Bringing food and medicine close to home
We create unique, abundant habitats and nurturing healing spaces.
Edible landscaping & water-wise gardens
Herbal medicine & pollinator gardens
Food forests & resilience plantings
Fire smart landscaping
Our services include design, installation, and education
Collaborative Design
Each project is as unique as you are, tailored to your values, site, and budget. Through a collaborative design process, we work together to ground your dreams and visions into reality.
From the seeds of an idea to planting, I’ll work with you to create an integrated, abundant landscape.
My specialty is urban and suburban permaculture, turning your yard into a resilient oasis, for you and generations to come.
Why Permaculture ?
The term was originally coined in the 1970s by two Australians (Bill Mollison and David Holmgren) to include both permanent agriculture as well as permanent culture.
Drawing on the wisdom of indigenous food systems and mimicking the diversity and interconnectedness of nature Permaculture uses systems design to create healthy human habitats.
This can include everything from producing year-round food, and home medicine, to fiber, fuel, textiles, energy, and waste recycling onsite if there is the interest and resources.
We can create resilient, diverse, and abundant ecosystems that both restore the vibrancy of the natural world and provide for people.
Being more self-reliant and knowing where our necessities come from, even a portion of them is increasingly relevant in these uncertain times.
About the designer
Hi, I’m Maria, the owner of Earthlight Permaculture.
Since 1995, I have designed and built dozens of edible landscapes. Its been a joy to help homeowners across BC turn their yards into thriving food forests and resilient gardens; whether a city lot or an off-grid 10-acre parcel.
I started in the temperate rainforest of the west Kootenays and moved to the Mediterranean climate of the gulf islands in 2002. My scope now includes remote design using digital tools such as Google Earth Pro and Contour Map Generator.
My passion for edible landscaping, herbal medicine, and sustainable systems drives my work to integrate food, medicine, native plants, and pollinator habitat into every project.
I have specialized training in permaculture design, the soil food web, integrated pest management, organic agriculture, and herbal medicine.
When not designing or studying, you can find me in a garden, gathering flowers and herbs for custom herbal teas for family and friends, or exploring the forest and beaches near my island home.
Maria McKenty
Owner & Operator
Earthlight Permaculture
The team
With a strong and careful crew for installation projects, we craft beautiful spaces large and small.
Sage our strong man is also a horticultural student and an amazing artist.
Valerie is a powerlifter and plant whisperer who loves animals of all kinds.
Reviews
“Wow, Maria!! I am blown away completely by the scope, professionalism, and beauty of this very, very large project. You are truly talented in so many areas!”
Beverly, N. – Nursery Owner
“We are so pleased with everything you did! Really a transformation. We had no idea the courtyard was so big…Can’t wait for some sunshine so we can watch everything grow!… Thank you” Wendy E.
Services
Consulting
(online & in-person)
Design and garden consulting are available on an hourly basis to get your project started, approach renovating an existing garden, or help put ideas on paper with concept sketches.
Design
(online & in-person)
Full-scale design services include mapping the assets and challenges on your property as well as incorporating permaculture zones and sectors for maximum resiliency and abundance.
Build
(in-person)
Full-service landscape design and implementation contracts. From the beginning of an idea through the building process to completion.