Permaculture Landscape Design

We differ from other designers in that we actually live inside of our work everyday. We don't work in class A office space; we live amidst the spaces, plants and ecosystems we design. We build soil, tend to fruit trees, dig and maintain ponds and roads, tweak wood stoves, sharpen axes, fell trees, bring in the firewood, raise vegetables, fruit, fish, poultry, livestock, tune solar hot water systems, and learn from the innumerable ways one lives in a productive landscape across the seasons. We could not deliver valuable site and building design and construction experience without practicing the content of our design on a daily basis. Since the practice of modern architecture and land design is usually far removed from the consequences of its application it reliably produces dysfunctional spaces unfit for vibrant people and other living things. This distancing of designer from the designed is why these fields have consistently failed to deeply protect and enhance human culture and biological diversity for the past few generations. Our practice is part of the design-build, owner-builder movement that is transcending the industrial process which has passed for 'design' for far too long.

We work with our team of specialists we've developed over the past 15 years in Vermont to implement projects.
Ben Falk, M.A.L.D: Design, Planning, Systems Optimization
Ben developed Whole Systems Design, LLC as a land-based response to biological and cultural extinction and the increasing separation between people and elemental things. Life as a designer, builder, ecologist, tree-tender, and backcountry traveler continually informs Ben’s integrative approach to developing landscapes and buildings. His home landscape and the WSD studio site in Vermont's Mad River Valley serve as a proving ground for the regenerative land developments featured in the projects of Whole Systems Design. Ben has studied architecture and landscape architecture at the graduate level and holds a master’s degree in land-use planning and design. He has conducted nearly 200 site development consultations across New England and facilitated dozens of courses on permaculture design, property selection, microclimate design, and design for climate change. Ben is the author of the award-winning book the Resilient Farm and Homestead (Chelsea Green, 2013).
For more, see Ben Falk's recent TEDx talk.

Cornelius Murphy: Project Management, Studio Manager, Communications, Design
Cornelius has worked with WSD for more than eight years, growing with the firm into a world class design shop. He manages the WSD office, provides project management, and synthesizes CAD and dynamic animation with hand drawing and other graphic media to produce compelling design communications. Cornelius worked as an associate designer in several California-based landscape architecture studios before coming to Vermont and Whole Systems Design. He holds a Permaculture Design Certificate from the Regenerative Design Institute in Bolinas, CA and a degree in Landscape Architecture from Temple University. Cornelius is the illustrator of the award-winning book the Resilient Farm and Homestead (Chelsea Green, 2013).

Craig Oshkello, MLA: Farm and Homestead Consultant, Design, Project Management
Craig has been dedicated to the design and development of land-based livelihoods and communities for the past fifteen years both as a professional and daily practitioner. a professionally trained landscape architect, Craig delivers farm design, land planning and green development consulting services to a broad range of WSD clients. Craig has also been in private practice designing and building homesteads for the past ten years. Craig now leads the effort of developing a farm centered cohousing community in the Mad River Valley, putting 15 years of experience of homesteading at Cold Pond Community Land Trust to work. He has spent more than a decade living in a landscape of his design, homesteading through raising vegetables, fuelwood, donkeys, sheep, chickens, fruits and nuts.

Erica Koch Falk, ND, MEd: Whole Systems Skills Instructor, Medicinal Crops, Herbalist
Erica is a Vermont licensed Naturopathic Physician, health educator, gardener, and medicine-maker. She earnedher Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree from National College of Natural Medicine and a Master of Education from Rutgers University. She has practiced in diverse settings including corporate wellness at Nike, integrative hospitals, and private clinics. She enjoys teaching people about nutrition, herbs, growing food/medicine and integrating practical measures into daily life to promote resilience and health. She is currently credentialed at Gifford Medical Center and recently earned her Agri-Safe certification in Agricultural Medicine.

An introduction to Ben Falk and some of the work at our farm from Costa on Vimeo.

Akira Whiskey: Zen Master, Crop Protection

Akira joined WSD 6 years ago from a farm in Maryland where she left her brothers and sisters to pursue a career watching sheep, goats, and ducks, chasing birds, and keeping humans company in central Vermont. She is a gifted listener, a keen observer and has recently earned a certificate in deer chasing. She holds a B.S. in Duck Watching, an M.Sc. in General Farm Guardianship and is not persuing a doctorate in anything.