Alexia Allen is a suburban homesteader. She and her husband Daniel are transforming their own corner of suburbia into a permaculture paradise. They spent all of 2017 doing a hand harvested food challenge, which meant they were eating only hand harvested food right down to salt from the ocean. Daniel and Alexia are long time educators with a passion for authentic earth based skills. As Suburbia grew up around them, it made sense to share these skills with people eager to learn. In this conversation with Alexia, we hear about the organic growth of their community, their experience with the hand harvested food challenge, and the importance of fostering nature connection through personal grounding practices and educational programs. With help from an amazing "farm-ily, the small community of people that live and work together on the homestead, and a lively crew of program helpers, Hawthorn Farm has offered learning opportunities for the past 15 years.

Topics Discussed

· Alexia's Journey to Homesteading

· Multigenerational Communal Living

· Balancing Public and Private Spaces

· Age Diversity

· Suburban Living

· Dealing with the Perception of Time

· Social Ecology

· The Underappreciation of Farming

· Making Money as a Homesteader

· Being a “Farm Grandma”

· Nurturing Healthy, Happy Humans

· Lifelong Educators

· The Ups and Downs of Intentional Community

· Grounding Practice — All You Have to do is Sit!

· The Hand Harvested Food Challenge

· Consistency over Decades

· Allowing Change

· Reconnecting with Your Environment

· Finding Your Strengths and Leaning on Others for Theirs

Episode Resources:

· Listen to The Good Dirt “191. Paul Hawken on Carbon, Climate and Connection”

· Nature Connection Mentors

· Wilderness Connection School

Connect with Alexia Allen:

· Website: https://www.hawthornfarm.org

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hawthornfarm/?hl=en

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawthornfarmheals/

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Original music by John Kingsley. Editing and podcast production by Fast Forward Production.

🌿 The Good Dirt Producers:

· Wendy Gray