Penny is internationally recognized as a prominent permaculture teacher, designer, and speaker. She holds a MS in Eco-Social Regeneration and a Diploma in Permaculture Design. Penny has been studying the Hermetic Tradition of alchemy and herbal medicine making in Europe and the United States for 4 years. Penny has been teaching internationally and working professionally in the land management, regenerative design, and permaculture development field for 25 years and has extensive experience in all phases of ecologically sound design and construction as well as the use of natural non-toxic building materials. She specializes in site planning and the design of resource-rich landscapes integrating - rainwater collection, edible and medicinal planting, spring development, pond and water systems, habitat development and watershed restoration for homes, co-housing communities, businesses, and diverse yield perennial farms. Listen in to hear about: Her background in landscape and textile design The day she found her permaculture class and how it opened up doors for her Learning from Bill Mollison in his Permaculture Design Course Why she straddled conventional landscaping and permaculture for years and how she moved over to just one How she tackled the slug problem on her property using stacking functions Cob houses and the connections from her pond, her soil, some grapes, and some ducks. Her food forest diversity and the myriad of edible varieties in her space Using a tool that everyone has to filter her water on her property How a simple change many years ago now helps feed her streams in California, despite being in a drought The animal diversity that has developed due to her plant diversity she has developed on her property A great description of a swale and how to create one despite, in because of, clay soils Her definition of permaculture and how exciting it is How to get started in permaculture by finding a reputable immersion course near you The importance of in-person PDC courses Some of the benefits and aspects of PDC that are present in domestic and international courses and much, much more Go to our Podcast page at www.urbanfarm.org/blog/podcast/ to find photos, links, and more information on this podcast, as well as for each of our other great guest interviews.  You can also sign up for weekly email summaries of the interviews.