32 years ago my late husband, Joe Polaischer, and I co-founded Rainbow Valley Farm, an organic farm and permaculture education centre near the village of Matakana in the north of New Zealand. Over those years we ran farm tours and permaculture-related courses including PDCs. Joe died suddenly in 2008, and I have now moved on from the farm to the village. Rainbow Valley Farm is being run by a family who are continuing the work Joe and I started.

Joe and I discovered permaculture in the early 1980s and were totally inspired by the concept. It made sense to us and we were keen to put it into action. After doing PDCs, we bought 50 acres of run-down farmland and established Rainbow Valley Farm (see above).

Since leaving the farm in November 2010 I have established a new home for myself, a small eco-house and gardens. It's exciting to be doing a village-scale permaculture project. I am also teaching waste minimisation and other permaculture related subjects in my local area.