Karryn Olson began studying permaculture in 1997 and is a lead permaculture teacher and founding board member for the Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute. She also taught sustainability-related courses at Ithaca College through Environmental Studies & Sciences for over a decade.
Karryn has designed home permaculture systems and public-use permaculture gardens that serve as demonstration sites—working both with individuals and multiple stakeholders. A proponent of developing the “business case” for permaculture, she incorporates strategic planning into the design process—aiming to obtain a financial yield from aesthetic ecological designs. She is also skilled in training people to navigate the vital—yet often overlooked—social aspects of any permaculture design.
Karryn lived and worked in Europe, Africa and India before raising with her multi-cultural family in an Ecovillage. As a result, she is dedicated to supporting women and other historically marginalized populations in their vital roles as leaders—she believes that together, we can create a future based on the ethics of Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share.
