La Loma Viva

karen de vries

I have had many wonderful opportunities to study and collaborate with some of the worlds pioneering practitioners in the fields of syntropic farming, permaculture and regenerative living. From those encounters, I have gathered a diverse set of tools and knowledge, which I am continuously building on through my work here at La Loma Viva, where I have also gained a pretty mean set of practical skills!

I have an eclectic mix of interests and bring a multi-disciplinary approach to my work with inner and outer landscapes. I especially like exploring the fertile edge, where ecology, medicine and resilience intersect. My academic background is in social science and I hold degrees in Psychology (BSc) and Medical Anthropology (MSc). In my twenties I managed a Tibetan charity and Centre for Oriental Medicine in London. Then life led me to earth care. During a year long sabbatical travelling around the world, I discovered permaculture in Hawaii in 2008 and soon became a farmer in Spain! We began the project on a firm foundation of ecological ethics and then discovering Syntropic farming in 2016 revolutionised our approach to working with the land and provided an effective strategy for ecosystem restoration.

I love working with nature and I feel like it is an ongoing mutually regenerative relationship. It makes me so happy to touch the the earth every day, plant lots of trees, grow my own food and prepare amazing meals with all the things I harvest from the land. During my time at La Loma I feel like I am growing roots and becoming part of the ecosystem, learning to observe the seasons, cycles and species, and forming relationships with all the beings who share this space with me. My greatest aim is that my actions can also have a positive effect on my environment.

I am currently studying classical Chinese Medicine, which is further cultivating my approach to working with living systems, emphasising the perspective of wholeness and blowing my mind with the ancient Daoist understanding of nature. In my down time you will find me enjoying the local wine and flamenco or running around the mountain with my canine sidekicks.

Qualifications:

2000 BSc Psychology (Hons) (University of Westminster, London)

2005 MSc Medical Anthropology (UCL, London)

2008 Permaculture Design Certificate - Penny Livingston (Living Mandala - Hawaii)

2009 Permaculture Design and Facilitation - Alex Kruger (SEED - South Africa)

2010 Permaculture Design Certificate - Bill Mollison + Geoff Lawton (Istanbul)

2012 Permaculture Earthworks - Geoff Lawton (Morocco)

2015 Training of Teachers - Rowe Morrow, Looby McNamara, Chris Evans (UK, Designed Visions)

2016 Cultural Emergence - John Young (8 Shields), Looby McNamara

2017-2019 Syntropic Farming Workshops - Ernst Gotsch

2017 Regrarians Online Farm Planning Programme - Darren Doherty

2019 Regrarians REXi Farm Planning Course - Darren Doherty

2020 to present - Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Undergraduate course - Academy of Oriental Medicine (Vita Revelli)