Last year, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) sisters, initiated a project called Our Common Ground. The goal of the program was to raise our own and others awareness about the relationship of people and Earth. The need for this has become evident through climate change, depletion of natural resources and the extinction of species. The effects on people living in vulnerable areas of our country, and around the world are particularly harsh.

Our Common Ground is designed to spread the understanding and practice of dialogue with a heightened awareness of the soil, water, air and elements we share. The goal is to deepen our understanding of our place in the universe and relationship to Earth. I introduce Caroline Peani a permaculture designer with a family story to tell about moving toward a more sustainable life.

Ever wondered what it would be like to be able to fully sustain yourself and your family; living off-grid in the beautiful woods? Caroline Peani is doing exactly that. She is a permaculture designer, the basics of which she practices in her daily life on her seven acre homestead in Vashen Island, Washington USA. Currently she has a fruit and vegetable garden (which yielded a whopping 400 pounds of produce last harvest season), chickens and goats, as well as a bee yard. We had the privilege of having a virtual dialogue with her, discussing everything from how she started living a sustainable life, the natural systems she built around her home, to how practically anyone can do the same.

What makes Caroline so interesting is how relatable she is to an average urban dweller. While she always felt an intense connection to nature and was interested in local farming and foods, she started this lifestyle in her adult years. Some honorable mentions of this particular interview are her coaching job, where she incorporates a method known as Coyote Mentoring (a form of nature-based mentoring), as well as her deep understanding of nature being the ultimate healer in every aspect of one’s life.

What is permaculture?
Permaculture is a system of agricultural and social design principles centered around simulating or directly utilizing the patterns and features observed in natural ecosystems. The term permaculture (as a systematic method) was first coined by Australians David Holmgren, then a graduate student, and his professor, Bill Mollison, in 1978. The word permaculture originally referred to “permanent agriculture”, but was expanded to stand also for “permanent culture”, as it was understood that social aspects were integral to a truly sustainable system as inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka’s natural farming philosophy.

Is permaculture just about growing plants?
No, it has many branches that include but are not limited to ecological design, ecological engineering, environmental design, construction and integrated water resources management that develops sustainable architecture, regenerative and self-maintained habitat and agricultural systems modeled from natural ecosystems.

Click here to watch the interview with Caroline Peani.

Special report by Sr. Kathleen Kanet, RSHM  from the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) sisters.