Brad is a certified permaculture design specialist with a degree in Botany and Chemistry. He has been growing gardens and fruit trees for over twenty years, and has 20 years experience in the plumbing and irrigation world.
Amy is a certified herbalist and kitchen garden coach. She specializes in herb and kitchen gardens (mostly raised and container set ups), and concentrating on sacred gardening spaces and maximizing your yields and growth.
Brad and Amy believe that gardens have a synergy with the earth, and that is where permaculture aspects can be beneficial. Why constantly fight a weed if you can plant other things that can make it less opportunistic?
Nature has a balance and so we must work with and not against it.
Testimonials:
“I have always loved the words of wisdom on my gardens from Brad and Amy. I didn’t understand that some of my plants were working against each other, and when we got it all figured out, my gardens are happy again! Thank you!” ~ JOy
”Soil health is it! Brad helped me amend my soil. And plants! I needed help growing what grows best here in Texas. He gave me a list, where to put them, how to take care of them. I am a DIYer and he helped me get back to being in charge of my yard and garden” ~ Donavan
Amy’s Education & Experience Held:
MED, FNTP, BOARD CERTIFIED IN HOLISTIC NUTRITION, HERBALIST, Austere Medic (In disciplina)
Brad’s Education & Experience Held:
BAS Botany & Chemistry, Certified Permaculture Design, over 20 years garden experience
On the Liferoot Garden & Permaculture Blog:
Brad and I have always been fascinated with bees, their lifestyle, and the wonder and impact they have on our planet and food production. Last fall we made the decision to become stewards of bees and host a home for them. But we didn’t take that decision lightly…and vowed to learn all we could about these amazing insects. So we read books and took courses, talked to seasoned beekeepers and watched Youtube videos galore.
I started to see cowboy or stock tank pools start to become popular in 2020 when many public swimming areas were shut down. I saw them on Instagram, these cute 2.5-3 foot deep pool, wide and perfect for sitting and chilling. These pools were a cheaper, faster installation, semi-permanent, super chic and stylish way to get a pool. And did I mention they were super cute? I wanted one.
A garden is meant to be enjoyed by many different species of birds, insects, humans and other animals. Even under ground in a garden, there are traffic jams of fungus, earthworms, and bacteria everywhere! When you plant a garden that invites life of all sorts, there will be a balance achieved that can create all levels of protection and higher levels of pollination and yields.
When we walk out into our gardens, and see all the lush plant life around us, it’s easy to look past the principles in our life that got us there. Many gardeners want a garden, and have many reasons for doing it. Growing your own food is a common reason, and a valid one at that. Having plants to attract birds, insects, butterflies. The beauty of blooming flowers or fresh herbs. Learning these practices and passing on to your children.
Butterfly Pea is a perennial leguminous twiner vine, which originated from tropical Asia. This vine boasts beautiful blue purple flowers that are edible and quite medicinal. They have been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic and Chinese Medicine and are slowly making their way into the apothecary shelves of folk herbalists in America.
A staple to almost every garden, easy to grow, and highly medicinal…the amazing allium family (think onion, garlic, shallot) never disappoints in bringing a wonderful flavor and unique healing property to your plate. Old as time itself, these cold hardy, drought tolerant, pest resistant plants have made their way across the world and into our bellies and apothecary.
Humans are more connected with our food supply than we might think. The natural cycle of the sun and the way that plants grow is in sync with your body's needs. Winter greens that grow abundantly help to hydrate the body and give much needed minerals that are lacking in the cold months. Fresh fruit in summer give much needed electrolytes for the summer warmth, and can even keep the body cool.
Here at Liferoot, we love to compost. We have been doing it for years, loving the amendment and nutrition it gives our plants through the soil. You might be thinking, ok I have food scraps and don’t they all break down because I am throwing it away in my trash bag? What’s the difference? Well, oxygen is the difference.
For lazy gardeners like myself, the multitude of benefits are too advantageous to not be taken advantage of. Another good use for mulch is it diminishes the chance of weeds.
There are about as many tips and recipes for keeping flowers lasting longer as there are types of flowers. People will swear this does it, or that, but there are THREE rules of thumb (green thumb no less! :) that many pro-florists follow to making the flowers happy in their vase and lasting longer and more vibrant.