I've always been fascinated by nature, but as a city girl, I had to make an effort to interact with it... I'd take my dogs to forests and meadows outside the city, go on roadtrips and travel the world to be close to nature and admire its miracles. As a photographer, plants and animals have always been some of my favorite subjects (www.melanie-hogan.com). I'm a lawyer, specializing in renewable energies projects throughout Mexico, and I clearly don't feel immersed enough in nature.

3 years ago I met Xavi (my adored husband), who introduced me to the world of Permaculture. I've come to realize I don't have to go far to interact with nature... little by little our home is transforming into a "permaculture home" and the more I observe and interact with nature, the more it lures me in. I recently took my first 2-week PDC course in Konso, Ethiopia, with a focus on applying Permaculture to rural African communities, to develop long term food security and community empowerment.

Xavi and I are currently in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, working with a Pygmy community of 500 people to teach them permaculture in order to help them become self-sustainable (www.congoproject2011.blogspot.com). I am reassessing my future and am anxious to make permaculture a central aspect of my professional carreer!