In this session members of the live audience, that day ask questions and share their thoughts on topics ranging from reconnecting with nature and community, to how to handle education, and the next steps we can take to bring people to permaculture. Though Victoria is no longer in Baltimore, and now continues her journeys the lessons learned in that city through her exploration still apply to our work as practitioners looking to live and practice from a deep sense of self and a place of love. If you would like to get in touch with her, please send me a message and I will pass your information along to her.

Resources
Charm City Farms

Related Interviews
The Forager's Apprentice (Part 1 of this two-part recording)
Urban Permaculture in Baltimore (The first interview with Eric and Victoria)

Music By Javier Suarez (Jahzzar) under a Creative Commons License (Attribution-ShareAlike)

Since Woody Tasch originated this idea in the late '00s, they have moved $50,000,000 between individuals for their projects, with a loan failure rate less than traditional loans. Nancy shares her experiences connecting with farmers so they can grow their operations in Kansas, and the impact that is having on neighbors and agricultural practices. By creating new farming markets, they create new opportunities for current and beginning farmers, whether this is their first year or fifth generation in agriculture.

Resources
Slow Money NE
Kansas Slow Money
Prairie Festival
B the Change
Media B-Lab

Transition Music By Javier Suarez (Jahzzar) under a Creative Commons License (Attribution-ShareAlike)

During the conversation time talk about international permaculture and the French permaculture movement; what books, materials, and classes are available in that region folks interested in getting involved in Permaculture, including  what staples of the literature have and have not been translated so far; and how that selection of books leads to the search for climate analogues and the authors writing for that region of the world. Along the way, Perrine shares what it's been like to transition transition to a life of farming, finding permaculture, and with it a way to move forward as a farmer. Together she and Charles are raising their family and food together, while spreading permaculture throughout France and, with the publication of this book, the world.

If you'd like to learn more about their farm, read this case study by François Léger and Sacha Guégan, that details the operations at Bec Hellouin, and the results the Hervé-Gruyer's are receiving. Permaculture Organic Market Gardening and Economic Performance And then grab yourself a copy of Miraculous Abundance from Chelsea Green.

Resources
Miraculous Abundance
Le Bec Hellouin Farm
Robert Hart (Wiki)
Forest Gardening with Robert Hart (YouTube)
The Agroforestry Research Trust (Martin Crawford)
Martin Crawford's Forest Garden (YouTube)

Transition Music By Javier Suarez (Jahzzar) under a Creative Commons License (Attribution-ShareAlike)

(Picture: Trevor Tychon of Connect Africa Ministries at one of the Uganadan Connect Africa Resource Centers)

Trevor and Connect Africa Ministries primary work has been providing clean water since creating the organization, along with his wife Jana, in 2001. Rather than drill wells, which can break due to the failure of a ten-cent part that requires thousands of dollars in resources to fix, they work above ground to capture and clean rainwater.  Originally intended to provide potable water for 5,000, they have touched the lives of over 50,000 by embedding themselves alongside the people they work with, and being and active part of the solution to empower individuals and transform communities. While working in Africa, Trevor and Jana discovered permaculture and began integrating that into their broader work, so that more people can create resilience where they live. For the Tychon's, this education also includes experimentation, learning to grow something at one Connect Africa Resource Center and sharing that through trials at others. A longer episode than has been posted in a while, there is a lot of wisdom from the work of Trevor and CAM. Enjoy.  

Resources
Connect Africa Ministries  (Trevor's Site)
EcoThinkIt (David's Site)
Joel Glanzberg - MAPC Opening Address  

Transition Music By Javier Suarez (Jahzzar) under a Creative Commons License (Attribution-ShareAlike)

Six year ago he returned to the United States where he started Ecologia Design and wrote Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist. Michael is an old friend of the show who continues to do incredible work by modeling what he wants to see in the world, while making permaculture ever more accessible through ideas like the Edible Forest Patch, and creating functional, beautiful designs. Ever step of the way he meets people where they are at so that their needs are forefront to the outcomes of every project. I also consider his book one of the better introductions to permaculture for someone just getting started because he has provided simple, straightforward projects that can get someone involved within a few days of opening the cover, whether they are interested in the landscape, food, or booze.

If you know someone looking to add permaculture to their lives, but don't know where to begin, gift them a copy of Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist.

Resources
Ecologia Design
Project Bona Fide
Paw Paw Festival

Mid-Atlantic Permaculture Convergence Sponsors
Crossfields Institute
Goddard College
Sustainable Jefferson County

Mid-Atlantic Permaculture Convergence Advertisers
Permaculture Design Magazine
PIP Magazine
Seppi's Place
Susquehanna Permaculture

Transition Music By Javier Suarez (Jahzzar) under a Creative Commons License (Attribution-ShareAlike)

David and Joshua explore further what it means to seek out a right livelihood while creating a truly sustainable world. Something that serves as a transition between the consumptive space that we find ourselves in now, moving towards a space where we live within the boundaries of Earth. They also touch on someone whose work we could all do to learn a little bit more about, Buckminster Fuller. 

Along the way Joel shares with us his personal successes and failures, while keeping a focus on how we can use the teachings of permaculture to view the world through a lens that focuses on the patterns that lead to ever greater, intentional, design with biological systems in mind. You learn more about him and his work by visiting PatternMind.org.

While you are there you can also view his video 30 Years of Greening the Desert. In the notes below you’ll find a transcript of Joel’s talk. This is something I’d like to include in every episode of the show and to help that along have updated the Patreon page for the show to reflect that.

What I like about this conversation with Joel is how he continued to return to the power of biological forces in our systems.

From Schrodinger's quote about neg-entropy to how he might build his son, to repairing cracks in a system, life begets life. The more we spend time designing with life in mind the more regenerative our systems become. The more they allow us to design ourselves out of the work. Even with what I’m doing here with the podcast, right now technology is how the stories are told, but over time and with the creation of new traditions, we can train new storytellers who collect and share the tales of others, to spread words and voices from mouth to ear in a perpetual way that isn’t replaced with something but by someone. Oh what a beautiful world it will be.

How do patterns impact your work? Did you learn something new from what Joel shared? I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below. 

Resources
PatternMind.org - Joel’s website
Gregory Bateson (Wiki)

Eric devotes his energy on emerging systems, and the stories of communities, cooperative, and alternative economics. Through our time together I always enjoyed the deep, heady conversations we had about all of these subjects, as well as lighter ones, such as heavy metal music or Western martial arts. During our many conversations together he also introduced me to many of the thinkers and theorists you'll hear mentioned today. I highly recommend listening to the video with Murray Bookchin posted below, and I'll be seeking out David Graeber's Debt, while already having a copy of Charles Eisenstein's The Ascent of Humanity on my bookshelf, ready to read once I finish an upcoming move.

Enjoy what Eric has to share? How would you build community? What about living in The Gift? Are you ready to make a leap? Feel free to get in touch by leaving a comment below.

Resources
Eric’s Bio at The Emergence Network
The Emergence Network
Noam Chomsky
Debt (Wiki) by David Graeber (Wiki)
Murray Bookchin, Forms of Freedom (YouTube)
Charles Eisenstein
Orphan Wisdom School and Stephen Jenkinson
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer 

Find out more about Rob and his work at TransitionNetwork.org and the other resources below.  

If you are interested in starting your own transition town or want more information on the movement, let me know by leaving a comment below.

Resources
Transition Network
Rob Hopkin’s Blog Reconomy
Project Atmos Totnes
Making Permaculture Stronger
LAND (Learning and Network Demonstration) Evidence based Permaculture
Green City Acres - Home of Curtis Stone, author of The Urban Farmer   

He ate with fervor at the plate of knowledge so that now we can dine upon meals of wonder with fresh and unexpected flavors. Find out more about Pascal and his work at UrbanOutdoorSkills.com, and his book is at ChelseaGreen.com.

Where you live, what do you eat? Have your forage for foods? Is there a plant you want to know more about, such as how to prepare it, or plan a meal around it?

Let me know by leaving a comment below. 


Resources
Pascal Baudar
The New WIldcrafted Cuisine Chelsea Green