197. Permaculture and the Power of Community with Kareen Erbe of Broken Ground

The Good Dirt: Sustainability Explained

CEO of Broken Ground Kareen Erbe has dedicated herself to helping people in cold climates grow their own food so they can eat healthier, live more sustainably and be more self-reliant. She delves into permaculture and how it applies not only to growing food and helping the earth , but also creating community. Kareen helps her clients by designing integrated edible landscapes and encourages them in cultivating community alongside the cultivation of their gardens. She goes into her permaculture design principles for families, those in cold climates, and those who live in urban environments. You will also hear about integrating gardens into lawns, creating beneficial relationships between plants and people, and the benefits of including your neighbors to help with gardening tasks. This episode is about gardening, sustainability, building stronger, more self-sufficient communities and the wider ranging significance of permaculture principles.

Topics Discussed

· Low Waste Gardening

· Growing Food in Cold Climates

· Kareen’s Grandmother’s Diaries

· Permaculture Hot Takes

· Pollinator Gardens

· Taking Before/After Photos

· Kareen’s Most Impactful Books

· Weeds & Welcoming Wildness

· Raising Kids in Nature

· Herbal Lawns

· Quackgrass

· Growing Zones

· Montana Growing Seasons

· Cultivating Lawns & Community

· Permaculture in Urban Spaces

· Embracing Diversity in Gardens

· Hope and Regeneration in Agriculture

· Adapting to Climate Challenges

· Resources and Programs for Permaculture Enthusiasts

Episode Resources:

· Listen to The Good Dirt “151. "Lawns into Meadows" with Author Owen Wormser on Regenerative Agriculture”

· Listen to The Good Dirt “138. The Urgent Need for Restorative Gardening with Mary Reynolds”

· Listen to The Good Dirt “163. Sailors for Sustainability Searching for Solutions: A Journey Around the World”

· Listen to The Good Dirt “110. An Ecological Civilization for All with Andrew Schwartz”

· Listen to The Good Dirt “156. Pathways Toward an Ecological Civilization with Phillip Clayton of EcoCiv”

· Read Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey

· Read Jane Goodall’s Books

· Read "Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture" by Toby Hemenway

· Read "Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants" by Robin Wall Kimmerer

· Read “Earth User's Guide to Teaching Permaculture” by Rosemary Morrow

· Read "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - Tenth Anniversary Edition: A Year of Food Life" by Barbara Kingsolver

· Read "Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard" by Douglas W Tallamy”

· Read "We Are the Ark: Returning Our Gardens to Their True Nature Through Acts of Restorative Kindness" by Mary Reynolds

Connect with Kareen Erbe:

· Website: https://brokengroundpermaculture.com/

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokengroundmt/

· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/brokenground

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Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

· Wendy Gray