Posted on Thursday, March 5, 2026
The Clarence and Mary Ann Harms Center for the Environment at Westminster College will host permaculture designer Tamara O’Brien for a public lecture titled “Stacking Functions: Why Permaculture Matters (Even If You Don’t Grow Anything)” at 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, in Room 166 of the Hoyt Science Center.
During the presentation, O’Brien will explore how the principles of permaculture—an ecological design approach inspired by natural systems—can be applied in everyday life to create environments that are holistically abundant, efficient and beneficial for all beings and the planet.
Attendees will learn how permaculture extends beyond gardening and farming to influence the design of homes, communities and organizations. O’Brien will discuss the concept of “stacking functions,” a core permaculture strategy that integrates multiple benefits into a single design element, mirroring the complexity and resilience of healthy ecosystems.
O’Brien is permaculture and native garden designer. She is the founder and director of Plant it Further, a nonprofit with the mission of providing education on native pollinator awareness. She is also the co-founder of the Western Pennsylvania Area Wild Ones Chapter.
The event is hosted by Westminster’s Clarence and Mary Ann Harms Center for the Environment, whose mission is to connect people with one another and the natural world while fostering a deeper understanding of the dynamic relationships among society, the environment and the economy.
The lecture is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be provided.
For more information, contact Dr. Kerri Duerr, associate professor of biology and director of the Harms Center for the Environment, at duerrkc@westminster.edu.
