Being able to grow your own food is a blessing. 1/5th of an acre surrounded by trees and neighbors backyards creates a unique urban farm setting with plenty of land to grow food, have chicken, bees and neighborhood cats. The “farmhouse” was built by Fred Durr in 1890 for his bride Caroline. He was 24 years old when he built it. It changed hands only three times, in 1944, in 2005 and in 2012. This is when permaculture practices got introduced. Grass got removed and what grows on the land stays on the land. The tiny house addition was built in 2016 by my son Miro and Sam. They have long moved on to their own lives. Miro still takes care of the bees. I try to live a sustainable lifestyle with a low carbon footprint. Except in high summer  heat, all the energy is provided by solar panels. 10 rain barrels provide enough water to irrigate the garden. Sustainability and resilience can only be resolved on a local level. Each town has its own climate and its own challenges and resource. In New Orleans we have a lot of sun and a lot (sometimes too much) of water. We can grow food all year long but pests can survive all year as well. The Butterfly Farm is an example of how, over time, you can become more and more independent. Taking care of the land that was given to us is crucial. In New Orleans this includes owning the water that falls on the land and not let it run off into the street. Currently the farm is in transition though. The summers are getting too hot for me and planting is only possible between November and June. The farm is more shifting towards healing practices. The future will tell!