Regenerative Skills

The biggest challenge for our team here at Abundant Edge when it comes to holistic design is that there are just so many considerations. Climate and landscape data, client’s wants and needs, economic constraints and many more can seem overwhelming but are crucial to creating designs that work in harmony with nature and solve real problems. This is why we put together our “Design Criteria Checklist” to help us remember some of the most important considerations and questions to ask when designing for individuals and organizations alike. This list isn’t meant to be a replacement for your own judgement or creativity as a designer, but it reflects many of the criteria that have helped us the most and what we consider to be some of the most essential bits of information and observations that can be expanded on based on the needs of your clients (or your own projects). We are constantly updating and revising this list so feel free to let us know if there are other essential criteria missing from this list or considerations that you think are important. Don’t forget to listen to the podcast episode that accompanies this list for more stories and explanations on how we’ve used many of the key points bellow to help us get past sticking points and challenges in our work. We hope you enjoy! Resources: Get the Abundant Edge design criteria checklist today * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Last Name *

Here we are once again to talk about the progress, projects and challenges of building the Abundant Edge homestead. On this episode Neal and I are also joined by our good friend Tim Reher. Owner of Shangrila Coffee Roasters in San Marcos just one town over from us here on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. In this episode we talk about setting up our four animal compost factory and the benefits of inoculating soil with bio-ferments and compost teas. I break down the process of slaking our own quicklime to make the mortar for laying slate stone tiles without any cement, and Tim dives in deep into the world of coffee production and processing as we investigate ways or improving the ecological impact of the industry for small producers and processors alike. This was a really fun and insightful conversation to record so I hope you enjoy it! Resources: Shangrila Coffee

I try to keep my fingers on the pulse of whats going on in the world of permaculture, natural building and regenerative living, since after all that’s the focus of this podcast, and as a result I find tons of inspiring projects and designers doing ground-breaking work around the world. One of the people and projects that have really caught my attention in the last two months is Luwayo Bizwick and his organization Permaculture Paradise Institute in Malawi. The scope of his projects and the impact he’s having on the agricultural practices in his country are truly inspiring. In this interview we talk about the challenges that Luwayo faced while growing up and how the epidemics of malnutrition and poverty in Malawi can be addressed through holistic design. We go into detail about the goals of the Permaculture Paradise Institute as well as the strategies to accomplish them. We also dissect his incredible guilded and polyculture systems on the farm and much much more. This is one of the most profound and eye-opening interviews I’ve yet done and Luwayo has a poetic way with words that really helps to build narrative around the sometimes-dry technical aspects of permaculture which I admire very much. When we recorded the episode originally we had a pretty lousy connection (turns out Guatemala to Malawi is challenging on a little wifi hookup) and so he was kind enough to send me his answers to the questions a second time and what resulted was an impressive expansion on this answers the first time around, and so I’ve published the second round in the show notes for this episode on abundantedge.com I highly recommend that anyone who enjoyed the interview have a listen to the second audio as well. It’s under 25 minutes long and absolutely worth the time. So before I drag on too long, here’s Luwayo Resources: Permaculture Paradise Institute on Facebook Luwayo Biswick on Facebook

This was an opportunity from a few months ago that I just couldn't pass up. Two of my best friends and mentors in the world of permaculture, Shad Qudsi and Zach Loeks, came together to teach a Permaculture Design Certification course and we got to sit down in the middle to talk about a wide range of topics from respecting the diversity of permaculture, exploring regenerative land management sites in local communities around Guatemala, to different landscape and soil amendment challenges in different sites. It was an blast sitting down with these two on the Abundant Edge homestead with coffee that we grew and processed ourselves so I'll hand things over now to Shad and Zach Resources: Atitland Organics on Instagram Atitlan Organics Zach Loeks on Instagram

Climate change can manifest in many ways, but in the last 10 years the growing trend of increasingly severe storm seasons and natural disaster have grabbed headlines and displaced entire populations. The urgency of disaster relief is growing every year and the cost of the recovery efforts is skyrocketing. This is what lead me to speak with Rory Dickens, I was first introduced to Rory Dickens through John Bodnar, a former student of mine from our intro to natural building course who recommended that I get in touch with Rory to talk to him about the inspiring disaster relief projects that he and his team are working on with RecycleRebuild on the island of Dominica in the Caribbean. In this interview we talk in detail about some of the major issues facing modern disaster relief efforts and how they can be improved. Rory speaks about his own experiences working in many relief efforts around the world and what he’s learned as well as how RecycleRebuild approaches their recovery efforts from a local perspective that takes into account the specific need of the effected communities and the resources that they have on hand. There are a lot of nuances in each of these cases and it was refreshing to hear a viewpoint that doesn’t advocate for a one-size-fits-all approach, so I hope you get as much out of this interview as I did. Now I’ll turn things over to Rory. Resources: Recycle Rebuild

I haven't been this excited about a project in forever. On this month's regenerative round table, I sit down with Neal Hegarty, co-founder of Abundant Edge, and Shad Qudsi, founder of Atitlan Organics, to get to scoop on our first community reforestation project and heirloom local avocado preservation effort. This has been the culmination of many years of observing the local ecology, and social fabric of our valley here in Tzununa and we're opening the doors for groups and organizations to come and learn through practice. Before I give everything away, have a listen! Resources: Atitlan Organics Service Project Link Hear more from the Abundant Edge Team

Climate change is becoming a major disruptor of ecosystems all across the planet with disastrous effects in many cases. For that reason, I spoke with Ginny Stibolt, co-author of the book “Climate-Wise Landscaping” to learn more about how we can transition our lawn centric and synthetic chemical heavy landscape maintenance practices into beautiful ecosystems that help to address the issues of climate change. In this episode, Ginny talks in depth about alternatives to lawns and how adding native species can bring beauty and health to your yard while sequestering carbon in the soil and attracting wildlife too. We talk about reducing the heat island effect in cities by planting appropriate trees and creating water permeable surfaces to reduce runoff. We also investigate options for growing food, cutting down on maintenance and much more. We cover a lot in this short session so grab your notebooks and I’ll turn things over to Ginny. Resources: Greengardeningmatters.com on Facebook Buy the book "Climate-wise Landscaping" Article: Soil. We need to stop treating it like dirt

Here we are again with one of my favorite guests, Shad Qudsi. Shad has been a good friend and mentor to me and our team at Abundant Edge for years now and is the Founder of Atitlan Organics, a profitable permaculture farm and education center here on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. If you’d like to hear more from Shad and his path to permaculture farming in Guatemala you can always check out our previous interview from season one in the link in the show notes for this episode. I’ve invited Shad back today to help us tackle some of the most pressing questions and concerns that I hear addressed on our facebook page and on-line forums for permaculture farmers. In this interview we speak from our own experiences and context about finding the balance between farm diversity and efficiency. We also go in depth on the often-neglected subject on lifestyle around your farm and how to prevent your plant and animal-based enterprises from trapping you in a cycle of constant maintenance and preventing you from living the life you want. The modern context of regenerative farming comes with a lot of advantages but also limitations if you’re not clear about the life you want to live around farming. I hope this is a discussion that many of you listeners will feel compelled to jump in on. Every context is a bit different and I look forward to hearing your take on the topic. You can always write to us on the abundant edge facebook page or email us directly at [email protected]. Now I’ll hand things over to Shad Resources: Atitlan Organics Our first interview with Shad from season 1

Bread has been a passion of mine for years. Ever since we tried making it for ourselves when I worked on trail crews in the national parks I’ve been fascinated by how much better tasting home made bread is compared to the majority of whats available on supermarket shelves. I eventually worked as a baker for a small artisan bakery in Seattle and have been making my own bread for years now and even building earthen ovens to bake in, so this interview with Victoria Redhed Miller, author of the new book, “From no-knead to sourdough: A simpler approach to handmade bread,” was really exciting for me. In this interview we start with a brief history of how we got from home-made bread in every household, to wonder-bread and factory produced, pre-sliced loaves. Victoria walks us through the whole process starting from selecting flours and mixing ingredients all the way to finished bread fresh from the oven. We also go in depth on the topic of gluten and why many people’s aversion to this simple protein might be unfounded. This is another information dense interview so grab your notebooks and I’ll turn things over to Victoria. Resources: Buy the book "From No-Knead to Sourdough"

Welcome to a very special session of the Regenerative Round Table. Though Jeremy Fellows is away on a road trip through Mexico on his beloved bus sunny, we’re joined by two great friends and social entrepreneurs, Giuliana Gobbato and Michelle Sultan, founders of “La Botica Verde” who we featured in an interview two weeks ago. In this episode we get into a ton of new topics including the difference between food sovereignty and food security, and which is healthier for our communities. We talk about getting ahead of the seasons and preparing for the installation of abundant systems, post-harvest workshops for organic producers to help them get more product to market in a healthy way, designing for energy flows, and so much more. This is an in-depth discussion with some really brilliant minds working to bring profitable and equitable models of permaculture to as many people as possible in a region of the world with so much potential and promise moving forward. I hope that you’ll join the conversation and become collaborators in the seasons to come! Resources: La Botica Verde Abundant Edge on FB

This week we’re getting an in depth look at Kombucha and the world of fermented drinks. I spoke with Andrea Potter, the author of the book DIY Kombucha: Sparkling homebrews made easy. The recent explosion in popularity of this historic beverage comes at a critical time when more and more people are taking back their food making processes and starting to see whole nutritious food as a preventative measure for all kinds of illnesses. In this interview Andrea talk about the history, health benefits, and fermentation process of Kombucha and more importantly, how you can easily make it at home for yourself. We also talk quite a bit about other types of naturally fermented drinks and recipes for delicious flavors. This is a great episode for those of you looking for new uses of fruits, herbs and flavorings that you grow in your gardens and will hopefully inspire you to get started making your own, so now I’ll turn things over to Andrea Resources: Rooted Nutrition Buy the DIY Kombucha book

It's hard to spread the word on regenerative farming and organic food when its impossible to get, so Neal Hegarty had a chat with Michelle Sultan and Giuliana Gobbato, the founders of "La Botica Verde" a social business that helps organic producers find buyers and a larger market for their goods. Each of them come from unique backgrounds and have teamed up to transform the limited food system in Guatemala, arguably one of the most ecologically rich countries in the world. They talk about their passions and inspirations behind the vision for their business as well as many of the unique hurdles that organic producers face in this country too. For anyone inspired by the potential for permaculture based businesses, then this is the episode for you. Resources: La Botica Verde on Facebook La Botica Verde website

Zach and I on my porch in Tzununa I don’t always have the pleasure of interviewing my guests in person but I was fortunate this time to be able to sit down with Zach Loeks, permaculture teachers and author of the book “The Permaculture Market Garden” last week while he’s down here in Guatemala co-teaching a PDC with Abundant Edge and Atitlan Organics. In this episode we had the chance to talk about a lot of subjects we missed on my first interview with him back in season one. We explore the topics of putting “culture” back in permaculture and finding ways of sharing and communicating in other forms such as art and music. Zach talks about the challenges and advantages of the high tropical climate we have and how some of the difficulties might be managed creatively. For anyone looking to get to know Zach better you can hear more about him and his background in our first interview on market gardening from season one. So lets jump back now to my little porch overlooking the lake and catch up with Zach Resources: Zach Loeks on Facebook Zach Loeks on Instagram MC Ecology on Instagram

Hey everyone! We're back with another regenerative round table with the whole Abundant Edge team to fill you in on the projects, challenges, and of course goats here on our regenerative homestead in Guatemala. In this session we talk about the work we've been doing on the landscape and the house over the last month, but also break down a few key concepts that have to be considered in any design such as the nuances of your climate. Neal and I talk about training new members of the team from our local community, and Jeremy breaks down why you should start a nursery as soon as possible and the many benefits of living fences. We also get into other topics like build project planning, planning for the seasons with your goats, answer listener questions, and much more. Don't forget to send your own questions to our team at "The Abundant Edge" facebook page and we'll do our best to answer them for you in upcoming episodes of the podcast.

The world of honey bees has always been a mystery to me. I feel confident taking care of plants, animals, building and even fungi, but bees? In todays interview I spoke with one of the most outspoken advocates of beekeeping Christy Hemenway, found of Gold Star Honey Bees and author of the book “The Thinking Beekeeper: a guide to natural beekeeping in top bar hives.” In this interview Christy introduced me to the way that bees have been managed at an industrial level and some of the many nuanced causes of colony collapse disorder. She also goes in depth about the many benefits that bees have for our environment and agriculture that go far beyond honey production, and wraps up by giving some invaluable advice on how to start and manage your own home scale hive. Christy has tons of great resources including a great TEDx talk she gave a few years back Resources: Get the book, "The Thinking Beekeeper" Christy's TEDx talk goldstarhoneybees.com

My guest today is Kelly Hart, author of Earthbag building which is part of the “essentials series on natural building put out by New Society Publishers. He is also the founder of greenhomebuilding.com, dreamgreenhomes.com, earthbagbuilding.com, and a few others. Today we tackle one of the most constant questions that I get asked as a natural builder and that I hear the most debate over in online forums and that’s the subject of domes and their advantages and disadvantages. Kelly shares wonderful insights from building earthbag domes and living in one for many years. We both share our own stories of successes and challenges in building and living in domes and Kelly gives sound advice on how to avoid leaks and other problems. We also get into the topic of how living in a natural home can have a profound effect on your lifestyle and some of the simple habits that you can change to make the biggest positive impact towards a regenerative lifestyle. Resources: Green Building Directory Essential Earthbag Construction Hartworks.com Dream Green Homes website Earthbag building website Green Homebuilding website

In keeping with my kick on finding new and unique ways to implement permaculture principles and design techniques in ways outside of just land management and natural building I’ve got an excellent guest for you today. You probably know Scott Mann as the host of “The Permaculture Podcast” the longest running podcast on permaculture which has been going strong for more than seven years now. In that time he has gained remarkable insights from some of the most prominent leaders and changemakers in the regenerative economy. Today I’ll be asking Scott about the changes that he’s made in his own lifestyle through his consumer habits, his daily routines and behavior, as well as his interactions with his community and environment. We talk in depth about how abandoning society and moving to the country is often not as effective a form of living regeneratively as you might think. We discuss how to avoid the burnout that can come from too many ethical dilemmas which arise from living in a destructive social system and a few of the many steps that you can use to overcome the stress. We also touch on some practical advice on how to make your money count in a consumer environment with so many destructive options. This is a great episode for those of you listeners who love your locations and jobs, but want to take steps towards healthier, more holistic living, without a huge upheaval and abandoning everything. Resources: The Permaculture Podcast

Welcome to this month's regenerative round table. In this session we talk about our newest additions to the family, the GOATS! Neal and Oliver go into the details behind the goat pen design, and Jeremy talks about mushroom production and the extension of the water and irrigation systems. We also discuss the importance of getting your hands dirty and the reality of implementing your designs. All that and more as we give you a direct window into the development of our regenerative homestead model. If you would like your own questions answered by the AE team, you can write to us on The Abundant Edge Podcast facebook page either in a message or by publishing on the wall and we'll do our best to answer you on our monthly round table sessions. Resources: The Abundant Edge FB Page

Let me introduce you today to one of my favorite gurus of natural building. Conrad Rogue is the founder of “house alive” and has been pioneering cob building for many years and is the author of “house of earth: a complete handbook for earthen construction.” For over 15 years House Alive has taught more than 1000 students how earthen building materials can enhance and uplift our built environment in a simple and elegant way. I reached out to Conrad initially to commend him for an article he wrote called “cob speed” which beautifully deconstructs the comparisons between industrial and earthen buildings and how the expectations of natural buildings are often very skewed. In this interview I asked Conrad about the fundamental differences between “green” and “natural” building. We go in depth about why it’s essential to incorporate appropriate technology into natural buildings in order to make them perform optimally, and we go over the ever-important process of passing your plans for building through the permitting process and how to get the authorities to open up to progressive building ideas. Resources: House Alive Website "Cob Speed" Article

I’ve become really passionate about finding unconventional applications for permaculture design principles and today is a perfect example of someone who is exploring the ways that permaculture can be used to create stronger social and interpersonal structures. Isabelle Fortier is the founder of egoeco.ca whose mission is to inspire people to move towards a higher sense of well-being, to live differently and more in line with their values, all the while contributing to the development of an ecologically responsible society. For nearly 10 years, Isabelle acted as a spiritual life and community involvement facilitator at a CEGEP where she offered several training programs related to relationship counseling, stress management, conflict management, bereavement and intercultural relations. In this interview Isabella talks about the internal changes that we need to make before we can be effective change makers out in the world through a combination of both personal work and group work in ecologically minded communities. Now since my good friend and colleague, Neal Hegarty, had just finished taking Isabella’s three-day course on social permaculture, I gave the mic over to him to conduct the interview. So here’s Neal and Isabelle in our first on a series of alternative applications for permaculture. Hope you are as inspired by these concepts as I am. Resources: EgoEco.ca

Today’s guest, Ted Brinegar, is pushing the boundaries of natural and regenerative low-cost housing with his non-profit organization called “foxhole homes.” These earthship-inspired homes are designed to serve the needs of homeless veterans, but also to help redefine what kind of lifestyle that’s possible on a very limited income. Foxhole homes are designed to be entirely off grid and to produce much of their own food too. In this interview Ted explains the inspiration behind the holistically regenerative design of the structures, with a whole slew of low cost appropriate technology working to make the most of every resource and bit of energy as well. We get into how they keep costs down by salvaging and recycling materials, and we talk about the larger vision for complete communities in the future as well. Ted is a very inspiring speaker who unloads a ton of practical information in this session so grab your notebooks and let’s dive in Resources: Foxhole.org

Welcome to the first "Regenerative Round Table" with the Abundant Edge team. In this new segment we got together at the AE demonstration homestead to have one of our regular evening chats, but this time we turned the mics on and gave it a bit of structure. In this episode we talk about the design and implementation strategy for the site, the apprentice and volunteer program that we're in the middle of, and we also answer listener questions from the facebook page about biochar production and plant propagation. This is our first time recording our discussions, so bear with us as we get a bit of a slow start in the episode, but pick up the pace and the laughs real quickly. If you would like your own questions answered by the AE team, you can write to us on The Abundant Edge Podcast facebook page either in a message or by publishing on the wall and we'll do our best to answer you on our monthly round table sessions. Resources: The Abundant Edge FB Page

Today we’re gonna take a deep dive into the wide world of mycology and fungi with Peter McCoy, the author of Radical Mycology and founder of Mycologos, a new online educational platform for courses on mushroom and fungal cultivation and knowledge. Peter has been studying mycology for more than 16 years and is one of the foremost educators and promotors of the potential of fungi. In this interview we explore some of the many practical and exciting applications of mycelium such as building healthy soil, reviving contaminated sites and polluted ecosystems, medicine and nutrition, transforming waste products and even biological batteries! Peter is a wealth of information and does a remarkable job of making the deep and intricate world of mycelium approachable and easy to understand for the layperson (a category that I certainly fall into). I hope this episode inspires you and opens your mind to the incredible potential of fungi like it did for me, so I’ll hand things over now to Peter McCoy. Resources: Mycologos Mycologos on kickstarter Radical Mycology

Today I have a remarkable guest, Rachael Forster, who works with a cutting-edge non-profit organization called “Tamar Grow Local.” Normally I like to give an overview of the speaker and their projects and expertise before the start of an interview, but though I tried to do that, Rachael and Tamar Grow Local are both quite tricky to sum up. Their initiatives and goals in the community are very far reaching and intricate, but what I can say is that they’ve helped to make huge strides in promoting regenerative farming and market gardening in the Tamar valley, a historical farming region between Cornwall and Devon counties in the south west of England. With just a small team of five people, the organization is on the forefront of agricultural community re-invigoration. So rather than butchering the description, I’ll hand things over now to Rachael Forster who can explain everything much better. Resources: Tamargrowlocal.org

Welcome to the first episode in season 2 of The Abundant Edge Podcast! We have so many exciting interviews and information coming up for you in 2018 and this week's session is a perfect example of that. Today we're going to be speaking with Mark Shepard of New Forest farm in Viola, WI and author of Restoration Agriculture, one of the most iconic books on profitable regenerative production methods anywhere. I've been a big fan of Mark's work and teachings since I first saw his farm profiled on a remarkable documentary called “inhabit” that highlights inspiring examples of permaculture around the USA. Mark is a no-nonsense advocate of farming methods and enterprises that are not only sustainable but actually restore their ecosystem and increase the carrying capacity of life around them. In this interview Mark talks about his unique journey that brought him to conclusions about how humans should interact with nature and take care of their resources. He goes into detail about how he determines if a farm enterprise will be worth the effort and resources invested in it, and how to plan for the long term development of perennial systems while still bringing in an income. Mark also gives sound advice on how to acquire land, build equity and grow your business by navigating the capitalist system that many people in the alternative communities have written off entirely. This is a very insightful talk that may push your buttons a little if you're not familiar with Mark's teachings, but I urge you to keep an open mind and remember how much Mark's results speak for themselves. Resources: Restorationag.com Forestag.com New Forest Farm

Wow! Here we are on the last episode of season 1 and I have a really valuable interview for all of you to wrap up the season. Over the last year we've talked so much about the regeneration of landscapes and ecosystems through permaculture as well as natural building techniques and materials, but to end on a bit of a different note, I spoke with Breanne Gibson, founder of Circular Nutrition to talk about some unexpected ways to apply holistic design and living practices to our own lives. Breanne is a leading holistic nutritionist, live food expert, and permaculture practitioner who talks to us about cultivating a regenerative ecosystem within ourselves through healthy eating and lifestyle choices. She dives in deep into the controversial topics of GMO foods, fad diets, and digestive issue treatment. Breanne even gives me a mini consultation in which we go over my own history of digestive illness and discuss how antibiotics, parasites, and diet can contribute to gut disbiosis and some ways to get back to optimum health. I can only imagine how many comments and discussions that these topics will spark, just for how personal everyone's opinions about health and nutrition are these days. The truth is, I've really become fascinated by all of the ways that permaculture design and regenerative project management can be applied to other areas of life besides the more commonly associated land based renewal projects, and you can look forward to hearing a lot more about those topics when season two begins on February 2, of 2018. But don't forget to keep listening to our little in-between episodes where I'll give some early enrollment information for our upcoming regenerative homesteading apprenticeship, the 2018 workshop schedule and information on how to get your questions answered by our panel of experts all coming up in season two so stick around after the interview to hear more about that. This is another information dense interview so you might want to grab your notebooks for this one For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Resources: Breanne on Facebook Circular Nutrition homepage

My guest today is here to demystify one of the aspects of permaculture design that I hear the most questions about, but also one of the issues that I see folks most entrenched in their viewpoints about. I'm talking about earthworks; one of the first aspects that people implement and the most permanent change made in a landscape. Today I've got Douglas Barnes, author of “permaculture earthworks” and owner director of EcoEdge Design Ltd. to answer our questions and take the guess work out of the subject of terrain changes. In this interview Douglas talks about the best way to map out contours on the land, some of the most effective ways to harvest rainwater on a site, how to link up various earthwork and containment systems to make them work in tandem, and most importantly, he talks in detail about many of the safety concerns that many people have no idea about when it comes to installing swales and dams. There's a ton of valuable information in this session but don't forget to check out his book “permaculture earthworks” for some essential formulas on calculating for swales, water catchments and so much more. Make sure to keep listening at the end of the interview to hear how you can win your own free copy of the book as well. For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Resources: Permaculture Reflections Blog The Permaculture Earthworks Handbook EcoEdge Ltd

I have a very knowledgeable and experienced guest from the world of natural building for ya'll, Rohan Sutherland from Earthship biotecture is here to talk about one of the most famous and recognizable icons of the natural building movement in the last 30 years. Rohan began in international social and environmental work before getting involved with earthship biotecture after being inspired by their on the ground work around the world and the appropriate technology and design that they promoted. Rohan has some amazing stories to tell from his international work, but more than anything he goes into great details about the systems and techniques that earthships exhibit and promote which facilitate off-grid, self sustainable living and integration of their structures with the environment. In this interview we talk at length about indoor food production systems, water harvesting and reuse, and how earthships can be improved and adapted further by using more natural materials. Rohan even talks about the catch 22 of self sustainable living and how it can have a negative impact on community development and connection if not managed correctly. This is another very information dense interview so get your notebooks ready For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability.

In this special episode I'll be giving a detailed look at the design criteria that we use here at Abundant Edge to work on all kinds of regenerative projects. What's important to know about the design criteria list is that it's meant to be a concise and easy-to-follow guide to making responsible and insightful choices. The list is constantly evolving and updating with the experience gained by the Abundant Edge team and I. Keep an eye out for updated and revised versions in the future as we refine our systems and processes. And if any of you have questions for me, or any of the other team members, you can reach us directly on our Facebook page by searching "Abundant Edge." Leave your questions and comments there as posts or private messages, and we'll either answer them as soon as possible or maybe in a future podcast or blog post. For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Get the Abundant Edge design criteria PDF

This is one of the most delicious applications of large scale permaculture I can think of. Just the idea of chocolate, cardamom and coffee makes my mouth water. In this episode Neal Hegarty of Abundant Edge interviews Lorenzo Maniet, the owner and director of El Porvenir cacao finca in Guatemala. El Porvenir is the most impressive agroforestry system you'll ever find in which large scale cacao, cardamom, and coffee production are grown in the shade of larger hardwood trees for the best health of each species. Lorenzo has taken great care to save “criollo” or indigenous species of cacao from extinxion and as a result is producing the highest quality and most deliscious chocolate in the world, all on a regenerative farm model that's building soil with agroforestry and silvopasture practices. What's more is this unparalleled farm will be the site for the new Permaculture Design Certification course run by the instructors from Abundant Edge where students will get to learn all about the succesive models of planting that got this place up and running, and will help to design a zone 1 and 2 space for intensive food production for the finca. Go to abundantedge.com to learn more about the courses. For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Resources: Jungle Wisdom PDC with Abundant Edge Dalileo Chocolate El Porvenir Finca

I'm especially happy to bring you today's interview because I'll be speaking with one of the natural builders who's most influenced and helped me out to get to where I am today running a profitable natural building and regenerative design company. His name is Charlie Rendall and he's the owner of Return to the Forest, a natural design and building firm in the next town over from me in San Marcos la Laguna here in Guatemala. For 13 years Charlie has been living in this little lake-side community and first started learning to build while working on structure on his own land. Through help from other colleagues and friends who got him interested in building with bamboo, Charlie gradually trained himself and a group of local construction workers to build and design some of the most impressive natural buildings that I've seen anywhere in the world. I first met Charlie in May of 2016 when I reached out to him to interview him for an article on my website the last time I was traveling in Guatemala. I was so inspired by his work that I arranged with him to come back as an intern in order to learn more about bamboo and managing larger contracts and designs. I then lived and worked with him for four months and learned so much that has helped me in all aspects as a builder and business owner. In this interview we'll be going into detail about bamboo as a building material and many of its' advantages and disadvantages. Charlie goes into how its' produced and treated for use in construction as well as how to maintain it so that it lasts as long as possible and performs well. Don't forget to check out his website at returntotheforest.org and have a look at the pictures of some of the many incredible projects that he's worked on over the years. There will be links to all of it in the show notes for this episode on the website as well. For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Resources: The Bambu Guesthouse project pictures returntotheforest.org

Most of you will already be familiar with the name Joel Salatin and his immense and incredible work with Polyface farm and all of his books, but you've probably never thought of him primarily as a businessman. In this episode we get to talk to Joel about his new book "Your Successful Farm Business" which he describes as a graduate level resource for anyone aspiring to make a living in a regenerative land based enterprise. This book is heavy on the entrepreneurial side of farming and covers everything from direct marketing to maximizing the efficiency of your operations. Joel also talks a lot about how his own farm has changed over time to accommodate new demands and trends in the market and how his designs and strategies have morphed to meet the new new food economy. This is a really information heavy interview so you'll likely want to have a notebook on hand for this one. I would also love to hear from you if you have any stories from your own farming business to share with the community. Enjoy! For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Resources: Polyface Farm Joel's books

This is honestly one of my favorite interviews that I've yet done and I'll tell you why. In this interview I got to talk with one of my heroes in the regenerative farming world, Richard Perkins. Many of you probably already know Richard and Ridgedale farm from all of the amazingly informative videos and seminars he's put out on YouTube. I came across Richard about 8 months ago and nearly binge watched all of his material online. In just a few short seasons, Richard and a small team have taken a severely degraded small farm in northern Sweden at 59 degrees north from mediocre mono-crop production into a profitable diverse and regenerative permaculture site that produces veggies, eggs, broiler hens, and much more, with longer term plans of food forests and perennial systems beginning to mature. Now I almost never go over an hour in my interviews unless the subject matter is really good, so the fact that this one is just over an hour and 20 should tell you something. Richard starts by explaining why it's so important to bring back small mixed production farms all over the world and then jumps right into practical and actionable information by going over the 7 tenants of regenerative agriculture that he's outlined as the most important aspects to aim for. We also talked at length about how to solve the farm cash flow problem by finding alternative models and markets to sell to, how to intensify rather than merely grow your farm enterprises, how to holistically develop key ecosystems on the farm by building soil, and a whole lot more. This is definitely an interview you'll want to listen to with a notebook on hand, and don't forget to check out the links to some of the projects we mention in the interview in the show notes on the website. For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Resources: Ridgedale Permaculture Farm Alan Savory's holistic land management The Pleistocene Project

I have an unusual interview for ya'll today since I actually wont be the one conducting the interview. Instead, Neal Hegarty, one of the lead designers and team members here at Abundant Edge will be taking the reigns since he's actually known Alex Kronick of Caoba farms in Antigua Guatemala for years and is good friends with him. Now I call Alex, the most impressive permaculturalist you've never heard of because he likes to keep a low profile, but to his credit, his farm and enterprises are truly impressive. He co-manages an incredibly diverse biointensive market garden within the town that also has a farm to table restaurant, farmers market and organic local goods store. Around the periferies of the farm he raises many varieties of animals, fruit trees, perrenial crops and bokashi composting. He's raises snails and has an exoitic plant nursery and seed saving operation. It's the most complete and functional permaculture operation that I've seen anywhere in the world. For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Resources: https://youtu.be/IRFc-OajjAk Caoba Farms Link to the book Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm: Beyond the Doors of Perception into the Dreaming of Earth Neal Hegarty's Interview

I've gotten a lot of requests over the last few months from people asking if I can do more on woodworking and especially timber framing, so today's episode is for you good folks. Today I'll be speaking with Skip Dewhirst, who has been a professional wood worker for more than 30 years and has taught over 100 classes in furniture making, woodworking, timber framing and natural building at places like Rocky Mountain Workshops, Dartmouth College, Rancho Mastatal, Bona Fide, and Mao Organic Farm in Hawaii. In this interview Skip talks about the differences between the main styles of timber framing around the world, box framing, cruck framing and aisled framing, the many types of joints and tools used in the trade, and even gives practical advice for owner-builders and novices starting out. We go deep into different infill materials and techniques for the wall systems and the different considerations to take into account if you're building in a cold or hot climate. There are a lot of technical terms in this episode and a lot of explanations of techniques that are might not make sense unless you see pictures, so I've put a whole list of resources and visual aids in the show notes on the website to make it easier to follow along, so just go to abundantedge.com and click on the podcast tab in the navigation bar to find this and all previous episodes. links to different tools, reviews and pictures Diagrams of different joints and terms For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Resources: yestermorrow design/build school Rancho Mastatal timber frame HQ the timber framer's guild hawaii timber frame course

I'm really excited for today's episode because I get to talk to a close friend of mine, Jeremy Fellows. Now Jeremy has been studying and working in permaculture for ten years and has tons of experience in botany, horticulture and soil science. He and I actually first met when we were hired to collaborate on a project for a client here in Guatemala and we've been friends ever since and have continued to work on lots of other projects. All this has lead up to the collaboration that he and I have with another team member of ours, Neal Hegarty, on a small regenerative demonstration farm that we just broke ground on recently. In this interview Jeremy and I talk a lot about how the farm was designed to prioritize water and soil management as well as biodiversity while making a much better than average profit when compared to other small-holding farms in the region. I also let Jeremy geek out on aquatic food systems, climate resilience, land conservation vs regenerative management and tons more. He even talks in detail about how he designed much of the incredible landscape at the Yoga Forest, a retreat center located in a really challenging location. Before I turn things over to Jeremy I just want to give a heads up that there will be more information on the first ever Abundant Edge complete Permaculture Design Course starting in January so stick around for that at the end and check out the links in the show notes when you're done. For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Resources: Jeremy's Profile The Yoga Forest

Our guest today is Lydia Doleman, an accomplished natural builder and educator as well as the founder of “flying hammer,” a natural building company based in southern oregon. The company focuses on pushing the boundaries of affordable and energy efficient housing, training people and communities in various building skills, and infusing the dreary urban fabric with structures that reflect beauty, sustainability and community. Lydia is also the author of “Light Straw Clay,” one of the volumes in the sustainable building essentials series which will be the focus of this interview. In this episode we go in depth about the world of light straw clay and it's wide range of applications and the nuts and bolts of the building technique. We talk about permanent and temporary form work, larsen trusses and split stud framing, different options of plastering and sheathing the walls, and the advantages and challenges of building with clay straw. I would highly recommend this interview for anyone looking to build a hybrid structure or to renovate an existing conventional building because of how easy it is to use these techniques in traditional homes. For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Resources: theflyinghammer.com

We're really excited about today's guest Robert Pavlis. Robert is a master gardener who has designed and cultivated his own world class private botanical garden on his property in Ontario, Canada and is the author of both gardening myths and building natural ponds. In today's episode we'll be focusing on natural ponds, and Robert's successes and learning experience in mimicking nature to bring all the benefits of a pond into his garden environment. In this interview Robert talks in detail about the increased biodiversity both in the water and along the shores that a pond attracts. We go into pond lining options, simple diagnostics for water quality, design considerations and much more. Now some of you permies and regenerative landscaping folks might find that this interview is a bit heavy on the residential and gardening perspective, and you'd be right, so I would challenge you to leave comments on the abundant edge facebook page or in the comments sections under this episode on the website if you'd like to challenge any of the information in this interview or offer a different perspective on pond construction. But honestly, I think just about anyone will find a gold mine of information in here and Robert does a fantastic job of breaking down the design and installation into really easy to follow steps that we know will empower you to build a pond of your own, and if that's the case then stay tuned at the end of the interview to see how you can win your very own copy of the book, Building Natural Ponds. For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Resources:gardenmyths.com/ robertpavlis.com/

My guest today is Matt Powers, the inspirational author of The Permaculture Student, both 1 and 2. He's also the creator of three successful kickstarter campaigns building advanced courses for permaculture designers as well as educators for many different age levels on a broad range of topics including regenerative landscape management, vegetable gardening, forest farming, and much more. In this interview Matt talks at length about the family emergency that caused him to change his priorities and the way he interacts with his food systems and landscape. He also gives invaluable advice on the most effective steps anyone can take to make sure that their efforts and money are going to support ecosystem regeneration and divert it away from the destructive practices of industrial farming. We also talk about is upcoming advanced online permaculture course with a huge roster of the best instructors and change-makers working today For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Resources: The kickstarter project http://www.thepermaculturestudent.com/

Today I have a guest with a truly remarkable story and journey into natural building. Atulya Bingham is the author of “Mud Ball” and Mud Mountain, both of which cover her incredible experiences moving to the countryside in Turkey and learning to build her own home with earth bags. She has also written numerous educational manuals on earth bag building, clay plasters and much more as well as blogging about her experiences. In this interview Atulya talks about how she first moved onto her bare land in rural Turkey after some economic struggles and learned to do without the comforts that she'd grown accustomed to. We also go into detail about tons of natural building techniques including earth bag construction, applications of limecrete, pros and cons of earth bags when compared to other earthen building techniques and much more. Atulya also talks a lot about her process and journey that many of you who are making, or have already made transitions in your lifestyle will certainly relate to. I also caught up with her as she travels around northern Spain and talks a lot about this new transition of her own. For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Resources: themudhome.com

This week's interview is with a good personal friend of mine who is an awesome farmer and experimenter with plants, especially trees. I first met Brock Barker through some mutual friends when he came down here to Lake Atitlan to co-teach on a PDC with some colleagues of mine. Now Brock is the founder and owner of “The Brockoli Patch,” a permaculture farm and orchard outside of Lafayete, Louisiana on which manages an incredibly diverse and productive landscape. In this interview Brock talks about how taking a permaculture course with the Bullock brothers in Washington state and seeing a mature permaculture system for the first time changed his perspective and way of doing things on his own farm which was originally a market gardening operation. He goes into detail about the fruit tree guilds that keep his perennials strong and healthy, and shares some wisdom from his experiences, trials and errors over the years. This is a really relate-able conversation with tons of great tips for people who are just getting started For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Resources: The Brockoli Patch on FB Profile of the farm

This is gonna be a pretty special episode in that I'll actually be interviewing a man who has seen an incredible transformation in “conventional” farming during his lifetime. My guest is Roland James, but to me he's my Grandpa. Now Roland grew up in a small farming community in the midlands of England near the southern border of Wales. He well remembers the very first tractors coming onto his family's farm in the early 1940s. Before then all of the fields were plowed with horses or oxen. As he grew up he took over the family farm and adapted to the rapidly changing industry just as the rest of the farmers around him were doing. The stories and perspectives that my Grandpa has are a great reminder of how recent the technological ways of farming really are. As he often tells me, he's seen the first mechanization of simple tasks on the land all the way to fully automated machinery that communicates with satellites to gauge the amount of fertilizer that it spreads on different parts of the farm. All this in one person's lifetime. This interview is a remarkable look into just how much our food supply systems have changed in such a short time and why many “conventional” farmers struggle to break out of the cycle of debt that keeps them buying industrial chemicals to mitigate the damage being done to their ecosystem. I hope you find as much value in this perspective as I do and that it will help you better understand how we got into the modern farming systems that we now have. For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability.

In this episode I got to interview one of my personal heroes Erik Ohlsen. Now Erik wears a lot of hats, he's the founder and director of both Permaculture Artisans, a landscape and design company, and the Permaculture Skills Center, an amazing trade school based in sepastapol ca. Erik also writes and publishes books for adults and children with his company, Storyscapes. In this interview Erik talks in detail about how he's built synergy and connection into all of his business endeavors. We talk about how he's designed the courses for the permaculture skills center to include mentoring and the profound effect that mentorships have had on his own journey, and we also get into the the skills that aspiring permaculturalists should work to build that aren't necessarily taught in a PDC. This session is chalk full of practical insights and advice For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Listen in at the end of this podcast to find out how you can win your own copy of "The Urban Farmer" from New Society Publishers Resources: http://www.permacultureartisans.com/

I'm really excited about today's guest. In this episode I'll be speaking to Tom Duncan, one of the visionary leaders behind Aquabiofilter, a water cleaning and regeneration company based in Melbourne, AU. Tom has been involved in some of the most ambitious and successful watershed cleanup operations in history with major projects in China, Malaysia, and Australia that have helped to restore lakes, rivers and wildlife reserves. I became inspired by Tom's work after seeing his webinar presentation on the Sustainable Design Masterclass with Neal Spackman and Raleigh Latham a few weeks ago and couldn't wait to share his insights with all of you. In this interview Tom talks about how he got started in water restoration and cleanup, the biology behind how wetland plants, and specifically their root systems help to filter and absorb excessive nutrients and toxins from the water, and the ingenious floating wetlands that he helped to design based on the ancient indigenous systems that utilize natural materials to create rafts that can be farmed. Tom also discusses some of the ways that all of us can get involved and start helping to clean and manage the contamination levels in our own watershed. This is a really informative interview so for those of you as excited about the potential of regenerating damaged water systems with plants and natural materials, grab your notebooks For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Listen in at the end of this podcast to find out how you can win your own copy of "The Urban Farmer" from New Society Publishers Resources: http://www.aquabiofilter.com/

My guest today is Pete Widin, founder and owner of Artisan Environments, LLC and the creator of The Professional Permaculture Designer online course . I reached out to Pete after reading an article he wrote for my friend William Horvath's page Permaculture Apprentice in which he wrote about some of his best tips and strategies for attracting your ideal clients for a permaculture design business. Now I know that a lot of my listeners and permaculture enthusiasts out there have taken their Permaculture Design course and have stalled because they're not sure how to use their new skills to create a business or an income, and that's why I got in contact with Pete. In this interview Pete talks in depth about how he transitioned from a masters in landscape architecture and built up a client base of wonderful and enthusiastic individuals that were passionate about his design services. He also talks about some of his favorite tactics for finding new clients when your business is just starting out, and the importance of finding your niche within the broad world of permaculture. Make sure to listen all the way to the end where Pete introduces his free course for those of you who want to learn in depth about building your client base for your design services. Resources: Click below to join the Free Get Design Clients Challenge course https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/244440?v=6 https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProfessionalPermacultureDesigner/

today's episode is going to be a bit unusual in that I'll be stepping over to the other side of the microphone as my good friend and permaculture blogger Mike Vair Haley writer of the blog Permaculture Hami asked me to do an interview with him for an article. Mike is a teacher/traveler spending this year going around the world and documenting interesting sustainable designs along the way. He also writes a lot about how permaculture can be applied in unexpected ways such as in finance, government, and business. I highly recommend that you check out his blog at https://permaculturehami.blogspot.com and I'll also have a link to it in the show notes of this episode on the website. Since he wanted to know more about natural building and natural materials, we sat down on my front porch on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and just made a fun conversation out of it. In our little session Mike and I talk about what natural building really means, and why I'm so careful to include the full spectrum of materials and even waste stream products in the definition. We get into ways of creating a more healthy and regenerative living space with natural renovations in industrial homes and I end up geeking out about everything from the intricacies of regenerative ecological design, some common myths and misconceptions about natural building, and even some really simple and actionable steps to making and applying your own clay based plaster in your home. Now normally I give more of an introduction and background for my guests but since I've already introduced myself and talked about my own history back in episode 1 of this show, I'll spare you all the repetition and anyone who's interested can always have a listen to the abundant edge intro episode. So here's me and Mike Vair Haley talking natural building For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Listen in at the end of this podcast to find out how you can win your own copy of "The Urban Farmer" from New Society Publishers Resources: Permaculture Hami Blog the real cost of a natural building earthen plasters article soil testing article

Rhidi D'CruzMark Lakeman I have an extra special interview for all of you today. In this episode I've got not one, but two visionary change makers from the community restoration non-profit City Repair, which is based in Portland Oregon. I've got Ridhi D'Cruz, the co-director of City Repair, and the founder and co-director, Mark Lakeman. They each come from very different backgrounds, but have united to foster thriving, inclusive and sustainable communities through the creative reclamation of public space. City Repair also facilitates artistic and ecologically-oriented placemaking through projects that honor the interconnection of human communities and the natural world. I know that all sounds a bit complicated, but what's worth knowing is that a large part of their projects involve permaculture garden installations and community spaces built with natural materials, all in urban environments where those types of projects have traditionally been hard to get approved In this interview, Mark and Ridhi go in depth about the concept of placemaking and why it's so essential in our modern communities. Mark gives incredible insights into the history of colonial advancement through the Americas and how it shaped the landscape and our build environment into one that isolates us from one another. Ridhi goes on to explain their annual event called the Village Building Convergence and how their work has already had an amazing impact on the interconnectedness of the people they've worked with in unexpected ways. At the end, both of them give invaluable advice on how you can take up the mantle and effectively create and facilitate connections in your own community. The answers may surprise you. For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Listen in at the end of this podcast to find out how you can win your own copy of "The Urban Farmer" from New Society Publishers Resources: http://www.cityrepair.org/

My Guest today is Elvira Di'Brigit, the author of the new book “Why We Farm” which is an investigation into the whole truth about life as a modern day farmer. Viewed through the lens of the environment within the Capay Valley of northern California, each chapter features a different model of farming. In each profile, farmers share the stories behind their work and their lives on the farm; the business side of production, the personal challenges they face, and words of advice for the would-be-farmer. The book asks hard questions and gives a reverent yet realistic picture of a thriving local food system. In this interview Elvira talks about how she first came to the Capay Valley and her motivations behind wanting to live a farming lifestyle. We talk about how the farmers profiled in her book tell a larger story of modern farming in the United States, and even the trends and challenges facing the agricultural industry around the world. Elvira also gives a unique perspective into the growing community outreach that is strengthening the bonds in the valley and fostering a larger network of resilience that should be inspiring for anyone living a rural community. For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Listen in at the end of this podcast to find out how you can win your own copy of "The Urban Farmer" from New Society Publishers Resources: on facebook http://whywefarmcapay.com/

My guest today is none other than Curtis Stone, author of The Urban Farmer. For the better part of a decade, Curtis has been pushing the boundaries of organic gardening in the city and proving through his carefully documented processes that making a profit on small acreage and borrowed land is realistic. H's also the host of a fantastic youtube channel which is practically an ongoing master level course for aspiring urban farmers and small scale market gardeners. In this interview Curtis shares his incredible formulas for farming on land that you don't own and how to select plants that will give you a maximum profit in a small space. He also goes into some of the most common mistakes that city farmers make, and gives great advice on the first steps you should take to starting a profitable farm in an urban setting. For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Listen in at the end of this podcast to find out how you can win your own copy of "The Urban Farmer" from New Society Publishers Resources: greencityacres.com profitableurbanfarming.com https://www.youtube.com/user/urbanfarmercstone

My guest today is Gabriel Franklin, master plasterer and the owner of the company “The Art of Plaster.” Gabriel grew up with a father who was a designer and builder who shared much of his trade with him from a young age. From the age of thirteen, Gabriel started on his dad's bucket and cleanup crew and has been working in plastering and finish work ever since. As an artist and nature enthusiast he has traveled all over the American northeast and even as far as Australia with his trade and dedication to giving blank walls a voice with clay, lime, and gypsum plasters, saying he is inspired by artistic design and how natural materials can accentuate one's personal experience within a living space. In this interview Gabriel explains the difference in performance and characteristics of clay, lime and gypsum. He goes into detail about the importance of prep work and the variety of additives he uses to get specific finish effects and ad strength to his mixes. We even talk about some tricks of the trade and much more. For "The Abundant Edge" listeners only, you can now get 50% off your digital subscriptions to Permaculture Magazine North America by entering the code PMNA50abedge at checkout. Get your subscription today and dive deep into the local and global solutions that go beyond sustainability. Resource: http://theartofplaster.com/ The Art of Plaster on Instagram Sigi Koko on the The Abundant Edge http://americancollegeofthebuildingarts.com/