To Whom It May Concern:

 

The is a letter of recommendation for Abby Gage for the excellent work she has done for me in transitioning my new home in Venice into a permaculture garden.

 

The home I bought in Venice had a yard that was lush with tropical plantings, but what I wanted was to have landscaping that looked nice but that I could eat, like fruit, berries, herbs, and leaves and was especially high in nutrients.  Having lived in Vermont most of my life I was unfamiliar which of these could grow here and what kind of care and environment they would need.  Abby jumped right in bringing plants, soil, expertise, labor, and encouragement.  She also found local experts, like a master composter, to fill in the areas where she was not as experienced.  She took me on tours to places like ECHO, where I could see many examples of permaculture and the appropriate technology that can go along with it if I also want to cut down on all the energy wasting equipment some gardeners use.

 

In no time she got me excited and involved with this new concept and even introduced me to other like minded people and organizations in the community.  She showed me her own beautiful, bountiful garden right in Venice, proving that even on a small residential lot, healthy food can be raised.

 

Abby's enthusiasm and her understanding of the big picture of what we could do to make this earth a better place is what we need much more of now, and I feel so lucky to have had her to help me get started in my own new endeavor.

 

Sincerely,

Linda Johnson