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Draft:Michael Judd

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Michael Judd is an American permaculture designer, author[1], educator and environmental advocate known for his work in ecological design and sustainable landscaping. He is the founder of Ecologia Design] a company dedicated to promoting environmentally responsible design solutions and fostering a deeper connection between people and the natural world through edible landscaping. Judd specializes in integrating edible landscapes, agroforestry, and permaculture principles into practical designs for homeowners and communities and his work has been featured in the BBC[2], The Guardian[3], the New York Times[4] and The New Yorker[5].

Michael Judd was born in the United States and grew up between northern England and the Appalachian mountains of Maryland. He pursued his studies in design and environmental science, which laid the foundation for his future work in ecological design and has studied extensively at the New York Botanical Gardens.


Career and Ecologia Design

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Judd spent a decade running a grass roots non-profit[6] in rural Latin America supporting agro-ecology research, and was also head of an arid lands research project[7] in the desert of SE Spain. Michael Judd is the co-founder of SilvoCulture], a Maryland based non-profit focused on perennial food security, which is helping to plant 1 million nut trees in the Mid-Atlantic region. Judd is also the co-creator of the Fruit Patch App. He established Ecologia Design with the mission of integrating sustainable practices into everyday design. The company focuses on creating solutions that minimize environmental impact and enhance the harmony between human activities and nature. Under his leadership, Ecologia Design has developed a range of projects that emphasize ecological balance and sustainable resource management. Ecologia Design was named as one of the 15 Organizations Creating Edible Landscapes[8] by Foodtank's Steve Edgerton and Danielle Nierenberg.

Advocacy and Contributions

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In addition to his role at Ecologia Design, Michael Judd is an active advocate for ecological sustainability. He participates in various forums[9], workshops, and conferences[10] to promote awareness about environmental issues and sustainable design practices. Judd is also involved in community-based projects that aim to educate and engage the public in ecological stewardship. Michael Judd is an ambassador for the pawpaw[11], and for the revival of this forgotten fruit[12], and educates about other uncommon but easy to grow fruits specifically for the mid-Atlantic region of the US. He is a passionate advocate for replacing ornamental lawns with edible landscapes to increase food security and resilience[13]. Ecologia Design was listed as one of the 12 businesses Un-Lawning America in favor of edible landscaping[14].


Judd and his family run an annual PawPaw Fest[15] each September at their homestead. As of 2024, this family-friendly event had been running for 9 years and promotes education, sustainability and entertainment centered around the pawpaw fruit.

Publications and Media

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Michael Judd has written books such as “Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist” and “For the Love of Pawpaws: A Mini Manual for Growing and Caring for Pawpaws – From Seed to Table,” which focus on creating resilient, productive landscapes that also support local ecosystems. He is involved in various educational initiatives, offering workshops[16] and courses on topics like edible landscaping, mushroom cultivation[17], and creating food forests[18].

Judd has contributed to numerous publications[19] and media outlets[20], sharing his expertise on ecological design and sustainability. His work has been featured in various design and environmental journals[21], and he has spoken at industry events[22] to further the dialogue on sustainable living.


Natural Burial

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Michael Judd is the co-founder of Morris Orchard Natural Burial site, a new green burial option[23] in Maryland, USA. He was featured in a mini-documentary[24] by Allen Clements and Make Films about his personal experience with green burial and his family's journey.

Personal Life

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Michael Judd is married and has two children. They live on his family homestead in Frederick, Maryland, Long Creek Permaculture Haven, in a circular strawbale home which was featured on the Natural Buildings YouTube channel in 2022[25].


References

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  1. ^ Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist: How to Have Your Yard and Eat It Too. ASIN 0615873790.
  2. ^ BBC, The Revival of a Forgotten American Fruit
  3. ^ The Guardian, Push to Seed America with Chestnuts
  4. ^ NY Times, Replacing your Lawn? Instead of a Meadow, Consider a Food Forest
  5. ^ The New Yorker, Move Over, Acai – It's the Pawpaw's Time
  6. ^ Project Bona Fida
  7. ^ Sunseed Desert Technologies
  8. ^ 15 Organizations Creating Edible Landscapes
  9. ^ Judd was part of a Permaculture Panel with Andrew Faust, Lindsay Napolitano, Johann Rinkens, Fields without Fences & Mark Shepard at the 2018 NOFA NJ Winter Conference
  10. ^ Michael Judd was a keynote speaker at the Mid-Atlantic Permaculture Convergence 2016
  11. ^ The New Yorker, Move Over, Acai, It's the Pawpaw's Time
  12. ^ BBC, The Revival of a Forgotten American Fruit
  13. ^ New York Times
  14. ^ Civil Eats, Edible Landscapes Are Un-Lawning America
  15. ^ Pawpaw Season is Here. Where to Taste DC's "Tropical" Fruit – and Pick Them.
  16. ^ For example, the Cylburn Arboretum https://cylburn.org/ in Baltimore hosted a permaculture workshop with Michael Judd in December 2012
  17. ^ Growing Backyard Mushrooms, with Michael Judd by Margaret Roach
  18. ^ Fruitful Landscapes: The Start of a Food Forest, with Michael Judd
  19. ^ Judd featured in Issue 118 of Permaculture Design Magazine - The Art of Harvest: Paw-paw Handling & Processing
  20. ^ KDNK Community Radio Living Permaculture show on how to live a more sustainable life
  21. ^ [https://www.iwla.org/publications/outdoor-america Judd is interviewed and referred to in the Izaak Walton League of America - Outdoor America - 2022, Issue 4]
  22. ^ Michael Judd was a panelist at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2022 where he took part in the Livelihoods and Landscapes” session
  23. ^ Planning Commission Approves Natural Burial Cemetery Site Plan after Vote Postponed
  24. ^ Wish You Were Here, Episode 1, Close to Home
  25. ^ Permaculture Designer Builds Unique Straw Bale Home!