Barb Hazenveld

My path started as a young kid growing up on a farm, with a dad as a vet, I could and did have many animals including: dogs, cats, birds, rabbits (which I raised and sold), cows, horses, pigs and a chicken.  

As a young adult, I lived and worked for 1/2 a year in Germany and discovered that there were many medicines growing in the forests. I later studied herbal medicine and now grow and make many of my own medicines from wild and domestic plants.

Throughout the next few years, I took as many opportunities as I could to travel the world and discover incredible cultures and naturescapes that have largely made me into the person I am today.

I completed a Horticulture diploma which started my food growing passion.

I moved to Australia to mentor under Bill Mollison (one of the founding fathers of Permaculture) and lived in an ecovillage for 9 years.  During that time, I taught, designed, implemented and co-created a video about Permaculture.

I have practiced/taught Permaculture in Canada, Australia, Palestine, Spain, China and studied Permaculture systems in Nepal.

 I also initiated and organized an "Intentional Communities Conference" which brought together 75 people from across Australia and New Zealand.

I completed a 10 month online course "Design for Sustainability" through Gaia Education.

Currently I live in Canada where I am further pursuing my passion for the outdoors living on the edge of the Kananaskis.  Together with my husband and 2 children, we go hiking regularly, near Bluerock Wildland, Sheep River or in the Highwood Pass areas.

I have recently attained Project Wild certification as well as Field Leader 1 (through the Outdoor Council of Canada) allowing me to take groups of students hiking.

I am currently a teacher in the Foothills and Calgary area and am studying an Environmental Science University Course.

Our 1 acre property is a demonstration urban farm of Permaculture in cold climates (zone 2a).