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In this episode of the Permaculture Vine podcast, host Cormac Harkin chats with Looby Macnamara, renowned permaculture teacher, author, and co-founder of Applewood Permaculture Centre. Looby shares her inspiring journey from discovering permaculture as a student to becoming one of the UK’s most influential teachers, authors, and cultural change facilitators.
We explore her pioneering work on People and Permaculture, the development of the Design Web, and her latest book Design Adventures. Looby also introduces Cultural Emergence, a framework for creating thriving, regenerative cultures that go far beyond gardening and land-based design. This conversation is packed with wisdom for anyone seeking to apply permaculture to their lives, communities, and the wider world.
Key Takeaways
* How Looby discovered permaculture and her path to becoming a teacher.
* The importance of teaching styles, collaboration, and community in permaculture learning.
* Looby’s journey in writing People and Permaculture, Seven Ways to Think Differently, and Design Adventures.
* The origins and purpose of Cultural Emergence.
* Practical advice for finding and caring for land with permaculture principles.
* Why permaculture is more than gardening—it’s a way of redesigning our culture.
Chapters00:00 – Introduction01:05 – Looby’s first encounter with permaculture02:39 – Discovering community, creativity, and fun in permaculture06:00 – Becoming a permaculture teacher10:00 – Teacher training and empowering new educators12:39 – Developing Applewood Permaculture Centre20:00 – Advice for finding land with permaculture principles24:28 – Looby’s book writing journey26:00 – People and Permaculture & the Design Web27:22 – Seven Ways to Think Differently28:26 – From Social Permaculture to Cultural Emergence30:00 – Design Adventures and designing as an ongoing practice33:28 – Designing for people and culture35:00 – Making permaculture mainstream and accessible39:02 – Why permaculture is more than gardening40:00 – Cultural Emergence and shifting culture44:04 – Strengthening networks and collective wisdom46:02 – Final reflections and invitation to start your own design adventure
Looby Macnamara
Looby Macnamara is the co-founder of the global Cultural Emergence movement. She is an author, designer, gardener, song leader, mother, and artist. She is the author of five influential books: Design Adventures, People & Permaculture, 7 Ways to Think Differently, Cultural Emergence, and Strands of Infinity, and creator of the CEED -Cultural Emergence Empowerment & Design card deck.
Looby is a visionary thought leader who inspires thousands with her creative approaches to regenerative change. People & Permaculture is the first book globally to translate permaculture to people-based systems. Her latest toolkit Cultural Emergence brings together innovative models for behavioural and cultural change, weaving together systems thinking, cultural awareness, design, and nature connection.
Looby runs Applewood Permaculture Centre in Herefordshire, UK, with her partner Chris Evans, where they facilitate courses and demonstrate both land and people permaculture.
Looby is an active member of the Permaculture Association Britain and has been chairperson and trustee. She is currently a senior tutor. Looby is on the expert panel for the design council. She is one of the founding partners of the international Mother Nature project.
Sign up to her newsletter to get the Cultural Emergence colouring book for free.
For signed copies all Looby’s books, resources, global community and online and in-person courses see www.cultural-emrgence.com
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