Permaculture for Plant Parents: The Simple Gardening Method That Gives Back

My goal this year is to find more ease and joy in my garden! I love my plants, but I don’t want my yard to feel like another job. And when I realized that was a theme that was gonna keep coming up, I knew I needed to do an episode on permaculture. So I invited my plant friend, Brandy Hall. She’s a permaculture designer and has helped me see it as a simple, practical way to garden. She calls herself a garden editor for homeowners, which means she helps people like us turn regular lawns into regenerative spaces that get better over time.   In this episode, we learn: [02:45] Meet Brandy Hall of Shades of Green Permaculture! [03:23] How did she become the permaculture expert that she is today? [04:38] What pesticide exposure did to her family and why it changed everything [08:24] How travel, farm life, and construction work pulled Brandy into this career [10:51] Permaculture vs regenerative gardening vs rewilding vs ecological landscaping [12:50] Is permaculture growing your own food? [14:44] What are the three pillars of a regenerative landscape? [14:55] Pillar #1 Restore water cycle [15:11] Pillar #2 Soil fertility [15:46] Espoma Organic [17:22] Pillar #3 Building plant communities [18:00] Applying permaculture to real neighborhoods [21:19] How modern development broke the natural water cycle [23:42] What permaculture does differently with water [26:22] The biggest water management mistakes homeowners make [27:23] How to work with your downspouts and rain gardens to manage water [28:19] Why the soil is your best water storage system [30:19] How much water actually falls on your roof [31:55] What does a permaculture site consultation actually look like? [33:23] How to “read” your own space [34:47] How to choose plants for permaculture [36:02] Native vs non‑native plants [37:39] How to make a permaculture garden look aesthetic (even in an HOA) [40:00] How Brandy designs beautiful & productive beds [41:10] Where to start if you're new to permaculture [42:53] Brandy's online course, The Regenerative Backyard Blueprint [44:10] Where to find Brandy, her book, and her resources   Mentioned in our conversation: The Complete Guide to Home Permaculture by Brandy Hall The Cut Flower Handbook: Select, Plant, Grow, and Harvest Gorgeous Blooms by Lisa Ziegler   For Brandy's recommended permaculture habits, check out the full show notes and blog here!   Follow Brandy:WebsiteInstagramFacebookYouTube   Thank you to our episode sponsor: Espoma Organic Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.   Follow Maria and Growing Joy: Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle) Support Growing Joy with Maria by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon! Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria