Learn to build a homemade cob pizza oven with locally sourced natural materials

Join us for a hands-on workshop where we will build a cob oven and rocket stove as part of Presente Maine’s new outdoor kitchen and pavilion. You’ll also have an opportunity to see functional cooperatives and community land trusts in action as well as how they support land access and equitable ownership.

A participant-powered, four-day gathering to strengthen the relationships, shared learning, and collaboration needed to grow a regenerative Northeast bioregion.

Join land stewards, intentional communities, organizers, artists, educators, healers, builders, funders, and families as we connect across projects, share resources, and build the relationships that make regional resilience possible.

Whether you're already rooted in a community or land project, or looking for your place in this growing movement, you're welcome here.

Convergence of Intentional Communities, Bioregional Gathering, and It Takes a Village Education and Music Fest

September 10–13, 2026 · Sirius Intentional Community · Shutesbury, MA

Hosted by Sirius Community in partnership with Permatours, the Foundation for Intentional Community, and the Convergence of Intentional Communities Planning Committee.

Community, Mutual Aid, and Bioregional Resilience. A participant-powered, four-day gathering to strengthen the relationships, shared learning, and collaboration needed to grow a regenerative Northeast bioregion.

Join land stewards, intentional communities, organizers, artists, educators, healers, builders, funders, and families as we connect across projects, share resources, and build the relationships that make regional resilience possible.

Whether you're already rooted in a community or land project, or looking for your place in this growing movement, you're welcome here.

From Community to Bioregion to Celebration

Each day widens the circle.

We begin by strengthening relationships among intentional communities and land-based projects, expand into collaboration with bioregional organizations and regenerative initiatives, and conclude with a day of music, art, and celebration that honors the culture, connections, and collective future we're building together.

Convergence of Intentional Communities (CIC)

Thursday, September 10 & Friday, September 11

Strong communities need strong regional networks.

Created by and for people living in intentional communities, ecovillages, cohousing neighborhoods, living cooperatives, religious communities, and land-based projects, the Convergence of Intentional Communities cultivates relationships, shared learning, and systems of mutual aid across the Northeast.

We'll carry forward the spirit of previous CIC gatherings through community introductions, needs-and-offers exchanges, project presentations, practical problem-solving, and conversations about how we can better support one another across communities. Participants will have opportunities to learn about existing projects, explore pathways into community living, and build relationships that extend beyond the gathering itself.

Programming will be participant-driven and co-created, with plenty of space for informal networking, evening activities, and meaningful connection.

Bioregional Gathering

Saturday, September 12

On Saturday, the gathering expands to welcome bioregional organizing groups, regenerative projects, worker cooperatives, mutual aid networks, educational institutions, land stewardship initiatives, food sovereignty efforts, solidarity economy projects, restorative justice organizations, Indigenous-led initiatives, and other values-aligned partners from across the Northeast.

Through project showcases, presentations, workshops, skill-shares, and facilitated networking, we'll explore how communities and organizations can collaborate more effectively to strengthen regional resilience.

This day is designed to help participants discover shared goals, exchange resources, build strategic partnerships, and support the growing ecosystem of regenerative work already taking root throughout the region.

The learning continues into the evening with opportunities for music, social connection, and celebration.

It Takes a Village: Education, Music & Celebration

Sunday, September 13

After three days of relationship-building, learning, and collaboration, we close the weekend in celebration.

It Takes a Village brings together live music, educational offerings, local food vendors and artisans, family and children's programming, healing arts, and interactive experiences in a joyful gathering open to the wider community.

The day will also include dedicated unconference space, creating opportunities for participants to host spontaneous workshops, discussions, skill-shares, and conversations inspired by the relationships and ideas that emerged throughout the Convergence. Whether you're sharing a project, exploring a challenge, or gathering collaborators around a new possibility, the unconference offers a place for participant-led learning and connection.

More than a festival, it's a celebration of the relationships, projects, and possibilities cultivated throughout the Convergence—a chance to experience the culture of connection, creativity, and collective care that sustains this work for the long term.

Why Bioregional?

A bioregion is defined not by political boundaries, but by the living systems that connect a place—its watersheds, forests, soils, and communities.

We gather in the Forests of the Northeast because regeneration is rooted in place. Lasting solutions emerge from strong local relationships and the communities that share a landscape.

Our society doesn't just need resilient communities—it needs resilient networks between them.

This Convergence is designed to strengthen those networks by helping communities, projects, and organizations share knowledge, resources, labor, and support. More than a weekend gathering, it's an opportunity to build lasting relationships and systems of mutual aid that continue long after we return home.

What to Expect

Because much of the event is co-created, programming will continue to evolve. Topics may include:

• Permaculture Design & Food Sovereignty

• Natural Building & Ecological Infrastructure

• Water Systems & Renewable Energy

• Governance & Conflict Transformation

• Community Land Trusts & Cooperative Models

• Restorative Economics & Regenerative Finance

• Indigenous Stewardship & Land Rematriation

• Herbalism, Healing Arts & Somatic Practices

• Family & Intergenerational Programming

• Communication & Relational Skills

• Music, Art, Storytelling & Cultural Celebration

  
  
  

Mapping Our Regional Network

Throughout the gathering, we'll collaboratively map the people, projects, communities, needs, and resources present.

By making visible what we're building, what we're seeking, and what we're able to offer, we can identify opportunities for collaboration and strengthen the web of support across the region long after the event concludes.

Who This Is For

• Intentional communities, ecovillages, cohousing neighborhoods, cooperatives, and stewards of regenerative land projects

• Land stewards, farmers, and ecological practitioners

• Mutual aid organizers and community builders

• Food sovereignty, restorative justice, and solidarity economy initiatives

• Educators, researchers, and students

• Artists, musicians, storytellers, and healers

• Funders, technologists, and solution-builders supporting community-led transformation

• Youth, elders, families, and anyone seeking meaningful connection and a role in building a more regenerative future

Help Shape the Gathering

We're inviting participants to co-create the event by:

• Offering a workshop, training, or discussion

• Sharing music, art, or cultural offerings

• Presenting a project or initiative

• Volunteering behind the scenes

• Supporting childcare, logistics, or hospitality

• Simply showing up with curiosity and a willingness to connect

Together we'll create a gathering that reflects the strengths, needs, and aspirations of our region.

Logistics at a Glance

Tickets: Sliding-scale passes are available for the full 4 days, or for individual sub-events: CIC (Thursday and Friday), Bioregional Gathering (Saturday), and It Takes a Village or Education and Music Fest (Sunday). The CIC is currently invitation-only, intended for those living in intentional community in the Forest of the Northeast Bioregion. If this portion of the event calls to you and you haven't received an invite, please reach out tobrandon.collins@siriuscommunity.org orgabriel.futterman@siriuscommunity.org

*Work-Trade: Limited work-trade tickets are available.

Apply herefor work-trade opportunities.

*Scholarships: Limited financial assistance and reduced-cost registrations will be available, prioritizing BIPOC access.

Apply herefor a Scholarship.

Lodging: Tent camping, tent platforms, and indoor accommodations available. Lodging information and pricing will be available on the registration page.

Meals: Vegetarian meals with gluten-free and dairy-free options. Meals are included in the CIC portion of the event, and can be purchased separately for Saturday and Sunday.

Children: Family-friendly programming and childcare support will be available.

Accessibility: Limited ADA-accessible facilities available onsite.

Dog Policy: No dogs allowed. Service dogs only.

Join Us

The Forests of the Northeast Convergence is a space for learning, connection, collaboration, and celebration.

Come build relationships. Share your gifts. Strengthen the network.

Let's build a resilient Forests of the Northeast Bioregion together.

We want to hear from you. In the forms linked above, please tell us who you are, what you’re passionate about, and what you’d like to bring.
This helps us shape the gathering with you.

We also welcome aligned sponsors, foundations, and community partners to help us make this gathering more accessible, equitable, and impactful.

IF COST IS A BARRIER:

We’re committed to making this Convergence a welcoming and accessible space for all, and especially want to uplift BIPOC community members in this gathering. If cost is a barrier, we’re offering a limited number of discounted registrations to support your participation. Contact Scotty at scotty@permatours.org by Aug 12th to inquire.

PERMATOURS EVENT AGREEMENTS:

We value active participation in all facets of Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share.

We treat the land and all beings with love and respect.
We do not tolerate hate language, discrimination, or violence of any kind.

We support an accessible and equitable environment for all beings.

Equality is not an assumption, and we strive to promote equitable access.

Consent is required for all: commitments (including time/energy expectations), verbal interactions, physical contact, emotional support, desire for intimacy, etc.

We encourage curiosity to be a leader against assumptions.
We support the use of the acronym FRIES to share concisely that consent is:

F - freely given
R - reversible
I - informed
E - enthusiastic
S - specific

Permatours is dedicated to holding containers (intentional spaces) that remain free of alcohol, powders, pills, and gasses. Your presence, in times of joy and difficulty, is welcome here!

We support a space of interdependence, and mutual aid. We trust that when we arrive and are able to do for ourselves what we can, with the inter-standing we may not be able to do everything, we are better aligned to receive the aid we truly need, and aid others in areas of their needs. Building mutually beneficial relationships and working together in symbiosis are key aspects of being able to thrive physically, emotionally, and spiritually, as a community.

We support a space of radical self-reliance, encouraging everyone to show up able to meet most, if not all, of their own needs. The community is here to support them when/if needed.

We observe the 4 Agreements, with the inclusion of the 5th Agreement, by Don Miguel Ruiz.

Be impeccable with your word.
Don’t take anything personally.
Don’t make any assumptions.
Always do your best.
Be skeptical, but learn to listen

~~~~~~

ABOUT PERMATOURS

Permatours offers hands-on permaculture action experiences that nurture the regeneration of self, communities, and the Earth.

Our events support mutual aid and wisdom-sharing across the Northeast Bioregion and beyond.

Permaculture principles grounding our work include earth care, people care, and fair care.

At Permatours, we believe everyone has something valuable to offer, and we invite you to bring your skills, creativity, and heart to help grow this movement.

If you're called to co-create regenerative experiences and community-powered change, we’d love to connect. Permatours.org

Join us at Diggers Co-op in Acton, ME to learn about building with hempcrete - including sourcing the materials, mixing the recipe, & installing it to form a livable structure.

We’ll be co-creating the structure for a Solviva Greenhouse, which will enable Diggers to grow food year round without the use of fossil fuels!

Hemp Building Experience 2026

A hands-on workshop, learning to make & work with hempcrete to build a Solviva Greenhouse, which can grow food year round in places like Maine!

Join us at Diggers Co-op in Acton, ME for our FOURTH year together, to learn about building with hemp - including sourcing the materials, mixing the recipe, & installing it to form a livable structure.

We’ll be co-creating the structure for a Solviva Greenhouse, which will enable Diggers to grow food year round without the use of fossil fuels!

From sourcing materials to mixing the recipe and installing it - you’ll apply your newfound learnings, meet people who share a common interest, celebrate the epic structure we’ll create together, and leave with skills to build your own structure or business!

We will be casting hempcrete & installing it onto the walls of a Solviva greenhouse, located on a beautiful 26-acre forested property - home to Diggers Compost Cooperative and the Guzman Family Farm, a 50 min drive from Portland, ME, and 2 hours from Boston, MA.

Gain in-depth knowledge and practical skills.
3 healthy meals per day (Friday - Sunday) are included in your ticket price!
Join a movement focused on creating healthier living spaces that can reverse the damaging effects of CO2 emissions!

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SLIDING SCALE PRICING:

Abundance - $700
Ideal for those who can comfortably afford this ticket and typically have enough to spend on vacations. This amount not only covers the cost of the workshop but also helps Permatours continue hosting additional educational events.

Sustaining - $550
Suitable for those who can generally cover their basic needs without financial strain. This fee covers all workshop costs.

Accessible - $400
Designed for those who may struggle to meet their basic needs, making participation possible. This contribution covers the cost of food and workshop materials.

**Worktrade & Scholarships also available. See more info below.

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ABOUT THE HOSTS:

Permatours is a non profit focused on increasing food and housing security by creating joyful learn-by-doing experiences that teach people how to grow food and build structures regeneratively. Additionally, through hosting events at community centers throughout the U.S., we’re weaving together a network of hubs that provide opportunities for people to contribute and share their gifts in exchange for food & housing.

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More on what you’ll learn:

Hemp/lime recipes, mixing & application
Planning a hempcrete build
Foundations, framing & roofing
Permitting tiny houses and structures using natural materials
Cost of materials and how to source them
Application methods and scaling up tools for larger projects
Current opportunities in the natural building industry sector!

Join us if you’d like to:

Start your own hemp construction company or other kind of hemp business that serves a sub-sector or supplier niche
Become part of global network of hemp builders & entrepreneurs
Learn to build your own home
Learn about hemp processing on a small scale
Get ready for the up-and-coming hemp building workforce

Note: This workshop is designed for up to 25 attendees.

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What you’ll also get:

A hempcrete workbook
A certificate of completion printed on hemp
Connections in the natural building and hemp industry sector
3 healthy meals per day - Thursday dinner through Sunday lunch (options for gluten free, vegetarian/vegan and other dietary needs accommodated)
Ecstatic Dance Saturday evening (optional)

Benefits of a Hemp/Lime Construction:
Cleaner indoor air
Fire resistant
Energy efficient
Low maintenance
Low mold or mildew
Less pests
Sequesters carbon
Reduced illness

Featured Speakers:
John Patterson of Tiny Hemp Houses
Ingrid Jay Martin- Plaster Expert - Northeast Natural Builders Guild
Scott Guzman of Diggers Cooperative, Permatours & Birds Nest Builders

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SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY

4 PM: Check in, set up your camp and get ready for fun.
6 PM: Opening Circle, followed by dinner
7 PM: Campfire

FRIDAY

9 AM - 10 AM Breakfast & Hempcrete Building Slideshow
10 AM - 12 PM - safety talk, Hempcrete overview, solviva explained, start mixing Hempcrete
12 PM - Lunch
1 PM - 5 PM: Plaster class and working in small groups
6 PM: Dinner
7 PM: Campfire & fireside jams

SATURDAY

8:15 AM: movement practice
9 AM: Breakfast
10 AM to 1 PM: On day 2 we’ll practice the process of setting the forms, preparing the recipes, mixing and installing.
1 PM: Lunch
1 PM to 5 PM: By now, you will have learned about all of the different jobs involved in building with hempcrete. We will hone our skills as we work on the wall application system.
5 PM: Light snacks available before dance
6 PM to 8 PM: Ecstatic Dance (more details below)
8 PM: Dinner & Campfire

SUNDAY

8:15 AM: Yoga
9 AM: Breakfast
10 AM to 12 PM: Small groups: plaster, mixing, hemping, bottle wall
12 PM to 1 PM : Lunch and closing circle
1 PM to 4:30 PM: Plaster and finishing, bottle wall and continued hemping
5 PM: Dinner
6 PM: Departure

We will circle for the ecstatic dance at 6 pm, with an opportunity for everyone to briefly introduce themselves and make agreements for the ecstatic dance. Then we will dance to ecstatic beats. Following the dance, we will have a brief sharing circle and then dinner will be served around the campfire. After dinner, there is always potential for a song circle or jam session to emerge.

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Dog Policy:
Furry friends are strongly discouraged, with the exception of certified service animals (who must remain on leash).

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SCHOLARSHIP & WORK TRADE OPPORTUNITIES:
Please follow the links through the ticket page to apply for a scholarship or work trade opportunity.

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RV Accommodations
If you're planning to join us in an RV, please note that we do not have electrical hookups. Please let us know early if you'd like to reserve a spot.

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Learn more about our workshop guides Ingrid Jay Martin and Scotty Guzman of Northeast Natural Builders Guild:
Ingrid Jay Martin is a co-founder of the Northeast Natural Builders Guild, bringing seventeen years of experience in sustainable design and construction. She has been specializing in clay and lime plasters since 2019, developing expertise in recipe development, application, and finishing techniques. As our resident plaster master, Ingrid brings experience with plastering straw bale construction, hemp/lime construction, wattle and daub and applying natural plasters over drywall in conventional structures. You will learn how plaster contributes to the thermal performance of shelters in the northeast, and how to plan and select recipes for a project. We will show off a selection of the tools used by professional plasterers and go over mixing best practices. Then we will bring our selves, our tools, and our mix to the wall to experience the wonder and joy of applying scratch and finish coats of lime plaster to fully cured Hempcrete.
Scotty is a natural builder, compost educator, and farmer with a degree in chemical engineering and 12 years of experience in the world of cooperative business. He is co-founder of Birds Nest Builders- A cooperatively owned natural building business specializing in yurts, saunas, tiny homes, decks and domes. He is also co-founder of Diggers Cooperative - a local Maine compost and permaculture design business. And as co-founder of the permaculture education group, Permatours, Scotty travels around the Northeast to joyfully share educational content on various topics such as building science, Hempcrete, soil science and foraging wild edibles.

And our Lead Educator, John Patterson:
Industrial Hemp: The Future of Green Building
Hempcrete Fire Test
This Guy Makes Houses From Hemp
Colorado builder envisions hemp in commercial buildings
John Patterson is a natural builder, carpenter, and educator who has spent more than 20 years working with hemp-lime construction and other natural building materials. He built and lived in his own off-grid home, raised a family there, and has dedicated much of his life to exploring practical, sustainable ways of living.
This year marks John's fourth trip to Maine to teach hemp building. Along the way, he has helped develop a motivated team of builders and foster a growing community of hemp enthusiasts and natural builders. Many of those connections have extended beyond the U.S., including collaborative projects and workshops in Mexico.
Known for his hands-on, down-to-earth teaching style, John enjoys helping people gain the confidence to build with natural materials and discover what's possible when people come together around a shared vision.
John is also the founder of Tiny Hemp Homes, whose mission is to encourage healthier, more comfortable and efficient homes, work and play places through cultivating a more natural built environment. “Through mindfully crafted multiple day experiences we aim to connect people from around the globe to initiate significant global transformation for the better of the people and the planet. We encourage people to have a deeper relationship with mother earth and fellow inhabitants leading a more vibrant and sustainable life.”
John speaks about improved building systems, getting permission to build, land use restrictions, holistic income opportunities, community gardens, problem solving, preparedness and more affordable living

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More on Permatours:
Permatours produces transformational, community-driven events focused on permaculture action and natural building to foster food sovereignty and housing justice.
Permatours empowers people to forage, grow, & otherwise sustainably source their own food through educational workshops & connection to hyperlocal networks that exist outside of corporatized food systems.
Another major component of Permatours is the network it is building of land owners & non-land owners aligned around principles of sustainable living, natural construction, & community, thereby empowering people to navigate housing opportunities for themselves through peer-to-peer support.

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ADDRESS:
Please register for the address.

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PERMATOURS EVENT AGREEMENTS:
We value active participation in all facets of Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share.
We treat the land and all beings with love and respect.
We do not tolerate hate language, discrimination, or violence of any kind.
We support an accessible and equitable environment for all beings.
Equality is not an assumption, and we strive to promote equitable access.
Consent is required for all: commitments (including time/energy expectations),
verbal interactions, physical contact, emotional support, desire for intimacy, etc.
We encourage curiosity to be a leader against assumptions.
We support the use of the acronym FRIES to share concisely that consent is:
F - freely given
R - reversible
I - informed
E - enthusiastic
S - specific
Permatours is dedicated to holding containers (intentional spaces) that remain free of alcohol,
powders, pills, and gasses. Your presence, in times of joy and difficulty, is welcome here!
We support a space of interdependence, and mutual aid. We trust that when we arrive and
are able to do for ourselves what we can, with the interstanding we may not be able to do
everything, we are better aligned to receive the aid we truly need, and aid others in areas of
their needs. Building mutually beneficial relationships and working together in symbiosis are
key aspects of being able to thrive physically, emotionally, and spiritually, as a community.
We support a space of radical self-reliance, encouraging everyone to show up able to meet
most, if not all, of their own needs. The community is here to support them when/if needed.
We observe the 4 Agreements, with the inclusion of the 5th agreement, by Don Miguel Ruiz.
1. Be impeccable with your word.
2. Don’t take anything personally.
3. Don’t make any assumptions.
4. Always do your best.
5. Be skeptical, but learn to listen.

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Thank you! We hope to see you there!
With gratitude,
Permatours & Crew
permatoursplanet@gmail.com