Creating a Permaculture Life and Livelihood with Michael Judd

Today’s episode is a new interview with Michael Judd, recorded by Mary Marshall and Andrew Tuttle, of Edge Perma.

During this conversation, Michael shares a quick sketch of his background for listeners who aren’t familiar with him and his work, including time at the Bullock’s Permaculture Homestead Brother’s Farm on Orcas Island in Washington State. Michael then leads us through how he came to his permaculture career and how suggestions on how he makes it work for him and his family, from his early days as an edible landscaper and designer to his current role as a nurseryman, educator, and an event planner focusing on regenerative systems and education. Throughout, he shares stories and personal anecdotes as only he can.

Ten years ago, in 2014, I traveled from my home in Pennsylvania and journeyed down to Michael’s family home and homestead to record my first in-person interview, ever, with him, meeting his wife, and his son Wyatt, who was still a babe in arms at the time. Since then, we’ve recorded multiple interviews together, he was a keynote speaker at the Mid-Atlantic Permaculture Convergence, and I’ve attended his Paw Paw festival.

Throughout this decade knowing Michael, personally and professionally, what I’ve always loved is his ability to take what he knows, examine where his life is at the moment, decides where he wants to go, and pivots in that direction. However he changes his life he does that with intent, while remaining rooted in his mindset as a permaculture practitioner and the lessons he learned during his time in Nicaragua with Project Bona Fide.

If you’re working on the next steps of your journey, I highly recommend listening to Michael’s earlier conversations with me and hear more about his journey. You’ll find numerous useful insights that connect to the ones he shared today, that you can apply to your journey, wherever you want to go.

Resources
Michael Judd
Ecologia Design
Instagarm - Permaculture Life (@permacultureninja)
Youtube - @permacultureninja
Michael’s Books
Fruit Patch iOS App

Earlier Interviews with Michael Judd
Edible Landscaping (3.2014)
Starting Out and Getting Involved in Permaculture (8.2014)
MAPC Keynote Address (8.2016)
Honoring the Dead and Holding the Dying: Natural Burial (1.2018)
For the Love of PawPaws (9.2019)

Other Projects and Resources
Project Bona Fide
Bullock Brother’s Homestead
Punta Mona Center (Stephen Brooks project in Costa Rica)