Her work has caught the eye of major media outlets like Bob Vila, NBC News, The Washington Post, and more. She's a proud member of PINA, the Organic Farmer's Association, and the American Horticultural Society. But she doesn't just keep her wisdom stateside; she's a global green thumb, having worked on organic farms from Spain to Australia, revitalizing lands and designing self-sustaining ecosystems.
Whether it's turning a depleted Spanish farm into a permaculture paradise or setting up a biodynamic farm in Holland, Elle's mission is to make the world a greener, more sustainable place. She's a qualified permaculture teacher with diplomas in horticulture and naturopathy, and her passions range from herbalism and fermentation to animal husbandry and beyond. Elle lives the life she preaches, residing on a farm teeming with vegetable gardens, food forests, cows, sheep, horses, and chickens.
Most folks think winter gardens are dead zones. Just bare dirt and naked branches waiting for spring to arrive. That’s only true if you let it be true. With the correct perennial plants, your winter garden can be a showstopper…
Snake plants are one of the best winter houseplants! They’re nearly indestructible, strikingly architectural, and low-maintenance. They practically thrive on neglect. And their sword-like leaves shoot upward like green flames. All the while, their ability to survive everything from forgotten…
Watching baby chicks explore their first weeks is an exceptional experience on any homestead. Whether you’re getting your first chicks by mail or hatching them under a hen, these little birds bring hope and new life to your flock. Keeping…
Winter might look quiet at first glance. But your homestead is about to host one of the most vivid seasons of all. While the garden sleeps under frost, a cast of tough, brilliant birds steps into the spotlight, flashing color,…
Forget the lot, forget the axe. The most festive move you can make is planting a Christmas tree right in your own backyard! Once established, you can decorate it year after year without ever cutting it down. It turns your…
Winterberry is the homesteader’s secret weapon for jaw-dropping winter color when everything else in the garden has gone dormant and dreary. While most native shrubs are busy being boring from November through March, winterberry lights up like nature’s Christmas lights…
Planting backyard trees is one of the best investments a homesteader can make. The right trees will feed you, shelter your livestock, improve your soil, attract pollinators, provide firewood, and even generate income, all while asking for very little in…
Thanksgiving cactus is one of those plants that looks fussy but secretly thrives on benign neglect once you understand what it actually wants. Unlike its desert-dwelling cousins, this Brazilian native prefers humid air, shady corners, and soil that drains like…
Say hello to the Wyandotte chicken! This gorgeous, curvy, cold-hardy chicken has been stealing hearts since the 1870s. And honestly? It’s not hard to see why. Picture a bird with feathers so intricately patterned they look hand-painted. Now imagine that…
So, you’ve decided to grow some hedge apples (also known as Osage orange trees) – an excellent choice! Whether you’re planning a living fence, stocking up on dense firewood, or want those quirky brain-shaped fruits for fall decor, you’ve got…
Here’s our bulletproof, nearly perfect system after pruning hundreds of shrubs over the years. Hydrangeas are some of the most forgiving shrubs you can grow, but they have one quirk that trips up almost everyone. Timing! Prune at the wrong…
For years, we’ve been told that a perfect, leaf-free lawn is the hallmark of responsible homesteading. But this year, I broke every lawnkeeping rule in the book. I stopped raking my leaves! As a result, my yard is thriving. And…
The cost of running a homestead has been increasing lately. Have you noticed the same? That’s why I’m a massive proponent of permaculture! Permaculture transforms your homestead into a self-sustaining system that produces delicious food each year while requiring less…
Building a backyard food forest means selecting plants that work together across multiple layers. It also means choosing edible perennials and yummy fruit trees that require only minimal maintenance once established. Well, we’ve got all of those angles covered. The…
Hostas are tragically underrated garden plants! They help transform any corner of your yard into stunning focal points with lush architecture and vibrant foliage. How you start your hostas makes all the difference in how quickly you’ll enjoy those gorgeous…
