About Carmen...
Owner and founder of Calgary’s URBAN FARM SCHOOL and The URBAN PERMACULTURE PROJECT, Carmen is dedicated to helping emerging gardeners and permaculture enthusiasts gain the freedom, confidence and common-sense skills they need to live more abundant, sustainable and resilient lives.
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Carmen's property, the Urban Permaculture Project, is a living example of an abundant and ecologically thriving and productive landscape. Through many years of offering eco-yard tours of her property, thousands of visitors have been able to experience the transformative power of permaculture, becoming inspired to create positive change on their own properties and in their communities. Her beautiful property has been featured in Swerve magazine, the Calgary Herald and on CTV news.
​As an experienced permaculture instructor, Carmen teaches to the international standard of Permaculture Certification. She is passionate about helping students reframe their lives and landscapes using proven whole-systems design methodology and strategies. The long-time lead instructor for the Verge Permaculture Design Certification course, Carmen has taught thousands of students, both in-person and internationally online. A change in direction and focus for Verge Permaculture and 5th World inspired Carmen to transition into teaching the PDC through Urban Farm School and to return to the more grassroots in-person program.
Carmen is deeply invested in making sure students are learning in an atmosphere of care and respect, and that the PDC is a positive and activating experience. She brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and deep-earth wisdom into each of her sessions, not only regarding required PDC topics but also through her years of experience in ecosystem health and dynamics, soils, forests, wildland management and horticulture. In addition, her 50 years of organic growing experience provide students with valuable mentorship when it comes to nurturing food resilience.
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Through her URBAN FARM SCHOOL workshops, Carmen offers practical classes and seminars to inspire conscious and creative solutions for regenerative local urban food production and resilience skills.
She is a regular instructor for the Calgary Horticultural Society Master Gardener Program , Government of Saskatchewan Indigenous Affairs, various community organizations, and is a sought-after speaker in support of community initiatives towards sustainability.
​As a skilled and experienced permaculture designer, Carmen loves helping landowners and communities transition from unproductive landscapes to ones that are overflowing with ecological health, beauty and abundance, incorporating annual food systems, perennial food forests, pollinator support systems, water management systems and more. ​Carmen's diverse background informs her grounded approach and teaching style, yet it is her passion for transformative change that inspires her students to become empowered earth citizens.