Joana immigrated from her home country, Portugal, to Kentucky about two and a half years ago where she is starting a farm and homestead, and currently building a traditional log house.
She is the co-founder of Hands On Earth Permaculture, focusing on natural building and food forestry. She is a visual artist, natural builder, herbalist, chef, gardener, and acrobat. Joana studied Herbalism at the University of Guarda, worked at the 1700’s Botanical Garden in Lisbon. She took her Permaculture Design Course in Portugal with Doug Crouch of TreeYo Permaculture in 2012, a Social Permaculture Course in 2013, and a Permaculture Teachers Training with Robina Mccurdy in 2014. She has been involved in intentional communities and has led several hands-on classes during Permaculture Design Courses at Terra Alta Educational center in Portugal.
Joana is part of the Mid-Appalachian BioRegional Crew and sits on both the Website Working Group and Media Working Group of Permaculture Action Network.