What if our food systems could help heal the Earth? In Episode #336, I sit down with ethnobotanist Stephen Brooks to explore the principles of permaculture, alternative living, and the future of agriculture. The balance between humans and nature is critical to our happiness and longevity, and in this episode, we discuss how each of us can be part of the solution. Stephen shares insights from his decades of work, offering practical ways we can contribute to a more sustainable world.
“I think we need to create a whole new way of creating cities, and a whole new way of designing agriculture.”
Stephen Brooks has over 30 years of experience creating ecological communities and promoting regenerative design. He is the founder of The Punta Mona Center for Regenerative Design and Botanical Studies, a world leader in tropical permaculture, and the co-founder of several sustainable communities in Costa Rica, including La Ecovilla and Alegria Village. Stephen is also the co-founder of the annual Envision Festival, which brings together nearly 10,000 people to celebrate sustainability, education, and community-building. As an ethnobotanist, permaculture educator, and consultant, Stephen is dedicated to fostering biodiversity, nurturing soil health, and designing self-sustaining projects across the globe. He has also been featured on Down to Earth with Zac Efron on Netflix, further spreading the message of sustainable living.
“The clearer you are on what you want, the better chance you’ll make it happen.”
In this episode, we cover the foundational principles of permaculture and how regenerative agriculture can revolutionise how we feed ourselves while protecting the environment. You’ll also learn about the ethical issues surrounding modern food systems, discover unique fruits, and hear Stephen’s vision for redesigning cities and agriculture to work in harmony with the planet. This conversation offers valuable takeaways for anyone interested in sustainability and conscious living.
Specifically, we cover:
- The World of Fruit and Plants: Connection to Nature (00:00)
- From Miami to Costa Rica: A Journey into Sustainability (03:59)
- Environmental Injustice and the Impact on Communities (05:08)
- Permaculture and Sustainable Agriculture Practices (11:54)
- How to Build Sustainable Communities through Permaculture (26:30)
- Perennial Vegetables: A Key to Sustainable Agriculture (39:15)
- Diet Trends, Agriculture, and Sustainable Living Practices (41:56)
- Sustainable Human Systems: Permaculture and Design (48:59)
- Renewable Energy Solutions for Sustainable Communities (01:16:32)
- Practical Urban Farming and Sustainable Practices (01:19:55)
- The Joy of Nitrogen-Fixing Plants and Sustainable Farming (01:30:36)
- Fruit Ceremonies: Building Community and Connection (01:38:30)
- Blueprint for Sustainable Living and Community Building (01:44:30)
Thank you to Stephen Brooks for sharing his incredible journey and vision for a sustainable future. It’s inspiring to hear how his projects are making a tangible difference in the world. I’m excited to see how his upcoming projects, including Eterna, continue to unfold and further promote ecological living.
Connect with Stephen on Instagram, where you can find more information about his current and upcoming projects.
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More about Stephen Brooks
Stephen Brooks has 30 years of experience working on the creation of thriving ecological communities, beginning in 1995 with The Punta Mona Center for Regenerative Design and Botanical Studies, which has become a world leader in tropical permaculture and an extensive botanical collection of useful plants. Tens of thousands of students have visited and have been inspired by this rotating community of change makers. In 2006 La Ecovilla was founded as a world model for sustainable living, made up of 45 families from 22 countries. In 2008, up the street from La Ecovilla, Stephen co-founded Tacotal which is co owned by 25 families and is 70 acres on the same river as La Ecovilla. Then he co-founded Alegria Village which neighbours La Ecovilla and is 170 acres and has 145 more lots and was sold to people from 35 countries!! His latest project that he is doing with his fiancé Andrea Belén is called Eterna and they recently closed on 100 acres on the beach just north of Nosara.
Stephen co-founded the annual Envision Festival, an educational and conscious celebration on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica featuring music, workshops, art installations and a host of activities designed to build community and inspiration around creating a sustainable world. Nearly 10,000 people attended the Envision Festival in 2020.
A self trained ethnobotanist, specialist in exotic fruit trees and permaculture education, Stephen has taught over 40 Permaculture Design Courses in both Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala and the US and last year he co-founded Ecoversity which is mostly teaching permaculture and other Earth skills online. He currently does consultations and permaculture installations on many scales, from working with Hollywood celebrities to resorts and wellness centers to community development projects to small family farms. Stephen has become the go to in Costa Rica when people want to increase their biodiversity, nurture their soil and design the self-sustaining project of their dreams.
A passionate speaker and educator, Stephen has given numerous talks and lectures over the years, including several TedX series, and appeared as a host and correspondent on multiple TV shows including Edible Adventures for the Travel Channel, G Word for Discovery’s Planet Green, Save My Planet for ABC’s Livewell HD and most recently was featured on Down to Earth w/ Zac Efron on Netflix!
