Speaking
topics
-
Edible Ecosystem Design
-
Organic Gardening
-
Outdoor Education
-
Community Landscaping
...and more!
about Zach
Zach is an educator, designer and grower who specializes in Edible Ecosystem Design through landscaping and education. He consults widely with homes, farms, colleges, schools and municipalities across Canada and the United States, and through many biomes from Guatemala and South Africa to the Yukon and Mongolia.
Zach manages an award-winning farm with diversified food forest products, heirloom garlic, and a hardy tree nursery. His innovations have won three provincial awards and are featured in his first book: The Permaculture Market Garden.
Zach is the director of the Ecosystem Solution Institute, which is dedicated to the education, propagation and inspiration of ecosystem solutions for land use transition. The Institute oversees pathbreaking education sites, including an edible botanical garden near Ottawa, Ontario and a suburban food forest in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Zach is passionate about how small actions - strategically linked - can make big change. His inspiring and empowering vision is presented in his latest book: The Edible Ecosystem Solution.
speaking partners
Zach has worked with many groups big and small around the world, sharing knowledge, growing community and inspiring change.
Upcoming Speaking Events
Permaculture Design Certificate
Build the skills necessary to maximize permaculture design in your home, farm, and community. Multiple instructors and great facilities, in beautiful Vermont, make this an excellent certification course for those wishing to improve the yield from land and resilience for society.
Yestermorrow Design/Build School, (April 13 to 24, 2020)
Garden Bed Design
*cold-climate series
In this workshop, Zach presents his step-by-step method for building raised beds from scratch—beds that are fast and affordable to build, have high soil quality and are easy to maintain for weeds and pests. These “Permabeds” have proven very effective for home, homestead and farm vegetable and fruit growing.
McNally Robinson Booksellers, Winnipeg, Manitoba (April 22, 2020)
Tools, Techniques and Technologies
*cold-climate series
This workshop explores the nitty gritty of all the best tools, techniques and technology that keep your garden growing at its best despite weeds, water and pest issues. Scaled to fit your yard, these tools and tips are sure to yield new fruits for your labour.
McNally Robinson Booksellers, Winnipeg, Manitoba (May 20, 2020)ertificate
Hugelkultur Landscape Design
Building raised beds out of straw bales, leaves, waste wood and other debris can be a great way to clean up your property, raise your garden beds for ergonomic management and improve nutrient and water holding capacity. This workshop explores styles of hugelkultur gardening, as well as the specifics of Zach Loeks strawbale designs for commercial and home gardeners.
Yestermorrow Design/Build School, Vermont (Aug 1-2 20, 2020)
"Grow knowledge through mentorship"
