The Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center, Inc. (TBG&NAIC) is pleased to announce a special presentation with Texas-based permaculture designer and educator Kirby Fry, who will speak on Permaculture Design and the Natural Regions of Texas on Saturday, October 18 at 10:00 a.m. at the Goldthwaite Pavilion at Legacy Plaza.
The talk will explore how permaculture design—a holistic approach to land use that mimics natural ecosystems—can be applied across Texas’ diverse ecological regions. Attendees will learn how to use time-tested, sustainable techniques to restore soil health, conserve water, support biodiversity, and produce food—all while working in harmony with nature.
The core ethics of permaculture were established by many Indigenous cultures who worked in harmony with nature, valued its diversity, and produced no waste.
The modern concept of permaculture—short for permanent agriculture (later expanded to permanent culture)—was developed in the 1970s by Bill Mollison and his student David Holmgren in Australia. It emerged as a response to the environmental degradation caused by industrial farming and unsustainable land practices.
Mollison, an ecologist and biologist, observed that modern agriculture was depleting the earth’s resources and disconnecting people from nature. He and Holmgren proposed a healthier approach: designing human habitats based on the patterns and relationships found in natural ecosystems. They introduced permaculture as a design system that emphasizes sustainability, self-reliance, and regeneration.
From its early roots to renewed contemporary implementation, permaculture has grown into a global movement, applied on rural farms and in urban gardens and ecological restoration projects. Today, it serves as a practical framework for building resilient communities and restoring degraded landscapes, which is vital in regions facing climate and water challenges, such as Central Texas.
Kirby Fry studied with Bill Mollison and has worked across Texas as a practitioner, teacher, and advocate of permaculture design and sustainable land use. His engaging presentations draw from real-world projects that empower landowners and communities to rethink how we interact with the land.
“We are excited to welcome Kirby Fry to the Gardens,” said Courtenay Smith, Executive Director of TBG&NAIC. “His passion for circular systems speaks directly to our mission of conservation and honoring Indigenous traditions of natural land use.”
This event is free for TBG&NAIC members and $5 for nonmembers. Photo caption: Permaculture designer and educator Kirby Fry.
Coming soon:
- Nature Fest Saturday, October 11, 10:00 – 2:00 p.m., Bosque River Nature Center, Stephenville
- Jessie Burnham, Bat World Sanctuary: Winged Night Voyagers – Bat Migration and Conservation in Central Texas Saturday, November 8, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Goldthwaite Pavilion at Legacy Plaza
- Kendra Gives Back, special in-store and online event benefitting TBG&NAIC Saturday, December 13, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Kendra Scott Flagship Store, Austin
- A Time Before Texas, an exhibition created by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDot) and presented in partnership with Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Hosted by the Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center, Inc. and the City of Goldthwaite. December 1–29, Mon. – Fri., 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. / Sat. – Sun., 10:00 – 3:00 p.m. Goldthwaite Welcome Center
About the Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center
Located in Goldthwaite, Texas, Legacy Plaza is home to the Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center, Inc. a nonprofit organization dedicated to education, conservation, and cultural heritage. The Gardens offer an immersive look at native plant life, while the Center integrates archaeology, Indigenous history, and ecological stewardship. For more information, please visit www.legacyplaza.org or contact the Texas Botanical Gardens & Native American Interpretive Center, Inc. at (325) 451-1075.