Fife Bentley

Eco-community Founder

"Neal and his team were fundamental in getting our project off the ground and advancing. Before working with Neal, we had spun our wheels for a couple years, unable to define the direction we wanted to take. Neal helped us define our goals and laid out a clear map of how to get there, not to mention the guidance provided on a large variety of issues that popped up along the way that only someone with his expertise can offer. We would not be where we are today without him."

Coby

"We started with a dream of creating a community and retreat space where people could come to learn and heal. Neal and his team were instrumental in guiding us through the process. 7 years on, the project has exceed our wildest dreams, we have a community and abundance beyond what we ever could have imagined. Our food forests gardens and animals provide us with all we need to live well and inspire our students and guests. Most important is that we have learned about permaculture through the process and now feel fully in control of our own design."

Amanda & Dain

"When we started working in our family farm 6 years ago it was badly damaged and over farmed. Working with Neal was a revelation, he taught us the fundamental principles of holistic land managment and then guided us in the implementation of a system in which we combine goats, cattle, native trees and different crops. The transformation in the land has been incredible and we now have a team capable of taking this farm into the future”

Meet you Instructor: Neal Hegarty

Neal worked for all of his adult life as a permaculture designer, builder, educator, farmer and consultant. He's worked on a wide range of projects during this time, applying the permaculture principles to areas such as development, reforestation, community agriculture, agroforestry, eco-communities and most importantly Granja Tzikin, the farm, restaurant and community space he started with his partner 7 years ago. 

Now, at 43 years of age, he feels incredibly lucky to have found his passion and calling in life: "To help visionary landowners to create sustainable farms, businesses, communities and permaculture academies in a fraction of the time and cost that it would take them to do it alone." 

Eric Schuman

Finca Nimha

"When we started working in our family farm 6 years ago it was badly damaged and over farmed. Working with Neal was a revelation, he taught us the fundamental principles of holistic land managment and then guided us in the implementation of a system in which we combine goats, cattle, native trees and different crops. The transformation in the land has been incredible and we now have a team capable of taking this farm into the future”