Permaculture

Working with nature, not against it

Permaculture, for me, is not only a method of agriculture—it is a way of observing, listening, and working in relationship with living systems. It is about understanding natural processes and supporting them, rather than forcing outcomes. This approach mirrors the philosophical foundations of yoga: care, awareness, restraint, and long-term balance.

Both yoga and permaculture ask the same question:
How do we live in a way that sustains life—within ourselves and around us?

A lived practice, not a trend

Long before terms like permaculture, swales, and berms became widespread, I was in India learning directly from land-based systems that had evolved over generations.
There, I witnessed projects rooted in patience and long-term thinking, including:

Methane conversion systems for electricity
Water catchment and controlled flow on hillsides
Multi-tiered planting of native species on land made barren by logging and monsoons
Forest management returned to local tribal elders

One project I observed had unfolded over more than 20 years. What began as bare rock slowly transformed into a fully functioning forest ecosystem. Soil was created using native plants, a microclimate developed, a natural spring emerged, and animal species thought to be extinct returned. By the time I encountered it, the system was self-sustaining and required no human intervention.

This experience profoundly shaped how I understand regeneration—of land, bodies, and communities.

Notes from the field

Experience in land and ecosystem regeneration

I have decades of experience working as an independent contractor and project manager on permaculture farms and land-regeneration projects. My work often involves observing the land as a whole system and creating clear, realistic pathways for regeneration.

This includes:

Designing short- and long-term plans for land health and sustainability
Reading landscapes and planning water movement and collection using aerial maps
Regenerating degraded soils, including clay and boggy land, into fertile loam
Introducing fruit trees, native plants, and animals to support closed-loop systems

I have managed and trained livestock including goats, chickens, and guardian animals, using rotational grazing and ethical animal partnerships to improve soil health, manage pests, and support biodiversity.

Ethical partnership with animals and land

A central part of my work is creating systems where animals and land support one another.

This has included:

Managing organic egg production and farm-to-market vegetable systems
Developing hygienic, low-stress compost systems with chickens
Designing movable coops to encourage natural behaviour, pest control, and soil regeneration
Raising chickens from eggs and selecting breeds appropriate to the environment
Managing fruit orchards, pruning trees into production, and supporting long-term tree health

I approach animal care with close observation, respect, and responsiveness—skills that naturally align with my background in biomechanics and body awareness.

The connection to yoga

Yoga teaches attentiveness, restraint, ethics, and responsibility. Permaculture asks for the same qualities.

Both disciplines require:

Observation before action
Respect for limits
Long-term thinking rather than quick results
Care for the whole system, not just one part

Whether I am teaching yoga or working with land, the intention is the same: to support health, resilience, and balance over time.

A holistic foundation

My background includes work as a master teacher of yoga, folk dance, pilates, and Eastern philosophy, alongside deep practical experience in land stewardship, permaculture, animal care, and fruit tree management.

This combination informs how I teach, how I work, and how I relate—to people, to land, and to living systems as a whole.

True sustainability begins with attention—within the body, and within the land.