The Permaculture Research Institute of Australia

I've recently moved to the island of Koh Tao in the gulf of Thailand, where I'm working as the Program Director for the Land Conservation program of 'Save Koh Tao'. Save Koh Tao is a non-profit community organization dedicated to reversing the ecological destruction of our island through marine restoration, land conservation, and of course, permaculture! I'm also becoming increasingly active as a permaculture teacher and will be hosing permaculture workshops and courses on Koh Tao on a regular basis.

My permaculture career started before I even heard about permaculture, when I apprenticed under an amazing organic farmer in my home state of Pennsylvania for three seasons, where I did what was basically permaculture without knowing it. I 2008, I took my first permaculture design course at the Panya Project in northern Thailand. From that point on, permaculture has been an ever-present part of my life both personally and professionally. In addition to my permaculture training, I also have a master's degree in Environmental Science, with a focus on sustainable development.

I place a high emphasis on the productivity and sustainability (ecologically, socially, and economically) of permaculture systems. I'm a passionate gardener, seed saver, and appropriate technology junkie. My climatic focus is mainly in the wet/dry tropics (Thailand, Australia), but I also have experience in cool and cold temperate climates as well (USA, Sweden).

If anyone is swinging by Koh Tao, please look me up and pay a visit. I'm always happy to meet other permies and can always use short-term volunteers to help with the project.