The inspiration for CHE emerged as we—Jennifer and Matthew—considered what we could create together when we were married. We wanted a future that would meet both our needs, contribute to our shared values, and embody our most cherished dreams.

Founders’ visions: When CHE was founded in 2003, our vision was to create a demonstration center that balanced permaculture’s twin values of earth and people care. We also wanted to provide outreach education, conduct land and resource conservation, begin community networking, and promote consumer advocacy. Finally, we wanted to purchase damaged land, restore it, and use it as a model for land restoration.

In the five years since CHE’s founding, we’ve made great progress toward our goals. With the help of friends, we’ve established our demonstration center at Solar Springs Research Farm. Through assistance from the Global Village Institute and a USDA grant, we’re conducting outreach education through our LEDGE project, conservation through Trees for TN, community networking through TCGN, and consumer advocacy through Climate Action Now. We have also begun work toward conservation of Solar Springs Farm’s 94 acres—half of which was clear-cut—through innovative land restoration techniques.