The Feature Gardener . . .
About Zoe Wilcox Edrington

My husband, Bard Edrington and I live with our toddler son on 0.18 acre
lot in the heart of Albuquerque. Here, we practice our lifetime experience in
growing food. Walking through our yard, which I encourage clients to do, you
see a gardening system with active and passive rainwater catchment, natural
shapes incorporated into garden designs, (spirals, waves, mushrooms, and even a
double helix), layered and diverse plantings, and on-site green waste managers
(chickens and red worms). The effects are bountiful. From this little piece of
land, we produce fruits, vegetables, culinary and medicinal herbs, chicken eggs,
and a wildlife corridor almost entirely from harvested rainwater and greywater
and without any chemicals. We welcome many native species of birds, curious
neighborhood children, and even a feral peacock as a part of the thriving
landscape.

Farm raised myself by two veterinarians in rural Illinois, I’ve always lived
close to agriculture. In 2001, however, Australia introduced me to an approach
to growing food unheard of in my home region, Permaculture. I spent five
months studying Permaculture in Australia, with formal study at Crystal Water
Permaculuture Village. I have since incorporated the wisdom of Permaculture
practices in all my work.

From 2003 - 2005, I worked in Zambia, Africa from a village hut with no
running water, electricity, or motorized vehicles for 30 miles. I spent the first
part of my stay there working for U.S Peace Corps teaching sustainable fish
farming to villagers. The second half of my stay, I continued to live in the village
privately researching alternatives to the widespread practice of slash and burn
agriculture. I wrote and taught teachers a two-day workshop hosted in a dozen
villages before my departure. I then wrote the Peace Corps curriculum on
sustainable agriculture for all incoming agriculture volunteers into the country so
that the work of sustainable education for self-sustaining farmers continues.

Upon our return to the states, my husband and I moved to Albuquerque.
I began working for Soilutions Inc. almost immediately. I continued to mentor
under Jim Brookes for two years, learning permaculture dryland techniques.

Since 2009, I have partnered with Bard Edrington to run Mother Nature
Gardens, a demonstration urban farm and learning center with classes and
courses, and Living Edge Landscaping, a sustainable & edible landscaping
company. Last year, Zoe taught with Mother Nature Gardens, Albuquerque
Backyard Farming Series, the Southwest Permaculture Institute, City of
Albuquerque’s Backyard Farming Series and their

For 2011, Zoe is schedualed to speak at the Organic Farmers Conference,
the Xeriscape Conference, and the MNG’s Drylands Farming Course.

Articles written:

La Montinita Coop, March ’08, Creating an Urban Farm
Living Green
Green Build