Wendy Howard is the steward and designer of Quinta do Vale, a 2-hectare off grid permaculture project in the mountains of Central Portugal. A biologist and ecologist, she has been practicing permaculture principles for the best part of 3 decades with 13 years at her present project.
For the last 7 years, she has been refining an original design by Anna Edey into an open source vermicomposting flush toilet system, which now has installations worldwide. She is also actively involved as a founder member of a local association, ArBOR, which acts as an umbrella organisation for regenerative projects in her area, whether environmental, social, cultural or technological. Her project hosts volunteers and interns (Erasmus+/ESC included) and courses and workshops.
Wendy hosts PDCs at Quinta do Vale together with a team of knowledgeable and experienced instructors and educates in ecoliteracy, sustainable systems design, natural building (drystone construction, round pole timber construction, cob building, earthen and lime plastering, wattle-and-daub), water retention landscaping, ecosanitation and grey water processing, renewable energy systems, forest garden/agroecological design, botany/foraging skills, food preservation techniques, and other associated skills.