How This Began

When I first heard the term "permaculture" about twelve years ago, I was excited about getting plants and establishing a garden. But the wonderful flora found in books like "Plants for a Future" were hard to find. I began to satisfy my urge to propagate while making young samples from every interesting grape and edible green I could find, while I increased my gene pool by looting the fabulous seed bank that is Chilterns seeds. After a visit to Richters in Ontario, I had to toss all those silly clothes out of my luggage to make room for the new sorrels and herbs and little trees. Almost immediately, my casual little plant business became "Edible Landscapes", and I began the serious work of breeding out trays of unusual plants. But the obvious problem followed – switching a population used to pretty and showy plants to those that might be awfully dull looking, but packed an intriguing multi use punch. While plowing away at that task, I wrote the book, "Gardening for the Faint of Heart", and began to be invited to speak at events. And from the questions I was asked at these events, it was obvious that some new gardening lessons needed to be created … and thus the first formal lessons like "Gardening for the Faint of Heart", and others, which I operated through the SCRD, began. And meanwhile, I had moved onto 2.5 acres of raw land – and ran into the acid test – can someone with few financial resources and little time create a viable edible garden in the bush, using, yes! Sticks and leaves and straw? And it seems to be working – healthy, vibrant gardens are springing out of the dry grit, self seeders are forming colonies, bamboo is taking hold and young fruit trees are laden each summer. I finally had some usable samples of what I was trying to learn and teach.

So I began to do some tours of Permaculture edibles … and this led to other classes. And then I began to realize there were far too many questions out there, and no formal way to pass information on. I invited knowledgeable friends to share their gleanings in my Practical Permie Weekends. It still didn’t seem enough. So the concept of the Sustainable Living School was born. And like the garden outside, I am sure this will evolve as well…