Discover Permaculture - The Podcast

What does “regenerative agriculture” actually mean and is improving industrial agriculture enough? Geoff, Ben, Eric and Sam explore soil, scale, water, biodiversity, technology and the need to redesign food systems around landscapes, ecosystems and local communities. From large-scale agriculture to the simple act of growing food at home, this conversation asks what genuine regeneration could look like and where we start.

Watch the video episode here. 

Key Takeaways:

00:01:15: What does regenerative agriculture actually mean? Regeneration goes beyond reducing damage and asks whether farming systems are actively rebuilding soil, biodiversity and ecosystem function.

00:05:48: Scale is a major part of regenerative agriculture. Large industrial systems still depend heavily on machinery, fuel, long supply chains and simplified landscapes.

00:11:39: Ecological succession can help repair degraded land. Weeds and reactive species can play a role in rebuilding carbon, soil cover and biological activity.

00:15:36: Traditional food systems can reveal better landscape patterns. The Hungary example shows how aquaculture, food forests and riparian systems can work together around water and terrain.

00:18:25: Appropriate technology can support regeneration. Technology becomes more useful when it is matched to the right scale, climate and landscape pattern.

00:20:40: Contour, water flow and diversity matter. Agricultural layouts that ignore slope and water movement can increase erosion, while diversified systems can slow water and rebuild soil.

00:24:41: Regenerative agriculture must address water as well as soil. Aquifers, irrigation, water harvesting and groundwater recharge are central to long-term food production.

00:37:59: Local and bioregional food systems can build resilience. Smaller, regionally adapted systems reduce reliance on fragile long-distance supply chains.

00:39:08: Modern technology can be redirected toward regeneration. Machinery, satellites, AI and information systems can all support more regenerative land management when used differently.

00:45:04: Regeneration requires action on the ground. Information can spread quickly online, but resilient systems still depend on people working together in real landscapes and communities.

00:46:55: Start with practical food resilience. Grow food, make compost, learn soil biology, save seed, support regenerative growers and build local food networks.

00:48:37: Permaculture design is about patterns, not isolated techniques. Good design connects soil, water, plants, terrain and human needs into a functioning whole.

00:51:22: Food autonomy is used as a provocative challenge. The discussion pushes viewers to question dependence on industrial food systems and think about local production, sharing and access to food.

Geoff and the panel sit down with Dane Wigington to discuss geoengineering, weather modification and the living systems we depend on. The conversation explores atmospheric intervention, rainfall and water cycles, soil and forest health, climate feedbacks, and what individuals can do to build more resilient systems on the ground.

Watch the video episode here.

Key Takeaways
00:02:44: Solar radiation management and stratospheric aerosol injection introduce the wider discussion around attempts to influence climate and incoming solar radiation.

00:09:59: Dane distinguishes small-scale cloud-seeding operations from the much broader climate-engineering systems he believes are affecting the global hydrological cycle.

00:24:19: The conversation turns to bioavailable aluminum, soil pH and how changes in soil chemistry can affect biological systems.

00:31:40: Geoff brings the discussion back to permaculture and the potential for food forests, regeneration and highly diverse living systems to help repair damaged landscapes.

00:41:10: Practical resilience starts with water, including rainwater storage, independent pumping systems and building greater security around essential resources.

00:47:20: The discussion explores major climate feedbacks including the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, Arctic sea ice and methane.

00:56:12: Dane reflects on his background in forestry and habitat restoration and explains the personal motivation behind his environmental work.

00:58:16: Geoff closes by returning to the practical response: collect rainwater, rethink supply systems, observe carefully and continue building living systems that can regenerate land and communities.

How do we design for climate when weather patterns are increasingly variable and difficult to predict? Geoff, Ben, Eric and Sam explore climate, weather, resilience and the practical role permaculture can play in building stronger local food systems, soils and communities.

Watch the video episode here. 

Key Takeaways:

00:31: What do we really mean by climate change, and how do we separate long-term climate patterns from short-term weather and natural variability?

03:37: Designing for resilience starts with choosing crops, trees and perennial vegetables that can tolerate a wider range of climatic conditions.

06:05: Understanding your local weather history is essential, because unusual events can be mistaken for unprecedented change when long-term observations are missing.

14:57: Focusing on tangible indicators such as clean water, healthy topsoil, biodiversity and soil organic matter can make ecological change easier to observe and act on.

17:11: Increasing tree cover can help moderate local conditions, reduce frost impacts and create more stable microclimates.

18:08: Measuring soil carbon, soil building and biomass can provide a more tangible way to assess whether restoration efforts are actually working.

19:46: Large-scale landscape restoration works best when ecological repair is combined with practical support and viable livelihoods for the people living on the land.

24:08: Whatever people believe about climate change, clean water, healthy soil, good food and resilient ecosystems remain practical goals worth working toward.

25:40: Shifting more food production toward perennial trees, shrubs and herbs can strengthen ecosystems and help moderate local climate over time.

27:22: Bioregional design connects individual properties with local skills, resources, livelihoods and communities to build greater regional resilience.

36:39: Designing for uncertainty means working with natural systems, choosing robust crops and building living systems that can adapt as conditions change.

41:09: Careful observation, local experimentation and greater diversity become increasingly important as conditions become less predictable.

What would happen if permaculture principles shaped not just our gardens and farms, but our schools, communities and national policies? Geoff Lawton joins Jim Gale, Katherine Reynolds and the Discover Permaculture podcast team to explore stewardship, bioregional design, education, food systems and the “invisible structures” that shape society before bringing the conversation back to practical action people can take in their own communities. Jim also shares his Stewardship Party campaign and his argument that planting, seed sharing and local organization can begin creating change long before an election takes place.

Watch the video episode here.

Key Takeaways:

00:00: Permaculture can be applied far beyond gardens and farms, including education, economics, governance and other systems that shape society.

10:44: Growing food can reduce dependence on centralized systems while strengthening household and community resilience.

21:23: Bill Mollison’s “invisible structures” highlight the importance of designing systems such as education, finance, law and decision-making, not just landscapes.

35:21: Shared ethics such as Earth care, people care and fair share can provide common ground across different viewpoints.

52:20: Bioregional thinking looks at climate, water, ecology and communities as a basis for better local and regional planning.

1:13:02: Education is presented as a key pathway for long-term change, with stewardship and practical permaculture skills integrated into learning.

1:17:45: Change can begin immediately through planting, seed sharing, local organization and practical action rather than waiting for political systems to act.

Guests:

Jim Gale — Jim is an entrepreneur, permaculture advocate and founder of Food Forest Abundance. His work focuses on turning underused land into productive food forests while promoting food security, self-reliance and community resilience. He is also the founder of the Stewardship Party, bringing permaculture-inspired ideas into education, policy and local action
Food Forest Abundance: https://foodforestabundance.com
Stewardship Party: https://stewardshipparty.org

Catherine Reynolds — Catherine is Chair of the Board of Permaculture Australia and a regenerative systems thinker with a background in governance and organizational transformation. Her work explores how permaculture ethics and design principles can help strengthen communities and reshape the social, economic and governance systems that influence how we live.
Permaculture Australia: https://permacultureaustralia.org.au

Geoff, Ben, Eric and Sam explore land as an investment versus land as a living system. They discuss community ownership models, eco-villages and practical ways people can gain access through skills, relationships, leasing and direct agreements with landowners.

Watch the video episode here.

🎓 Explore Geoff's online courses: https://www.discoverpermaculture.com

Key Takeaways:

00:01:49: Land access is not the same as land ownership. Secure access to productive land may matter more than holding an individual title.

00:03:29: Land has shifted from a source of security to a speculative asset. What changes when financial value becomes more important than improving the land?

00:23:26: Ecological systems do not follow property boundaries. Water, wildlife, soil and pollution connect entire watersheds and communities.

00:31:43: Alternative ownership models already exist. Multiple occupancy, community title, company structures, long-term leases and eco-villages offer different ways to share land and infrastructure.

00:44:58: Community living must be designed. Good intentions are not enough. Shared land requires clear governance, defined responsibilities and people who know how to cooperate.

00:49:03: You can begin without owning a farm. Gardens, volunteering, apprenticeships, leasing, shared projects and direct arrangements with landowners can all create meaningful access.

00:53:16: Skills and relationships create opportunities. Becoming capable, trustworthy and useful may provide a stronger path to land than simply waiting until you can afford to buy it.

Local community may be one of the most overlooked forms of resilience we have. In this episode, Geoff, Eric, Ben and Sam discuss how permaculture community groups can help people share skills, grow food locally, support each other through uncertainty and create practical systems that improve everyday life. From portable food forests and school projects through to local governance, youth engagement and resilient local economies, this conversation explores why rebuilding community might be one of the most important things we can do right now.

Permaculture Community Group Startup Kit: https://www.permaculturefairoaks.org/pfo_startup-kit/

Watch the video episode here.

Key Takeaways:

00:00:24 - 00:05:26: Geoff introduces the idea of local permaculture groups as practical support networks built around food, skills and community resilience.

00:05:26 - 00:10:52: Eric shares how starting a local permaculture group transformed an empty urban lot into a growing community food forest project in Sacramento.

00:10:52 - 00:13:38: The conversation explores how permaculture projects can reconnect young people with meaningful work, food growing and community participation.

00:15:47 - 00:18:30: Sam explains why he originally dismissed gardening as too small-scale before realizing community-based permaculture could drive broader systemic change.

00:19:26 - 00:22:00: Eric discusses the challenge of engaging people and why demonstration sites and practical examples matter more than theory alone.

00:22:00 - 00:23:35: A discussion on topographic mapping, swales and how practical design tools help people better understand landscapes and water systems.

00:24:21 - 00:26:16: Geoff talks about food security, reducing dependence on fragile systems and why local knowledge matters more than ever.

00:30:01 - 00:32:29: Geoff explains why permaculture focuses on feeding local communities locally rather than relying on fragile global supply chains.

00:33:20 - 00:37:27: Practical discussion about setting up permaculture groups, local education systems, workshops and community-based learning.

00:39:15 - 00:40:18: Sam explains why resilience comes from shared skills and local cooperation rather than trying to become completely self-sufficient alone.

00:48:01 - 00:55:47: Sam breaks down the community meeting model he used in the Blue Mountains to organize people, prioritize issues and create local action plans.

00:56:21 - 00:58:07: Geoff shares plans for rebuilding Permaculture Byron and explains how listeners can start their own local groups using the startup kit.

What happens when fragile supply chains break down? In this episode Geoff and the crew discuss survival gardens, water security, edible weeds, medicinal plants, and practical ways to prepare for uncertain times. 

Watch the video episode here.

🎓 Explore Geoff's online courses: https://www.discoverpermaculture.com

Key Takeaways:

00:00:15 - 00:03:28: Why modern supply chains are fragile and how permaculture creates food security

00:03:28 - 00:04:24: Survival gardens and the power of perennial food systems - Isabell Shipard's books: https://herbs-to-use.com

00:04:24 - 00:05:58: Medicinal plants, foraging, and using plant ID apps

00:06:36 - 00:08:20: Jerusalem artichokes, edible weeds, and survival foods hiding in plain sight

00:09:24 - 00:10:51: Lessons from Covid and how permaculture builds resilience during crises

00:11:36 - 00:12:41: Geoff’s favorite survival crops: taro, cassava, yam, and chaya

00:12:41 - 00:14:29: Sprouts and microgreens as emergency nutrition systems

00:14:02 - 00:14:29: Action Step #1: Start sprouting seeds this week

00:15:05 - 00:16:23: Feeding 60 students with sprouts during supply shortages in Jordan

00:16:23 - 00:19:25: Comfrey, moringa, turmeric, and other survival superplants

00:19:25 - 00:20:36: Sterile comfrey varieties and how they spread

00:21:06 - 00:23:05: Long-term food storage strategies and preserving seeds

00:24:00 - 00:24:28: Action Step #2: Plant comfrey or moringa

00:25:12 - 00:26:38: How moringa seeds can clean dirty water naturally

00:27:01 - 00:27:30: Action Step #3: Learn and eat an edible weed

00:28:24 - 00:30:09: Why water systems are vulnerable in modern society

00:30:22 - 00:32:01: Simple rainwater harvesting explained

00:32:01 - 00:33:57: First flush diverters, algae biofilms, and rainwater tanks

00:33:58 - 00:36:13: Rainwater vs municipal water systems

00:39:53 - 00:41:05: Action Step #4: Set up a rain barrel and store water

00:42:25 - 00:43:33: Doulton ceramic filters and gravity-fed water systems

00:43:44 - 00:46:59: Reed beds, gray water, and using plants to clean water naturally

00:46:59 - 00:48:57: Final survival garden checklist and practical preparedness steps

In this episode, Geoff and the team unpack the hidden realities of the global aid industry—sharing firsthand stories from refugee camps, war zones, and on-the-ground permaculture projects. From inefficiency and dependency to real solutions that build self-reliance, this conversation challenges the system and explores what actually works. At its core, this episode asks a powerful question: Can we design aid that makes itself unnecessary?

Watch the video episode here.

Key Takeaways

00:00 – 01:01: Is aid solving problems… or managing them?

01:01 – 03:03: Aid as a business model reveals how funding structures and salaries can prioritize continuity over real solutions.

03:03 – 05:19: Firsthand experiences suggesting some projects may support hidden economic agendas.

05:19 – 08:21: Bureaucracy and overhead can leave only a small fraction of funding reaching people on the ground.

08:21 – 10:05: Can aid ever create independence? questions why successful outcomes are rarely scaled or shared to empower communities long-term.

10:05 – 12:56: A rare success story demonstrates how directing most funds to the ground can create farms, businesses, and lasting impact.

12:56 – 15:13: Why most aid fails long-term highlights the limits of single-solution projects compared to whole-system design thinking.

15:13 – 17:50: The well problem (and the real solution) shows why recharging landscapes beats endlessly digging deeper wells.

17:50 – 20:17: The goal: make aid redundant emphasizes teaching skills and building systems that remove the need for outside help.

20:17 – 22:00: How strategy must shift depending on whether people are temporary or settled.

22:00 – 25:10: A powerful refugee camp transformation shares how education and food systems created real hope and engagement.

25:10 – 26:26: How politics and authority can dismantle successful projects overnight.

26:26 – 29:24: Lasting change comes when people understand, value, and take ownership of systems.

29:24 – 32:00: Hw compost and water systems can become income streams and resilience tools.

32:00 – 36:26: Dependency vs real economies contrasts conventional aid with permaculture systems that create independence and local economies.

36:26 – 40:01: Why smaller, localized efforts are often more effective than large institutions.

40:01 – 45:13: The ethics and psychology of aid work dives into burnout, disillusionment, and the emotional weight of working in crisis zones.

45:13 – 48:17: What it really takes to make an impact highlights patience, persistence, and the long timeline required for meaningful change.

48:17 – 50:03: The hardest lesson: you may achieve very little (at first) reframes success as simply showing up and staying consistent.

50:03 – 53:29: Low-tech solutions win explains why simple, maintainable systems outperform complex, high-tech interventions.

53:29 – 59:08: How aid changes your worldview reflects on resilience, lost skills, and the contrast between modern and traditional knowledge.

59:08 – 01:00:25: Climate instability and fragile systems highlights how global systems are becoming increasingly vulnerable.

01:00:25 – 01:02:08: If imports stopped tomorrow… what happens? challenges us to consider how dependent our regions really are.

01:02:08 – 01:03:40: Permaculture thinking is essential in an increasingly unstable world.

In this conversation, host Geoff Lawton, Ben, Eric, and Sam sit down with David Trood from The Weedy Garden as he shares how he went from knowing nothing about gardening to documenting one of the most compelling garden journeys online today. From a lockdown turning point to building a thriving garden from scratch, this episode moves beyond gardening into something deeper — purpose, honesty, and the tension between making a living and staying true to your values.

Watch the video episode here.

Key Takeaways:

00:04:32 – 00:05:41: The moment everything changed — lockdown, scarcity, and a shift in direction

00:05:41 – 00:08:30: Starting from zero and being introduced to a new way of thinking through Geoff

00:14:20 – 00:15:30: What nature teaches when you slow down and observe

00:15:13 – 00:16:33: “Plastic life” vs real life — a deeper realization

00:22:36 – 00:23:15: Why storytelling can communicate more than instruction

00:23:49 – 00:25:30: The attention economy and the pull toward fear-based content

00:34:39 – 00:36:30: The challenge of making a living without compromising values

00:36:30 – 00:40:48: Burnout, honesty, and rebuilding trust with an audience

00:40:02 – 00:40:48: A shift toward generosity and community

01:04:49 – End: Why the garden becomes something you can’t walk away from 🌏

Guest Notes:

David Trood (AKA Weedy) — Known for his project The Weedy Garden, is a photographer turned gardener documenting the transformation of his weedy hill in Northern NSW, Australia. With no formal background in horticulture, his work is driven by curiosity, observation, and a deep commitment to learning directly from nature. Through poetic visual storytelling, he has built a global audience by sharing not just how to grow food, but how to reconnect with the living systems that sustain us. His approach prioritizes authenticity over growth, offering a rare and honest perspective in the digital landscape

What does “efficiency” really mean in food production? Host Geoff Lawton and Ben, Eric and Sam discuss the hidden costs of industrial agriculture and explore how regenerative systems can produce more with less by working with nature, not against it.

Watch the video episode here.

Key Takeaways:

00:00 – 02:00: Introduces the idea of efficiency in food systems and questions whether yield and labor truly define it.

02:00 – 03:30: Reframes efficiency through an energy audit—measuring all inputs and outputs over the life of a system.

03:30 – 06:00: Explains how soil health is the real foundation of productivity, not just visible crop yields.

06:00 – 09:30: Breaks down the hidden environmental and social costs that industrial agriculture leaves out.

09:30 – 13:30: Explores how monoculture systems increase short-term efficiency but reduce long-term resilience.

13:30 – 15:30: Introduces the idea of combining farming scale with garden diversity for better outcomes.

15:30 – 20:30: Compares perennial and annual systems, showing how long-term plantings require fewer inputs over time.

20:30 – 26:30: Contrasts industrial control with ecological design, emphasizing working with natural systems.

26:30 – 31:30: Questions conventional productivity metrics and highlights the importance of nutrition and system health.

31:30 – 36:30: Discusses the benefits of local food systems in reducing transport and increasing resilience.

36:30 – 39:00: Looks at historical examples like victory gardens to show how decentralized systems can feed populations.

39:00 – 45:00: Emphasizes the role of home-scale food production in improving food security and independence.

45:00 – 51:00: Explores how regenerative systems become more economically viable over time.

51:00 – 60:00: Concludes that true efficiency comes from designing systems that work with nature and produce surplus energy.