Registration is now open!
Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
The 2026 Jersey-Friendly Yards Conference, with the theme of Principles of Permaculture in Your Jersey-Friendly Yard, will explore how our landscapes can nourish both people and ecosystems.
Keynote speaker Dr. William Errickson will introduce participants to the principles of permaculture through the lens of native edible plants. His talk will highlight species such as elderberry, beach plum, blueberry, chokeberry, persimmon, serviceberry, and paw paw, examining their roles in native ecosystems while offering practical guidance for incorporating them into home landscapes.
Our plenary speaker, Lisa Mazzuca, will demonstrate how permaculture principles can transform even a typical suburban yard into a resilient and productive landscape. Using a real New Jersey residential case study, she will illustrate how permaculture design and Jersey-Friendly Landscaping practices work together to conserve water, build healthy soils, support biodiversity, produce food, and reduce maintenance.
Join us to explore how integrating food-producing native plants and permaculture practices can build healthier, more resilient landscapes for people, wildlife, and communities. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!
Conference Location
The conference will be held in the Gateway building on the campus of Ocean County College, College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754.
Tentative Conference Schedule
8:30 – 9:00 am
Exhibits and Morning Refreshments
9:00 – 9:15 am
Welcome Remarks
9:15 – 10:30 am
Keynote Talk
Presenter: William Errickson, Ph.D.
10:30 – 11:00 am
Break
11:00 am – 12:15 pm
Plenary Talk
Presenter: Lisa Mazzuca
12:15 pm – 12:30 pm
Closing Remarks and Door Prizes
8:30 – 2:00 pm
Native Plant Sale
About the Presenters
Keynote: Creating a Sense of Place: Native Fruits for Your Permaculture Landscape
This talk will provide an introduction to the key concepts of permaculture through the lens of creating a landscape that is a functional part of our larger ecosystem. Native fruit-producing plants such as elderberry, beach plum, blueberry, chokeberry, persimmon, serviceberry, and paw paw will be discussed with information on their native habitats and ecological functions, specific growing requirements in a garden setting, how to propagate, and how to use them/nutritional benefits.
Presented by William Errickson, Ph.D.
Bill Errickson is an Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent II / Associate Professor with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County. His work focuses on supporting the nursery and landscape industries to improve biodiversity and conserve natural resources through sustainable management practices. Originally from Ocean County, NJ, Bill also spent time in New England, where he was the co-owner and operator of a small-scale, off-grid, horse-powered organic farm and nursery in Coastal Maine. His background in plant physiology, ecology, and soil science complements his experience in small farm management to form a comprehensive foundation for his programs. Bill holds a Ph.D. in Plant Biology from Rutgers University, an M.S. in Soil Science from the University of New Hampshire, and a B.S. in Biology from Stockton University, as well as an advanced Certificate of Permaculture Design.
Plenary: From Principles to Practice: Applying Permaculture in a Jersey-Friendly Yard
Permaculture principles can transform even a typical suburban yard into a resilient, productive landscape. Through a real New Jersey residential case study, this presentation demonstrates how permaculture design and Jersey-Friendly Landscaping practices work together to create gardens that conserve water, build healthy soils, support biodiversity, produce food, and reduce maintenance. Attendees will leave with practical ideas they can apply to their own properties while gaining a deeper understanding of how thoughtful design can create landscapes that benefit both people and nature.
Presented by Lisa Mazzuca
Biography coming soon.
Native Plant Sale
Confirmed Native Plant Nurseries that will be in attendance:
Toadshade Wildflower Farm ( offers a variety of native seeds for sale)