Daniel Halsey

Dan travels inter-nationally, hired to design and consult for planning of intentional communities, agro-ecosystems, and broad-acre restoration. Dan is a certified permaculture designer and teacher for multiple academic institutions and organizations. Daniel graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Temperate Climate Polyculture Design and has a Masters in Professional Studies Horticulture degree. Dan has designed for ecological sites in Spain, The Netherlands, Senegal, Haiti, Cost Rica, Portugal, the USA and Canada.
 
During his twenty-five year career he has developed skills in graphic design and illustration, which he uses to illustrate the plant systems he designs for transforming farms and ornamental landscapes to edible forest gardens, sustainable farming systems, and ecosystem restoration. He also teaches for the University of Minnesota. Dan is currently consulting and implementing broad acre and homestead permaculture designs. The majority of his master plans are for large-scale agrarian community systems supplying multiple yields, increased natural capital, and resource cycling.
 
 Dan and Ginny live on a twenty-five acre wetland savannah called SouthWoods, in Prior Lake, where they have manage self-sustaining forest gardens of fruiting trees, shrubs and nut crops. SouthWoods incorporates permaculture principals in all aspects of living.

     

 

 

Affiliations:

  • UD Road House:  Begins full time national and global travel for design projects 2021
  • United Designers On-line Ecological Design Training 2019
  • United Designers International, International Office in The Netherlands. 2018
  • Society for Ecological Restoration, Large Scale Ecosystem Section, Board Member 2017
  • Hope Foundation, South Africa  2017
  • World Permaculture Association, Italy, Board Member 2017
  • Ecosystem Restoration Co-op, The Netherlands, Lead Ecosystem Designer 2017
  • SouthWoods Ecosystems, HCSI, Inc. - President 1984
  • Natural Capital, LLC. - Partner, Plant Database 2009
  • United Designers Co-op, Founder 2016
  • Gardening Matters - Board or Directors, President 2013
  • The Permaculture Research Institute/USA - Board of Directors

Teaching Experience:

  • Farmer to Farmer Consulting and Teaching for USAID, Lebanon 2013 - 2017
  • Urban Farmer Program, Instructor – Mentor, PRI Cold Climate, Minneapolis, MN 2011-2012
  • Nature’s Nest PDC, Delano MN  2012
  • Mindful Generations PDC, Haiti, 2012, 2013
  • Victory Garden Initiative PDC, Milwaukee, Wi, 2012
  • SouthWoods/Permaculture Project, Advanced Permaculture Design, 2012, 2013
  • Edible Landscapes, TA, Dept of Horticulture, University of Minnesota, 2012
  • Crazy Rooster Farm PDC, Design Process and Polycultures, Mondovi, WI 2011
  • University of Wisconsin, PDC presenter, Design Process and Polycultures, River Falls, WI 2011 - 2012
  • Permaculture in Design, Minneapolis College of Art and Design  50 hr.2009 - 2011
  • Homestead and Landscape Design Workshop, PRI/CC   20 hr. Quarterly 2009 - 2013
  • Digital and Internet Resources for Permaculture Design, PRI/CC  3 hr. 2009 - 2013
  • Adjunct Instructor: Project Management, Brown College, Mendota Heights 2006 - 2011
  • Permaculture Research Institute, Presenter, Certification in Permaculture Design 2007
  • PRI/CC, Permaculture Introduction and Workshop, Presenter
  • PRI/CC, Teacher’s Guild Coordinator, Presentation Supervisor


Speaking Engagements:

  • Kenyan Agricultural Delegation, Sustainable Immigrant Farming Practices
  • Hennepin County Master Gardeners’ Annual Luncheon, Nature’s Harvest and Beauty
  • Mandala Community Gardening and Management, Women Environmental Institute
  • Permaculture, Rural Living Expo, University of Minnesota Extension, Jordan, MN
  • Permaculture and Site Assessment, Women Environmental Institute, Organic Farm School
  • Permaculture, Metro Blooms, Minneapolis Committee on Urban Environment
  • Water Catchment Design, Sustainable Farming Association, Gale Woods Farm, MN
  • Biomimicry and Permaculture Design, Bioneers Conference, Mpls, MN
  • Biomimicry, Business Process Management Conference, Orlando Florida
  • Permaculture Principles, The Bioneers Regional Conference, University of Minnesota
  • Permaculture and Biomimicry, Bioneers Regional Conference
  • Peak Oil Transition and the Future Sustainable Community, Corcoran Sustainability Fair
  • Sustainability and Permaculture, Corcoran Sustainability Fair, Mpls ,Mn
  • Permaculture and Gardening, Ramsey County Gardening Club
  • Beyond Sustainability: An Introduction to Permaculture, Mpls. Quakers
  • Master Gardeners Annual Luncheon, Natures Beauty and Natural Harvests, Bloomington, MN
  • SouthWoods Forest Gardens Tours, Frequent Tours and Classes for novice and public attendees

 
Professional Development:

  • Restoration of Degraded Drylands and Monitoring of Desertification Processes, Zaragoza, Spain
  • Graduate Student, University of Minnesota, MLS/MPS* Horticulture
  • Hazelnut Woody Agriculture, Badgersett Research Corporation
  • Gardening Like the Forest: Fundamentals of Perennial Polyculture Design, Dave Jacke
  • University of Minnesota, Temperate Climate Polyculture Design, BS
  • Permaculture Research Institute, Australia, Certification in Permaculture Design
  • Teaching Permaculture Creatively, TA, Dave Jacke, Sandstone, Minnesota
  • Teachers Training, TA and Presenter, Midwest Permaculture

 
Publications:
             

  • Co-Author, Integrated Forest Gardening, 2014, Chelsea Green Publishing
  • Catch and Store Principles, Permaculture Magazine, UK, Fall 2009
  • Polyculture Design, Friends School Editorial, 2009
  • Co – Author, Graphic Design and Sustainability, Wiley Press Release 2009         
  • Permaculture in Package Design, Package Design Magazine, Dec, 2008
  • Co – Author, Packaging Sustainability, Wiley Press Release 2008