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You are what your grandmother ate.
~ unknown

Today is the time to celebrate not only the New Moon, but the Spring Equinox! As part of our Soup & Story series, we are having a simple ritual here at the farm led by Moona Cancino to celebrate the coming of Spring. Moona has been hangin’ out here at the farm for a few […]

Dear Hettie: I would like to have backyard chickens. Is it really as easy as people say? ~ Adrienne Well, Hettie says, “Haven’t you heard? Chickens are out. Ducks are in! You should really get yourself some Ducks!” I know what you’re thinking, of course Hettie prefers ducks – she IS a duck. How do I […]

The last couple days we’ve been focusing on Permaculture Ethics. Another very pervasive idea in Permaulture is the idea of zones. The kitchen garden is zone 1 and the back 40 is zone 5. That’s the basic idea. There has been, and still in, a lot of thinking about zones 1-5 and how to use […]

All human beings have needs and they are pretty much the same for everyone. The truth is that the vast majority of the world’s population, rich and poor, is not getting their needs met. The poor are most often the focus of “Fair Share” conversations in permaculture circles and beyond. It is certainly true that […]

One of the first things to know about Permaculture that makes it different from other paradigms of ecological and social reform is that it is rooted in 3 basic ethics. These 3 ethics form the foundation of what makes permaculture so unique. For example organic agriculture simply requires that one not use synthetic pesticides. Of […]

I came to traditional foods and urban farming first through my slow-food Food Cart, Fold Crêperie way back in 2003-6. I was one of the first food-carts to use organic farm-based ingredients and Slow food principles in my cooking or to appear in a gourmet food magazine. When I was interviewed (without my knowing it of […]

Q: Why would I want to pay for and earn a Permaculture Design Certificate? A: You’re kidding right? I mean one of our major influences here at Tierra Soul is Permaculture. Its ethics and principles make up a set of tools you can carry anywhere, into any profession, any endeavor. The essence of permaculture that […]

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 learning about it help me do more for my […]

Dear Hettie, What’s the difference between Honey Bees and Mason Bees? I have been focusing on planting edibles in my yard and think I should have honey bees since they actually produce something I can use – honey. Why would I want to add Mason Bees anyway? Answer: Oh, my…. quacks Grandmother Hettie (yes, Hettie […]

Recently I (Krista) was interviewed for the Mom’s Who Do It Different Tele-Series with Sherry Rothwell. I had the chance to talk quite a bit about Permaculture and Lazy-Lady Living as well as about our path toward Financial Freedom while maintaining our Renegade Pioneering Spirit. Just click the “Interview with Sherry”link below. We think you’re […]