I work alternately as a somatic psychotherapist, permaculturist, activist, educator and mother. When my daughter was born in 2001 (3 weeks before 9/11), I knew that things were going to go from bad to worse, and that I needed to make a change. Enter permaculture -- a divinely simple, accessible, brilliant strategy for dealing with reality, creating abundance and directing personal action toward the good. I studied permaculture originally with Penny Livingston, James Stark, Lauren Dalberth and Dave Hage, and Lydia Neilsen. I have never looked back since my first PDC experience, and have incorporated as many skills, strategies, principles and ethics as I can into my daily life.

I am the author (with K. Ruby Blume) of Urban Homesteading: Heirloom Skills for Sustainable Living, a celebrated how-to and why-to for the growing urban homesteading movement. (www.urban-homesteading.org). Filled with gorgeous photos and illustrations, this book also features interviews with homesteaders already living the dream. Locally sourced, but globally relevant, Urban Homesteading is a great resource for the creative ongoing application of urban permaculture.

I live and work in northern California where I homestead with my family on a small (6500 square foot) rented property, which we call Tiny Town Farm. I teach a variety of homesteading skills, somatic sensibility skills, and embodied practices for shedding grief and growing hope. I am lucky to live in Sonoma County, where I is nourished and inspired by other permaculture projects and peeps.