As a life-long gardener, farmer, outdoor enthusiast, and someone passionate about small farms, local food, sustainability, and organic principles, I became interested in Permaculture several years ago and have done extensive reading and always tried to implement permaculture ideas in my life. About a year ago, my husband and I moved back to Oregon (near Corvallis) where I had gone to university and I was finally able to get acquainted with some great Permaculture-oriented people in the area. We live on 5 acres and are currently restoring the property and are using Permaculture principles to develop a small farm and market garden.
My professional background is in the geospatial field. I was until last year a geospatial scientist for the Agricultural Research Service. I am now working as a private consultant in the geospatial field, and one of my goals is to integrate my professional expertise in GIS/Mapping/Imagery with my personal interests in permaculture, small farming, and organic gardening. Last year, I developed and gave a workshop on Digital Mapping and GIS for Small Landowners and Permaculture Design through Beaver State Permaculture in the Dept. of Horticulture at Oregon State University. Recently, I have put together a self-paced course on the same topic, aimed at both small landowners and those interested in Permaculture.