Designing regenerative landscapes for wildfire ecologies, with Erik Ohlsen, founder of Permaculture Artisans: 123
b'Today we\\u2019re back with Erik Ohlsen, founder of both Permaculture Artisans, one of the preeminent ecological landscaping companies in the US, and the Permaculture Skills center a vocational training school that offers advanced education in ecological design, landscaping, farming, and land stewardship. Erik is also the author of several books including \\u201cThe Forest of Fire,\\u201d Activate Your Joy,\\u201d and most recently \\u201cThe Ecological Landscape Designer\\u201d an essential manual for anyone aspiring to make a living in eco- design.\\nThough it\\u2019s long overdue, I spoke with Erik to get to better understand the intensity of the wildfires that have ravaged California and parts of the western US in recent years, and the factors that caused them. Erik explains how fire can be a regenerative force for the ecology of many forests and how the indigenous people of the western United States have managed fires strategically for thousands of years. We talk about how communities can work together to manage the risks of their ecosystems and avoid the catastrophic damage that fires have caused in previous years.\\nWe also explore some of the wisdom and lessons that Erik has learned in more than 20 years running his permaculture landscaping business and the challenges of meeting clients needs while including the holistic health considerations of nature.\\nLike many of the more seasoned and experienced professionals that I\\u2019ve had the pleasure of speaking to on this show, Erik shys away from making specific recommendations for techniques or designs and encourages people to cultivate a deeper understanding of their place and context before making assumptions about how to manage their land or even businesses. This is a great episode for people looking to better understand fire-prone ecologies, but also for people who enjoy the challenge of considering a deeper understanding of their relationship to natural systems in general.\\nResources:\\nListen to Erik\\u2019s first interview with Abundant Edge\\nErik\\u2019s website\\nPermaculture Artisans\\nThe Permaculture Skills Center\\nGet the book \\u201cThe Ecological Landscape Designer\\u201d'