The Permaculture Research Institute of Australia

I am a counsellor at the Student Counselling Services at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. I've been involved in social and environmental justice work for a number of years in a variety of ways.

My partner, who taught environmental ethics, introduced me to permaculture about ten years ago. For us, it brought together our social/environmental commitments in a very applied way. We practiced it's ethics & principles the best we could in our yard, family, work and community environments.

My passion for permaculture and it's possibilities became more fully alive though when I finally took a full PDC in 2009. I then felt more inspired, committed and capable to take permaculture to a larger community level. Since 2009, I've returned the surplus to my current community by helping establish a food forest in a local community garden and organizing to bring Jesse Lemieux, of Pacific Permaculture, to Saskatoon to teach an intro course and full PDC in 2010. Over 2010/11 I've helped organize and establish the Permaculture Research Institute of Saskatchewan with a dedicated group new PDC grads. We have begun permablitzes, intro workshops, community events and ran a second PDC with Jesse Lemieux in August 2011.

I'm also integrating permaculture and deep ecology ideas with narrative therapy practices in my work as a counsellor creating what I call "eco-narrative therapy and community practices". I'm pursuing further graduate studies in Canada & Australia over 2011/12 developing these ideas. It is my hope to continue to teach and practice both therapy and permaculture in the coming years.