laying yards, harvest from mature nut trees, propagate plants, and share skills
- welcoming friends, neighbours, visitors, and guests (WWOOF, HelpX) strengthen community collaboration while providing seasonal help
- volunteering in community projects: Transition Meaford, Meaford gleaning, Grey Bruce Climate Action, establishing food forests in Town of the Blue Mountains, Meaford, commemorating significant trees
- member of Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario
- Permaculture in Ontario map of regional permaculture projects
- Fiddlehead Nursery perennial friend and grower Ben Caesar