The Permaculture Vine

94. Turn Your Permaculture Passion Into A Business with Neal Hegarty of Cresol Permaculture

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/

93. LIVE Permaculture Monthly with "Permaculture Canada" – April

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!

92. Rob Avis from 5th World

Cormac chats to Rob Avis of 5th World and Verge Permaculture. https://vinepermaculture.com/podcast/rob-avis/

91. How to Earn a Living from Composting: Prema Walker's Success Story

Cormac Chats to Prema Walker of Prema's Permaculture and Composting
 
Learn digital design and how to start permaculture consulting at www.PDC2PRO.com
 
Prema Walker is the founder and CEO of Prema's Permaculture & Composting, a Palm Springs-based organization dedicated to integrating permaculture principles into urban life. Her mission focuses on promoting a green economy through energy-efficient practices, composting, cultivating food forests, and providing hands-on permaculture education to empower communities. Prema is also actively involved in the community composting movement. She has expressed the need for greater support and attention from governing agencies to enhance the impact of community composters. Through her work, Prema aims to make sustainable living practical and accessible, fostering prosperous and environmentally conscious urban communities.
 
For all our episodes go to: https://vinepermaculture.com/vinepodcast/

90. Alex Popp of Permaculture Party

Cormac Chats to Alex Popp of Permaculture Party. Learn digital design and how to start permaculture consulting at www.PDC2PRO.com Alex Popp, an entrepreneur and permaculturist, designs regenerative systems for food, waste, and energy. Founder of PermaCulture Party and a consultant at EDEN Energy, he transforms landscapes and waste into regenerative, abundant solutions for communities. Alex believes humanity's brightest days are ahead of us and that our path to societal regeneration is through the power of community. https://www.linkedin.com/company/permaculture-party/?viewAsMember=true https://www.instagram.com/permaculture.party.alex/ https://www.instagram.com/permaculture.party/ https://www.youtube.com/@PermaCultureParty https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562390966160

89. Permaculture Monthly with "Permaculture Canada" – March

Join Cormac of Vine Permaculture and Lindsay from Permaculture Canada in this insightful episode of the Permaculture Vine Podcast! In this live stream, Lindsay shares updates on her work with Permaculture Canada, including their upcoming participation in Regen World in Austin, Texas, and her thoughts on permaculture design, education, and community projects. Learn digital design and start permaculture consulting at www.PDC2PRO.com Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 0:02 - Welcome and Live Stream Setup 0:32 - Travis’s Absence and Graham’s Work at Purdue University 1:58 - Lindsay’s February Updates and Regen World in Austin, Texas 4:36 - Thai Massage Training in Puerto Vallarta 6:00 - Permaculture Design Innovations in Michigan 9:43 - Plant Shortages and Starting Backyard Nurseries 12:31 - The Role of Free Education in Permaculture 18:07 - Professional Permaculture Certification and PINA 22:29 - Setting Up Permaculture Associations 24:04 - Cormac’s Diploma with the UK Permaculture Association 26:13 - California Design Projects and Fire-Resilient Landscapes 27:46 - Podcast with Steve Bonnell and Audio Editing Tips 30:32 - Streaming Platforms and Expanding Reach 32:42 - Sheep and Wool Pellets in Permaculture 34:36 - Alpaca Farming and Fertilizer Innovations 37:24 - TRU Arboretum Project and Storytelling in Permaculture 42:53 - Children’s Education and Policy Meetings in Alberta 44:38 - Video Documentation and Storytelling in Permaculture 46:02 - New Leaf Farms and Vertical Grow Systems 48:46 - Robotics, AI, and Permaculture Education 50:43 - Regen World and Community Building in Texas 51:38 - Seed Swaps and Community Engagement 54:11 - Working with Landscapers on Permaculture Projects 57:03 - Creating a Customer Portal for Permaculture Clients 1:03:44 - Future Plans and Wrap-Up

88. Become A Permaculture Landscaper & Installer

Cormac is launching his new local design and install business Vine Permaculture Ireland. He is joined by experienced pros Travis Holzem and Graham Towerton who will guide him through the process of becoming a Permaculture Installer. Join us and we can also answer your questions live!

87 Round Table: Designing Yourself Into Community

Cormac chats with Marjory Wildcraft and Graham Towerton about designing yourself into community. PDF resource coming soon!

86. Mohammed Saleh from Mostadam Eco Design

Mohammad Saleh, based in Jerusalem, has a background in Psychology and Musicology. His journey into sustainability took a significant turn when he lived in and later on managed an off-the-grid ecological educational center in Turkey. Immersed in hands-on learning, he deepened his understanding of sustainable living, alternative education, and regenerative design. This transformative experience led him to establish Mostadam Eco-Design upon returning to his home country, where he has spent the past decade designing, teaching, and implementing ecological and urban gardening systems tailored for the Mediterranean climate.
As a certified Permaculture teacher and designer accredited by the UK Permaculture Institute, Mohammad has trained thousands of people of all ages, empowering them with practical tools for sustainable living. He specializes in Urban-gardening, aquaponics, raised beds, water-saving gardens, water harvesting, Geodomes, earthworks management, rooftop and vertical gardens, greenhouses, dry toilets, mandala gardens, composting, and bioremediation. His designs offer solutions for landless individuals, eco-activists, students, gardeners, and small-scale farmers, blending creativity with ecological resilience.
Beyond design, Mohammad collaborates with organizations worldwide, from NGOs and schools to art centers, companies, and farms. He offers permaculture design courses (PDCs) and works with diverse groups, including teachers, students, professionals, and farmers, guiding them in regenerative practices. His multidisciplinary approach bridges academic knowledge with practical experience, making sustainability accessible to different communities.
In addition to his work in permaculture, Mohammad is also an eco-artist, using nature as his medium to raise environmental awareness. His projects include Refugee camps' Gardens, Upcycled Refuge Garden, healing gardens designed with sound frequencies, bioremediation research for detoxifying land.
From ecological landscapes to immersive learning experiences, Mohammad’s work is a testament to the power of sustainable design in transforming both environments and mindsets.
https://www.facebook.com/MostadamEcoDesign/
https://www.instagram.com/mostadam_eco_design/

85. The Homestead Consultant Ryan Steva

Ryan is passionate about building regenerative and resilient homesteads. He first started down the rabbit hole of homesteading when he faced a health crisis in his 20s. At the time, he had to make a choice: either make major changes or live a life of illness, as doctors told him his condition was unavoidable. When he began researching the food system on his path to healing, he realized that modern agricultural practices are damaging both human health and the land. While it now seems simple to him to grow his own food and build a more fulfilling, resilient, and healthy life, that wasn’t where he started. Ryan’s journey from learning how broken our systems are to building his own has not been a perfectly straight line (he’s still building), but it has been a thrilling journey that has taught him so much. He is extremely excited to partner with others on their unique journeys toward greater independence, resilience, and a healthier, happier lifestyle.
Youtube.com/‪@thehomesteadconsultant‬​
https://www.thehomesteadconsultant.com
https://x.com/Thehsconsultant ​
https://www.tiktok.com/@UCHTwlrGozvUt_lkfdqlVKKw