Who is Permaculture BC?

Javan Kerby Bernakevitch

Permaculture Educator and Designer

I grew up in Boy Scouts. I used to say I was a person first and a Scout second as I was involved in Scouts before I was enrolled in school. Scouts interested me to no end with their ideals to do their best, strive to always be prepared and work to build community and global kinship. Still a scout to this day, I was taught to be wise in the use of all resources.

After university I found the industrial systems of production to be anything but wise when it came to using resources. Contemplating the wise use of resources I observed our natural systems’ ability to consistently provide humanity with the energy, fiber and food to thrive while creating resource instead of waste. Here was a system that in every way used all resources while producing no waste or by-product.

Although I knew to be wise in the use of resources as a concept, the "how" to be wise, and "how" to teach others to be wise was lacking.

Having years of experience in environmental education in the public and private sectors, practical bush and outdoor skills, facilitator training and application, natural building experience (cob, dry stack stone masonry, natural plasters and finishes and strawbale), greywater system design and installation and as a lead Permaculture Design Certificate instructor I come with experience and understanding to share with students.

Combining my love of ecology, experience in wild settings, and passion for teaching I used our life support system’s 4.5 billion years of success as the master lesson plan to educate the public about our natural world and the lessons it could provide. However the “action” of sustainability still eluded me (and I seriously contemplated the life of a hermit!).

Education and awareness are essential but collectively produce very little if not delicately paired with positive action-based solutions. Where was I to find a system that integrated not only the thoughtful observation of our natural systems into design but also positive action based solutions?

In a world full of aesthetically-driven design with planned and perceived obsolescence I found an oasis packed with tool boxes of positive practical solutions, driven by an observation based methodology, with foundations in both science and ethical holistic intergradations. This oasis is Permacutlure. Here was a practice that was rooted in observation before action, design before details and mutually beneficial holistic integration with our environment.

I came to realize this design system and subsequent application techniques were the “how” in the “how do we live sustainably” that government, industry and private citizens alike continually asked without practical answer.

Drawing on my years of experience in environmental education, group facilitation, construction, natural observation and leadership I pair my experience with the design science of Permaculture to educate students through meaningful lecture and hands-on activities resulting in retention, application and inspiration. Through speaking engagements, short and long courses, design work, natural building and new forays into organic top bar beekeeping I continue to practice what I teach.

Education and Current Certifications

Organic Certification - Transitional Status Society of Organic Urban Landcare

Permaculture Instructor - Cascadia Permaculture Institute

Organic Master Gardener – GAIA College

Group Facilitation - Banff Centre for Leadership  

Bachelors of Communication - University of Calgary

Current Partnerships 

Educator and Designer for One United Resource Ecovillage

Supporter of Apiaries and Bees for Communities

Consultant for Greenplan

Organizer and Facilitator for Waterlution: A Water Learning Experience

Past Projects

Natural Building - Tadelakt

Animal Systems - Chicken Tractor

Greywater Systems