The Permaculture Vine – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of the Permaculture Vine Podcast, host Cormac Harkin sits down with Grant Payne, the innovative mind behind Christine Acre Farms. Grant shares his inspiring journey from a high school graduate to a passionate farmer embracing permaculture principles. Discover how he creatively utilizes IBC containers for sustainable farming, balances commercial and personal agricultural goals, and navigates the challenges of starting a farm from scratch. Tune in for a deep dive into the world of permaculture, resilience, and the future of sustainable farming.

Join The Permaculture Vine free Skool community for connection and learning: https://www.skool.com/vine-permaculture-7207/about

www.cultural-emergence.com

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

Mitch Rawlyk went from studying earth systems science to developing Landscope—a tool that automates permaculture land mapping. In this episode, we cover:

00:00 - Intro

02:15 - Mitch’s journey from meteorology to permaculture

08:40 - Homesteading in Alberta’s extreme climate

15:20 - Biggest beginner mistakes (and how to avoid them)

22:10 - Water management hacks (swales, ponds, rainwater)

30:45 - Why Mitch created Landscope

38:00 - How Landscope works (demos & case studies)

45:30 - Advice for new homesteaders and designers

Landscope: https://waitlist.landscope.earth/

Mitch on LinkedIn:   / mitch-rawlyk  

Cormac Harkin of Vine Permaculture interviews Dr Philipp Schuster of Seeds For Sustainability

Seeds For Sustainabilty
https://seeds-for-sustainability.com/en/

Vine Permaculture Professional Services

https://www.vinepermaculture.com/designers

Cormac Harkin of Vine Permaculture interviews Katie Stout about her permaculture journey.

She is owner operator of Regenerative Property Management in Parish, NY.

Katie is committed to creating food security for generations and glorifying God's creation! She is dedicated to self-realization and loves sharing what she's learned over this wild and crazy life so far.

Regenerative Property Management
https://www.growrpm.org/

Vine Permaculture Professional Services

www.vinepermaculture.com/designers

Cormac Harkin of Vine Permaculture interviews Renee Perrine about her permaculture journey. Renee is a Vine Permaculture Designer and is based in the Philippines.

Renee Araneta-Perrine is a certified Permaculture Designer, teaching in the newly built Tuminugan Permaculture Farm School with the goal of introducing Alternative Nation building through circular economies per bio region. Co-Founder of Hineleban Foundation, Renee has linked the Indigenous People of Bukidnon with sustainable livelihoods through Arabica Coffee, Adlai (Job’s Tears) and Bamboo Cement Resilient Housing. Tending to her organic vegetable farm, breeding horses, ducks, goats, pigs, sheep and chickens is part of her daily routine.

www.vinepermaculture.com/designers

https://www.instagram.com/reneeaperrine/

Cormac, Lindsay and Graham are joined by indoor garden specialist Steve Koontz for the monthly live with the Permaculture Vine monthly live with Permaculture Canada. . Please join us with your indoor gardening and permaculture questions.

With special guest Neal Hegarty

Cormac chats to Neal Hegarty of Cresol Permaculture.

Neal Hegarty is a regenerative designer, educator, and founder of CreaSol Permaculture. He considers himself fortunate to have been part of the creation of a real-life eco-community on the shores of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, where he helped neighbours design and build their homes using permaculture principles. What began as a small farm-to-table restaurant, Granja Tzikin, evolved into a thriving local ecosystem rooted in collaboration, food sovereignty, and community resilience.

Now, through the CreaSol Permaculture Design & Business Incubator, Neal helps nature lovers around the world turn their passion into purpose-driven careers—designing regenerative farms, building ecological businesses, and creating abundance for themselves and their communities. He’s especially passionate about showing people that business, when done right, can be a tool for healing.

https://www.instagram.com/creasolpermaculture/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/neal-hegarty-creasol/
https://www.instagram.com/granjatzikin/

Regen World 2024 Highlights + Spring Planting Tips!

In this lively episode of The Permaculture Vine Podcast, hosts Cormac Harkin (Vine Permaculture), Lindsay Brandon (CEO, Permaculture Canada), Graham Towerton (COO, Permaculture Canada), and special guest Travis Holzem (Food Forest Design Minnesota) discuss:

Regen World Experience – The team shares highlights from attending Regen World in Austin, Texas, including networking with permaculture leaders like Matt Powers, Julia from Thriving Roots, and Rebecca Birdwell. They discuss the event’s focus on regenerative business models, AI in sustainability, and quantum discussions.

Client Lessons & Design Challenges – Cormac reflects on a lost client due to pricing miscommunication and balancing client preferences vs. optimal permaculture design. Graham and Lindsay share insights on flexibility in guild designs and soil health strategies.

Spring Planting & Zone Updates – The group discusses climate zone shifts, microclimate strategies, and early-season planting (despite unpredictable spring weather in Minnesota and Michigan).

Travis’s New Platform – Travis introduces Food Forest Design Network, a CRM and lead-generation tool for permaculture designers/installers, aiming to streamline business operations and expand food forest projects nationwide.

Upcoming Projects – Lindsay and Graham tease a large community land project in Indiana, soil consulting, and California designs, while Cormac promotes local seed swaps and community tool-sharpening events.

CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – Intro & Welcomes

0:08 – Regen World Recap (Austin experiences, AI, and panels)

12:05 – Client Design Challenges (Cormac’s pricing lesson, balancing client needs)

20:33 – Climate Zone Shifts (USDA updates, resilient plant strategies)

30:47 – Spring Planting Plans (Travis’s Minnesota snow woes, Graham’s greenhouse starts)

40:12 – Travis’s Food Forest Design Network (CRM tool demo, installer collaborations)

50:55 – Upcoming Projects (Indiana land project, California designs, soil consulting)

58:30 – Final Thoughts & Community Events (seed swaps, tool sharpening) 💬

Comment: What’s your biggest spring permaculture challenge? Let us know below!