little gifts from
the land & us

Accept Feedback ~A Living Breathing Resonance One of the most humbling, mystical, and sometimes uncomfortable of the permaculture principles is this one: Accept feedback. At first glance, it might sound simple—like a lesson from a kindergarten classroom. Listen. Share. Be kind. But in practice, true feedback—especially from the land, the seasons, the animals, and yes, […]

Obtain a Yield ~Because You Deserve to Reap What You Sow Let’s talk about the third Permaculture principle: Obtain a Yield. I know it sounds obvious—but, of course we want a harvest! That said, this principle goes deeper than just pulling carrots from the ground or collecting eggs from your hens. It’s a gentle (but […]

Catch and Store Energy ~A Love Letter to the Lost Art of Enough In the old world, our ancestors knew how to catch and store energy without even thinking about it. They captured nutrients in fermented vegetables not to be trendy but because the garden didn’t stop just because they were full. They dried herbs, […]

Observe and Interact ~Listening Before Acting They always say the first step is the hardest. But when it comes to permaculture—and life, honestly—the first step is actually the easiest. You just have to stop doing and start listening. So let’s start with the first permaculture principle is Observe and Interact, and while it sounds simple, […]

Permaculture is a design philosophy that includes a set of governing ethics and principles. The gentle, time-tested Permaculture principles, are a map for creating systems that work with nature—freeing up your time, restoring your energy, and inviting a more thoughtful, seasonal pace. This is a really a quiet rebellion. A return to the ways that […]

We have been busy researching and preparing a small line of natural skin and hair care products for farm-stayers and beyond. We have an amazing simple all purpose bar that is great to use as a shampoo bar, and we are busy considering deep conditioning natural hair mask options. As a holistic homesteading mama, I […]

When you live off-grid you need to be extra careful not to pollute your land and water. Even organic and “biodegradable” products can have ingredients that are harmful if consumed by livestock or taken up by plants. It’s important to embrace a natural hair care system that works for you. Here are the basics: Natural […]

Generally, organic agriculture is modeled after conventional agriculture. The main the exception is that it excludes the use of toxic substances whether it be pesticides or fertilizers. Additionally, in the case of animals artificial hormones and toxic medications like antibiotics are also excluded. Other than that there are generally more similarities than differences between the […]

4 Ways Permaculture Goes Beyond Regenerative Agriculture

From the “Ask Hettie Quackers” archives: What is Permaculture? Q: Dear Hettie — I love organic gardening and want to do more. I want to be more ecological and self-sustaining. I’ve heard the term “permaculture” used by like minded acquaintances, but I can’t really pin-point exactly what people mean by it. What is permaculture? Can […]