I have been gardening a long time, and love to smell the Earth and watch things grow. I grew up on a large Virginia farm so living close to the land and learning nature’s wisdom is in my blood. When I bought my 5 acre Florida farm in 2018, I was grateful to have both a Biodynamic Gardening Certificate as well as a Permaculture Design Certificate to help guide me. While gardening and farming are rewarding endeavors, it can be difficult to know how to begin working with land.
The Permaculture Principles provided me with clear, solid steps for how to get started. I walked my little farm often, in the morning, at noon and in the early evening, while observing, listening, feeling and seeing a vision for my land. My knowledge of the permaculture zones prevented me from feeling overwhelmed, and allowed me to focus on the first two zones of my house and the kitchen garden. In time, I moved farther out onto the land to create an orchard, a food forest and began working the edges and wild spaces. I am only now, seven years later, developing my vision for the income producing part of the farm.
I have come a long way, and the beautiful transition upon the land is nothing short of extraordinary. I think of permaculture as the permanent environment in which we are placed to thrive and feel alive, but it is also a dynamic, fluid and ever-changing terrain we must learn to navigate. The permaculture way of life unleashes the qualities and strategies of the Earth herself, and it is her wisdom with which we collaborate that has a potent impact.
I am now offering Permaculture Consultations to share with others all that I have learned to help you create your own vision for your land, no matter the size. It is your vision along with some basic permaculture knowledge and lots of patience that matters. Your vision for your land is going to change as you gain new permaculture eyes and move through the design process. It is your own intimate connection and understanding of your land that will ultimately create the best design.
Perhaps you just have a large yard, and you are longing to fill it with beautiful flowering plants like Plumbago, or maybe you want to introduce some Florida native plants into your yard like American Beautyberry. Unlike most tropical plants, the native plants will thrive in Florida soil without the need for soil amendments and fertilizers, and attract the native birds and pollinating insects that rely on them for food.
Plumbago
American Beautyberry
Or maybe you want to create an herb garden wherein you can grow culinary spices and healing adaptogen plants, or focus on strictly medicinal plants and trees like Elderberry.
Lemon Verbena, Ashwagandha, Vana Holy Basil and Rosemary
Elderberry blossoms
If you have a few acres, perhaps you want to start growing your own food in a kitchen garden and orchard, or build raised beds or even start a food subscription farm for income.
Kale, Chard and Arugula
Raised bed kitchen garden
Maybe you want to create orchards to grow lots of fruit trees and include more exotic fruits like Figs and Dragonfruit.
Italian Honey Figs
Dragonfruit’s amazing flower!
The possibilities for larger acreage is endless with options for large crop production, orchards, raising or rescuing animals or even just restoring and re-wilding land with native plants and wildlife habitats. My neighbors rescued some cows, goats and donkeys from a kill shelter in Iowa, and they now live peacefully on a big 5 acre field.
Rescue Donkeys
What you can expect from a Permaculture Consultation:
I will come out to your home and property, we will walk it together, I will listen to what you envision and want to create, and I will give you suggestions and feedback to support and expand upon your vision. We will talk about soil, sunlight, shade, wind, storms, compost, fertilizer, pests, fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, and all sorts of trees, flowers and plants. I will ask you many questions. My visit will be followed up with an email to include resources that I feel will help you get started.
Design Work
Sometimes people want a drawing to help them visualize their design, and which can assist in the building and installation of the design. Design work with you will include discussing and choosing the plants, trees and shrubs you want prior to my doing the design. Once complete, I will return to your property to discuss the design and make any needed changes.
You will have the option to source and purchase all the plants yourself, as well as to build and install the design, or I can arrange for assistance in both sourcing the plants and installing the design. You will receive an estimate for all the plants and for the installation work.
My rescue dog, Daisy, will likely accompany me on visits. She will be leashed, is well behaved and does not bite. If her presence on your property is a problem, please let me know ahead of time.
Samples of Design Work
If you are just wanting to create one large bed, a few small beds or a kitchen orchard, the design work involves choosing the locations, determining the size and discussing the plants you want. I will then create a design similar to the ones below.
A large broad bed
A kitchen orchard
If you have substantial acreage and are wanting a design for your whole property, the first step will be to use a satellite photo of your land to identify your current layout. You will participate in this by marking the photo as seen below. Then we will discuss the permaculture zones, and begin with your house and kitchen gardens. From there, we will move out to identify the remaining zones and what you want to create. I will create a design for the kitchen gardens, and a final design for your whole property. There is flexibility with the outer zones, but you will have a clear understanding of their locations and all the options available to you.
Satellite photo of property
House and kitchen gardens
A final zone design
Prices for Permaculture Consultations
1. Less than 1 acre – $55 an hour
2. 1-3 acres – $75 an hour
3. 3-5 acres – $100 an hour
4. 5-10 acres – $125 an hour
5. 10-20 acres – $150 an hour
Design work – $45 an hour
Simply email me at [email protected] to schedule your consultation, how much time you require and I will confirm the day and time.
Payment by cash or check is due upon completion of my visit.
For design work, you can pay by cash or check when I deliver the design, or I can invoice you via email upon completion.