A note from Jo Anne VC, writer, illustrator, & permaculture designer and educator

Hello! Thank you for being here. I am Jo Anne and I make these permaculture studies & field notes to share the things I’m learning in my own ecological journey. I am a writer, illustrator, and a certified permaculture designer and educator. I’ve been writing long before I was painting, but now cannot seem to separate the two. I was also in the citizen sector for several years; I worked at an organization for Asian Americans in the Bay Area, a corporate foundation in Metro Manila, and while here in the Visayas, I searched for social innovators and changemakers as a member of the Ashoka Philippines team.

The picture below is of me in awe and wonder of the Kashihara Forest in Japan. I’ve said before how amazing it would be to live beside a forest. The chances of that happening seemed pretty slim, until our family decided to collaborate with nature in building a food forest in our backyard. A good reminder that we have the power to create the world we want. A world that is more just, more abundant, more peaceful, and more beautiful. A world that is a magnificently better one for all.

About Permaculture

Permaculture is a design process and way of life underscored by these ethics: Earth Care - to live in harmony with nature, People Care - to live and work towards the good of all, and Fair Share - to live simply, so all may share in the earth’s abundance. Co-created by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, permaculture was born in Australia, but its values are universal and are practiced by many cultures all over the world. Much of it comes from the wisdom and knowledge of indigenous peoples. I’ve written a primer here.

When I found permaculture, it echoed most of the things I have always believed in, but it provided a highly pragmatic framework. I’d like to think of it as idealism in action. Permaculture can be applied in a variety of fields. I aim to build and expand on permaculture ethics and principles through creativity, community, & changemaking with nature.