#21. Takota Coen: Permaculture farming as a model for an economy of well-being

 #21. April 25, 2019. Takota Coen is one of Canada's youngest and innovative pioneering permaculture farmers. Takota along with his family farm 250 acres of prime agriculture land just east of Ponoka Alberta near Red Deer Lake. https://www.coenfarm.ca/ They practice a form of land stewardship called Permaculture.  Permaculture is a set of design principles centered around whole systems thinking simulating or directly utilizing the patterns and resilient features observed in natural ecosystems. Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; looking at the interaction of plants and animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single product system, which has been the basis of industrial agriculture for decades. Takota was born, raised and now helps steward Coen Farms using permaculture principles. The Coen family has been transforming their farm into an agro-ecological oasis since 1988.   Their story began in 1988 the Coen family could no longer ignore the declining health of their land, their animals, their family & their community.   They decided to eliminate all chemical fertilizers & biocides.  Today, Takota along with his parents continue that tradition, & with the addition of permaculture design & holistic management their 250 acre award winning farm is proud to be a part of the growing regenerative agriculture revolution that is healing the planet & its people. He holds a Permaculture Design Certificate from The Permaculture Research Institute, a Holistic Management Certificate, and a Red Seal Certificate for Carpentry. When he is not busy farming, Takota works to empower others with the tools and resources to design, implement, and manage resilient living systems that are Earth restorative.  Takota spoke with me about how he envisions permaculture being the basis of not only a new era in growing food and healing our bodies but also as a model for the economy; a key platform for building an economy of well-being.