85: The Gang Learns about Permaculture—with Blacksheep's Joshua Hughes, Sara Czarniecki, & Amanda Wilson

On 20 acres of formerly eroded land in Costa Rica grows turmeric, ginger and beans. Above that is a vineyard with superfood nuts. Above that are cacao trees, and above that grow trees for lumber. Permaculture is being used to regenerate the soil and build a profitable cooperative owned by the 150 people who live and work there.

 

Joshua Hughes, Sara Czarniecki, and Amanda Wilson are the CEO, COO, and CMO of Blacksheep, a regenerative resource management cooperative taking direct action against landbase destruction by investing in natural capital. Today, Joshua, Sarah and Amanda join Ross and Christophe to define permaculture and explain how Blacksheep began with the intention to recover that 20 acres of eroded land—and how the business has grown since then.

 

Joshua, Sarah, and Amanda weigh in on the structure of Blacksheep as a cooperative, describing how they make collaborative decisions and how ownership is divided among the group. They also discuss Blacksheep’s value-add approach to market access and how they think about certified organic and regenerative labels. Listen in for the Blacksheep philosophy around voting every day with your actions and learn how you can invest in their efforts to promote permaculture and regenerative business!

 

Key Takeaways

 

[1:43] How the Blacksheep team defines permaculture 

Philosophy of systems design Stacking of functions (interoperability)

 

[6:07] The Blacksheep origin story

Joshua moved to farm in Costa Rica in 2006 Intention to recover eroded land

 

[12:01] Joshua’s insight around dams

Serve as giant biodigester Produce methane similar to coal plant

 

[13:54] How the Blacksheep cooperative has grown

Invested with 10 friends and family 150 people share ownership today

 

[15:34] Why cooperatives aren’t more common

Prevalent in late 1800’s (crushed by banks) ‘People bring A game when part of things’

 

[18:07] How the Blacksheep team makes decisions

Collaborate, trust people with expertise No formalized structure or bureaucracy

 

[20:53] Why the Blacksheep team is fundraising now

Weave together more cooperative action Finance farmer’s needs (e.g.: processing facilities) Activate businesses that do right thing

 

[25:20] Blacksheep’s value-add approach to market access

Processing facility to support ethical standards Build brand to sell organic products in States

 

[28:32] How the Blacksheep team thinks about labeling

Securing USDA certified organic label Regenerative label may exclude local farmers

 

[30:06] Josh’s insight around accessibility to quality food

75% of world’s economy = personal relationships Need investment from people with means

 

[32:25] The term Banana Republic

Countries didn’t have power to fight private tyranny  US + Europe dissolved jungle, exploited all energy

 

[34:08] The idea that nothing exists in a vacuum 

Every decision impacts world as whole Not just about private homestead

 

[39:07] The Blacksheep elevator pitch to investors 

Good forestry work, farming leads to profits Carbon negative shipping with SAILCARGO 

 

[42:01] Blacksheep’s approach to community governance

Tired of waiting for someone at top to fix Build alternative (vote every day with actions) Create democratic systems within company

 

[45:21] Blacksheep’s direct + indirect impact

Successful business that proves model works Inspire others to take similar action Funnel institution money to regenerative business

 

Connect with Ross & Christophe

 

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Email hello@nori.com

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Resources

 

Blacksheep

Email hello@weareblacksheep.org 

Bullock’s Permaculture Homestead

Community Supported Agriculture

Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual by Bill Mollison

Edward Abbey

John Stuart Mill

Mondragon

Get Up, Stand Up: Uniting Populists, Energizing the Defeated, and Battling the Corporate Elite by Bruce E. Levine

Inevitable Revolutions: The United States in Central America by Walter LaFeber

William Walker

SAILCARGO

Aspen Ideas Festival

David Attenborough