Episode 15 - Geoff Lawton

Geoff Lawton is perhaps the world’s most influential Permaculture teacher. He has created a global network of students, activist and Permaculture demonstration centers and has undertaken thousands of of jobs - teaching, consulting, designing and implementing Permaculture design projects. He is the Managing Director of the Permaculture Research Institute.

I met Geoff in 1996 in San Lucas Guatemala, where I took my first PDC. I traveled to Dominical, Costa Rica with Geoff to document Permaculture design and earthworks on Diane Firestone's 150-acre site.

In October 1997 Bill Mollison, upon his retirement, asked Geoff to assume operation of the 147-acre Tagari Farm, which Bill had developed. Geoff worked on that site for three years and established The Permaculture Research Institute as a registered charity and global networking center for Permaculture projects.

I had the opportunity to once again collaborate with Geoff from 1998-2002 on a US Department of Defense funded project to design the commercial reutilization strategy for the 15,000-acre Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant. We assembled a team of 15 partners and students and had tremendous success generating commercial tenancy revenue, hosting a Permaculture Design Certificate Course and hosting a three-day lecture by Bil Mollison.

I had the good fortune of speaking with Geoff during his last visit to Vermont and his message has remained the same. He is optimistic and inspired. He is now teaching thousands of people through his online courses and video series.

Geoff is a fantastic teacher and completely committed to the ethics and principles of Permaculture.
 

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