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Join us for a visit to Hawthorn Farm, an 8-acre community teaching farm. Alexia shares with us how they are transforming suburbia into a permaculture paradise. Beware: lots of goat and pony footage!

Crossing Paths and Kindred Spirits

Julie first met Alexia Allen more than twenty years ago when their paths crossed through Wilderness Awareness School, an organization where they both worked. Over the years we heard about the work Alexia was doing on her own farm, but It wasn’t until we moved back to the Snoqualmie Valley in 2018 that we reconnected. Her farm (and all the work she’s doing in the world) has become an inspiration to us. We often joke we hope our homestead grows up to be as cool as hers.

When you visit Hawthorn Farm, you’d never guess you are in suburbia. The sounds of songbirds are intermingled with the voices of goats, ducks and other animals. There’s shades of green everywhere, from the apple trees to the onion tops. About 20 years ago, this patch of land was just another expansive lawn. Thanks to the vision and nurturing of Alexia and her community, it has become a permaculture paradise.

The Hawthorn Farm newsletter is an inspiring read! You can sign up for free at HawthornFarm.org.

Video Chapters

Below is an overview of the video chapters. You can watch the video all the way through or in segments. To access the chapters, just go to the Hawthorn Farm video on YouTube and click the description. You will see the following clickable segments.

0:00 - 0:33 Intro

0:34 - 3:23 From Wilderness Survival to Farming

3:24 - 5:32 Pony Power

5:33 - 8:21 Getting Started with Homesteading

8:22 - 10:34 Habitat for Humans

10:35 - 14:40 Hawthorn Farm Evolution

14:41 - 16:34 Ducks

16:35 - 17:58 The Best Parts of Farming and Homesteading

17:59 - 20:54 Goats

20:55 - 24:45 The Challenges of Farming and Homesteading

24:46 - 24:40 Composting Toilets and Humanure

25:41 - 27:42 Favorite Farm Meals

27:43 - 30:34 Wisdom for Getting Started with Permaculture

30:35 - 31:29 Tips for Incorporating Nature Connection into your Everyday Life

31:29 - 32:01 Wrap Up

32:02 - 32:05 Outtake

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