Permaculture Design for Metropolises with Andrew Faust

Permaculture is a creative design process based on whole-systems thinking informed by ethics and design principles. This approach seeks to mimic the patterns and relationships we can find in nature and can be applied to all aspects of human habitation, from agriculture to ecological building, from appropriate technology to education and even metropolises.

Andrew Faust is one of the premiere permaculture teachers and designers in North America. In this podcast episode, Andrew talks about his backstory from gaining experience building permaculture sites and off-grid natural buildings to then applying those same principals to a different setting: New York City.

It is becoming abundantly apparent that homes and cities have been built upon a faulty foundation. As progress into the 21st century we are collectively realizing that we need to change the way that we build and change the way that we interact with our outer (and inner) worlds. In other words, we have to redesign how we design.

That's where Andrew's teachings step in. His innovative approach to using permaculture design to rethink urban metropolises is making an impacts large and small. He argues that we need to see cities as "urban metabolisms" and focus on energy nodes, and water and nutrients flows. From his work, thousands of students have gone on to apply this philosophy into their work and communities.

This episode is deeply insightful and one that you'll likely want to listen to several times. To learn more about Andrew Faust's work you can visit his website at the Center for Bioregional Living. 

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This podcast isn’t just about ideas—it’s about action. From these conversations, two organizations have emerged to bring regenerative real estate to life:

Latitude Regenerative Real Estate is the world’s first regenerative-focused real estate brokerage, dedicated to aligning values-driven buyers and sellers. With a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions, Latitude also supports purpose-driven developments across North America through strategic marketing and branding services. If you're looking to buy, sell, or amplify a regenerative project, Latitude is your trusted partner.

Hamlet Capital is an investment and development firm committed to building resilient communities rooted in working farms. If you’re developing an agrihood or conservation community, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can turn visionary ideas into thriving, place-based investments.