The Hancock Permaculture Center

The Hancock Permaculture Center is located in Hancock (Delaware County), New York, and dedicated to the philosophy and practice of permaculture in the upper Delaware and western Catskills bioregion.  

The Center actively promotes permaculture-based businesses and lifestyles through support of:

• Permaculture education and outreach

• Eco-friendly home design and construction

• Water conservation and home heating alternatives

• Greenhouse gardening and locally grown organic food        

• New business development based on permaculture principles

OUR HISTORY

The Hancock Permaculture Center was established in 2004 by Andrew Leslie Phillips, a garden designer specializing in natural stone, and a certified permaculture practitioner. A native of Australia, Andrew spent seven years in Papua New Guinea as a government patrol officer, radio journalist and filmmaker before coming to New York in 1976. He produced award-winning investigative radio documentaries on a wide range of environmental and political issues for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, National Public Radio and later for WBAI Community Radio in New York City where he was program director (1989-93). He taught journalism, radio and “sound image” as an adjunct professor at New York and other universities for 15 years.

In 1997 he launched Stone and Garden, a garden design and permaculture consulting service, which he still operates. His quest for natural stone for patios led him to Hancock, “the Bluestone Capital of the World.” In 2004 he relocated to the area and set up the Hancock Permaculture Center.  

ABOUT HANCOCK

 

The village of Hancock (pop. 1,189) sits on the Pennsylvania border in the western Catskills, at the headwaters of the Delaware River.  It is here that the East and West branches of the river join to form the main stem of the Delaware at a point known locally as “The Wedding of the Waters.” Hancock is 140 miles northwest of New York City on Highway 17 (soon to be Interstate 86).

In addition to its designation as “Bluestone Capital of the World,” logging plays an important role in the economy of Hancock. So does tourism. Hancock boasts critical habitat areas for some of the finest wild trout fisheries on the east coast, making it a veritable mecca for fly fishing enthusiasts. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has documented the area as a year-round habitat for several mating pairs of the American bald eagle.

To learn more about the economy, resources, and history of Hancock, visit www.hancocknewyork.com.  

Andrew Leslie Phillips:  Studied permaculture with Bill Mollison, Geoff Lawton, and Andrew Jones. Founder of  Hancock Permaculture Center. Lead consultant at www.permaculturedesignsolutions.com.Taught journalism and sound-image at New York University Tisch School of the Arts. A native of Australia, Phillips spent seven years in Papua New Guinea as government patrol officer, radio journalist and filmmaker before coming to New York in 1976. He produced award-winning investigative radio documentaries on numerous environmental and political issues for Australian Broadcasting Corporation, National Public Radio and Pacifica Community Radio, New York City where he was program director at WBAI (1989-93).
He also operates a garden design business in Brooklyn, NY. www.stoneandgarden.net

Andrew Jones is a board member of the Permaculture Research Institute in Australia and the U.S and has co-taught courses with Geoff Lawton. A background in international emergency response and post-conflict development and rehabilitation, he is a native of Australia. He teaches internationally and is an international permaculture consultant and alternative health trainer.

Maria Grimaldi: received her permaculture design certificate with Hancock Permaculture Center. She is a graduate of the CUNY Graduate School and University Center in New York City with a degree in Environmental Psychology. Maria  has a diversified background in teaching gardening, farming, plant science and cooking courses with the New York Botanical Gardens, The Brooklyn Botanic Garden,  Cornell Cooperative Extension, NOFA-NY and Sullivan County Community College. In the 1970's Maria was a community organizer involved in spearheading the Urban Gardening Movement throughout the 5 Boroughs of New York City. Hundreds of  gardens continue to flourish today. Maria now lives in Sullivan County New York where she continues to garden in harmony with nature. She has served on the Board of the Sullivan County Soil and Water Conservation District and on the Board of the Sullivan County Farmers Markets Association.

Russell Honicker: received his permaculture design certificate with Hancock Permaculture Center. A freelance photographer, he has traveled widely in Central America for Newsweek, New York Times Magazine, The Village Voice and other venues. Energy, social justice, foreign policy and sustainability issues are reflected in his work. He is skilled in masonry restoration and stone installation and makes a mean loaf of bread. Lives in Cooperstown N.Y.