A 3-pronged approach to sustainability with Rosmarie Lohnes

Shared Ground

In this conversation, you will hear from Rosmarie Lohnes, who runs an ecological landscaping business based in Bridgewater, in Mi'kma'ki' (Nova Scotia).

Rosmarie began her company, Helping Nature Heal, twenty years ago. She has a B.A. in Conservation and Environmental Studies from York University and has also studied Architectural Design, Horticulture as Therapy, Ecological Landscape Design, Shoreline Erosion, and Landscape Management. She originally came to Nova Scotia to study ecological forestry and organic gardening at Windhorse Farm, in 1999.

Note: Windhorse Farm has been renamed to Asitu'lɨsk (pronounced ah-see-dew-lisk). This Mi'kmaw name means "that which gives you balance".

Hear a bit about her experience at that special place, as well as how Helping Nature Heal works around migrating birds and nesting season and a belief in kinship to all creatures. Learn about Rosmarie’s philosophies of giving and receiving, the importance of being outside, and be inspired by her attitude of possibility and finding opportunities in challenges.

The 3-pronged sustainability approach of finding equilibrium between ecological, societal and economic values are central to Rosmarie’s business model, and you will hear about that, too, including how a modern-day landscaping company can be run with minimal use of machinery, and the many reasons behind that choice.

Episode Resources

Helping Nature Heal

Mi’kmaq Place Names (with audio pronunciations)

An internet resource for the Mi'kmaq language: mikmaqonline.org

Nature of Hosting project and the podcast episode Field of Generosity

About Asitu'lɨsk (formerly Windhorse Farm)

• Their website and Facebook page
• Press Release from the Windhorse Farm website
• A CBC article about the land transfer

Jamie Simpson’s books

Symphony of the Soil film

Also

Op-Ed piece by Lindsay Lee about forestry and migratory birds

Gaia Education programs (online and in person)