Ecologia: Edible + Ecological Landscapes

Growing up between northern England and the Appalachian mountains of Maryland, Michael’s roots have been branched with diverse landscapes and fertile culture. Mix in a decade of running a grass roots non-profit in rural Latin America, heading up an arid lands research project in the dessert of SE Spain, and extensive study at the New York Botanic Garden you end up with an eclectic designer that melds form, function, and productivity seamlessly. Michael’s beginning with whole system design began with an opportunity to live with the last of the Lacondon Mayans in southern Mexico along the Guatemalan border. Here he experienced the ancient design practices of the Mayans that ingeniously mimic natures patterns to create functional landscapes. About the same time he discovered a parallel design system coming out of Australia, “permaculture,” that applies similar landscape use of the Mayans but adapted to the modern world. Combining designs in 2001 he created Project Bona Fide on Ometepe Island, SW Nicaragua. Project Bona Fide started on the volcanic slopes of Ometepe Island in Nicaragua’s southwest corner just above Costa Rica. The project focus has been to create food security through food forest design that maximizes land use for a diversity of harvests. Today in 2014, thirteen years into the projects inception, 26 acres have grown into a haven of production and examples of linked design systems that mimic natures functions while meeting the needs of local economies and ecologies. As the project stabilized Michael began to split his time in a parallel universe on the island of Manhattan where he studied the latest in modern design at the New York Botanic Garden. Coupling whole system design learned in Latin America with the form and art of contemporary design Judd created Ecologia, Edible & Ecological Designs and won his first commission from Top Chef contender Bryan Voltaggio to design an edible courtyard at his flagship restaurant “Volt,” in Frederick, Maryland. Today Michael remains in the Frederick area where he and his wife Ashley are building a circular strawbale home as the centerpiece to an extensive landscape that will push the realities of design to new levels…