Earth Ways specialises in helping you to design and create your own vibrant, thriving, highly productive natural ecosystem and edible landscape. Any size of project is suitable, from urban terraces and rooftops to large farms and estates. Permaculture design, forest gardening, ethical tree care, invasive species control and organic growing principles are all used to transform conventional landscapes into rich, self-regulating habitats – natural havens that nurture and sustain people and wildlife alike.

Once established, a natural ecosystem will be low in impact, maintenance and cost yet resilient, self-organising, and very adaptable. Best of all, once mature the greatest task will be gathering the abundant harvests!
Far from just an aesthetic indulgence, Earth Ways’ natural and edible landscapes are an important investment for a sustainable and self-reliant future. To be able to produce significant amounts of both one’s own food and bio-fuel is an invaluable form of insurance against the uncertain environmental, economic and social times we live in.

I have been passionate about protecting and caring for the environment since I was a child. When I was 8, I started thinking the permaculture way when I learned that trees produce the oxygen that we breathe and I persuaded my parents to plant an oak tree in the garden. My passion for permaculture was born, even though I didn’t know the word!

From as far back as I can remember, I have felt a desire to be deeply connected with nature. Over the years my connection with nature has included playing in the rain as a child, being a scout master in my late teens, organizing survival expeditions for young offenders in my twenties and living entirely off grid in a Scottish woodland for 4 years in a self-made shelter with a wood burning stove.

My on-going exploration of sustainable food production systems and ways of reconnecting people to their natural environment has led me to establish myself as a forest garden/permaculture designer and teacher, and nature connection mentor.

I created Earth Ways in 2007 as a response to the rapidly increasing demand for sustainable ways of living that work in collaboration with nature rather than continually fighting against it. I have many years experience of restoring natural habitats, re-introducing biodiversity, pioneering sustainable ways of growing food and harvesting bio fuels, designing permaculture projects of various sizes as well as mentoring in bushcraft and survival skills.

My permaculture journey has led me to want to become part of a sustainable community or establish one. I have a cunning plan!

I obtained my Permaculture Designer Certificate in 2009 from Patrick Whitefield, the foremost permaculture expert in Britain.

In 2010 I successfully completed a course in Permaculture Training of Teachers organized by ‘Designed Visions‘. I also had my first encounter with the Art of Mentoring, where discovered ingenious indigenous ways of passing on knowledge and assisting nature connection.

In 2011 and 2013, I organized a Permaculture Design and Nature Awareness Course that reflects my own permaculture learning curve. It were both a great success! (I promise to put up some pictures and a report soon.)

In September 2011, on invitation and with the fantastic support of the owners Ray and Marie, I started the Penninghame Permaculture Project. There I also completed a Natural Health Coach training with the fantastic teachers Bill Tara and Marlene Watson-Tara.

I have set up a permaculture farm, I’m teaching courses, and am  taking clients for permaculture design and consultation.

Het Belang van Limburg is a Flemish mainstream newspaper.

Ludwig and Earth Ways in the media: