EP 126: Cultivating Resilience: Finding Security and Happiness Through Permaculture and Natural Living
The modern world often prescribes a narrow path to security: climb the corporate ladder, acquire a larger house, and accumulate material wealth. But what if true resilience, abundance, and happiness could be found by turning away from this script and rooting oneself deeply in the earth? This is the core philosophy explored in a recent episode of the Less House More Moola Podcast, featuring natural living advocates Jesse and Johanna Boudreau of Chimayó, New Mexico.
The Permaculture Paradigm: Layering Life for Long-Term Abundance
Jesse and Johanna have spent over two decades transforming a piece of scrubland in northern New Mexico into a thriving permaculture homestead and food forest. Their journey began with a shared passion for natural life, herbalism, and a desire to live simply and healthily—a stark contrast to the disconnected, materialist paradigm Jesse grew up experiencing.
Johanna, with 14 generations of family roots in Chimayó, brought a natural connection to the land, where gathering plants for medicine, food, and weaving dyes was a traditional way of life. Jesse’s studies in expanded permaculture school, coupled with a growing awareness of modern life's separation from nature, motivated their long-term commitment.
Their approach to building their home and land demonstrates an incredible commitment to built capital and resilience that extends beyond instant gratification. Rather than temporary gardening, they implemented perennial agriculture, inspired by the challenge of growing immense amounts of food on small acreage by layering plants in synergistic communities.
Key techniques used on their land include:
Rainwater Harvesting: Utilizing resources efficiently in their arid environment.
Hügelkultur and Swales: Building soil fertility and capturing water runoff.
Layered Planting: Creating a food forest with herbaceous layers (nettles, mint), shrubs (sea buckthorn, nitrogen fixers), semi-dwarf fruit trees, and an overstory.
Soil Building: Integrating biochar with chicken manure and implementing "chop and drop" techniques to continuously enrich the soil.
This long-term permaculture commitment to land and life cultivation means that as time passes, the land requires less input and provides greater yield, securing their well-being for generations.
Building Wealth in Health and Connection: Beyond the Golden Carrot
When asked why they think differently about security than the prevailing culture, Jesse and Johanna point to both ancestral connection and a desire for spiritual and psychological healing. Johanna's inherited sense of living in gratitude with the earth, combined with Jesse's realization that human beings aren't bad for the earth, but our way is bad for the earth, fueled their search for a deeper foundation of security.
They emphasize that the true foundation of security is not money, but skills, community, and connection with the land. This lifestyle is a daily "biohack"—walking barefoot (grounding), being in the sun, and getting probiotics from the soil all contribute to overall physical and psychological well-being.
However, they are not completely disconnected from the material world. Their current focus is on integrating natural living with financial resilience. By building out their cob structures and a yurt for an Airbnb, they plan to share their "homestead paradise" as a demonstration site, creating wealth that remains centered around health, healing, and permaculture. This strategy allows them to diversify their resilience, having one foot in the real economy while the other is firmly rooted in self-sufficiency and natural health.
Reclaiming Personal Empowerment through Earth Connection and Wild Food
For Jesse and Johanna, their work—whether leading foraging walks or permaculture classes—boils down to a few key messages:
Remembering Connection: Helping people understand that we are an undeniable part of nature, not separate from it. They often witness students feeling "home" and whole again when they reconnect with the earth.
The Gold is Within: True fulfillment comes from developing a loving heart and integrity, viewing inner feelings and well-being as the greatest empowerment.
Knowledge Becomes Wisdom: The crucial step is putting theory into practice (putting the "rubber to the road"). Experiencing how much wild food and medicine is constantly available is a powerful way to relieve survival stress and root chakra worry (money, sex, survival).
They stress the importance of empowerment, especially in uncertain times where external systems (like jobs potentially replaced by AI) feel volatile. Identifying as a natural being, focused on creative power and adaptive skillsets, offers stability that cannot be taken away.
How to Cultivate Deep Roots When You Feel Disconnected and Rootless
For those who feel disconnected from their heritage or place—people with mixed lineages or who didn't grow up where their family is from—Jesse and Johanna offer comforting advice. They utilize the permaculture concept of zones, suggesting:
Zone Zero: Start with Yourself: Honor your individual journey and remember that you still have a lineage and are an "earthling from someplace."
Become of the Place: Actively naturalize yourself to your current environment. Hike the surrounding land barefoot, imbibe native plants, sun gaze, and eat food grown locally. You can make your body out of this place.
Connect with Traditions: Pay respects to the local indigenous traditions, support indigenous people, and explore the "plant-cestors" (plants, minerals, trees) that offer connection.
Ultimately, the goal is to avoid comparison (the thief of joy) and recognize that we are all indigenous to the earth. Reconnecting—by hugging a tree or simply growing a small garden—is a practice in surrendering, healing, and remembering our innate wholeness.
Ready to Grow Your Resilience? Explore Permaculture and Herbalism!
Inspired by Jesse and Johanna's journey to cultivate security and happiness with natural living? Whether you’re interested in sustainable home building with cobb or identifying wild medicine for self-sufficiency, the first step is to engage with the natural world around you.
Visit ziapermaculture.com to sign up for the newsletter and receive their current event schedule. Learn about upcoming foraging walks and workshops in the northern New Mexico area and start your own journey toward a more connected, resilient, and abundant life. You can also reach them directly at ziaenergeticsllc@gmail.com.
Book a complimentary call with Laura today at thetinyhouseadviser.com to explore your options for a more earth-based lifestyle!
Resources mentioned
Laura Lynch: LinkedIn
Johanna and Jesse’s links
www.ziapermaculture.com
https://www.instagram.com/the_pranic_herbalist?
https://youtube.com/@jessetree333?
https://www.facebook.com/ziapermaculture
Takeaways from the episode
“Connection with nature is essential for mental and physical health.”
“Empowerment comes from remembering our connection to the earth.”
“Reconnecting with roots can be healing for individuals.”
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