Our Story
Resilient Roots began with an idea and a group of individuals who came together to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. In 2017, founder Kristie Kapp and four dedicated friends–Gisele Gauthier, Christine McDowell, Nan Ingraham, and John Tecklenburg—were looking for a way to combat a creeping sense of doom. It was hard not to feel like everything we did to help the planet was too little, too late. We asked, how can we take meaningful environmental action and have a positive impact both locally and for our beleaguered planet?
We looked to the principles of permaculture, to native plants and local ecosystems, and we looked to each other. What evolved from our discussions was the confidence that we all can make small but meaningful changes that regenerate our land and feed our neighbors and we can encourage these changes with a big, supportive community. And so we began Resilient Roots as a nonprofit, community organization.
We all bring something unique to the table but share a passion for gardening in a way that makes a space and the planet richer, more abundant with life, and singing with diversity. We are also passionate about sharing our knowledge with other people. Soon workshops were scheduled, and people came!
In 2020, we began our work with Homeless not Hopeless in Hyannis, building raised garden beds at the residential homes and working with residents to grow vegetables and berries to be used in their on-site kitchens.
The pandemic era brought plenty of inquiries for our help to turn backyards into food-growing sites. Our design services became the focus, while workshops were shut down for a while. We still are providing this service to more than 30 homeowners annually. Some of these clients have taken the next step to host a permablitz in their yards, allowing us to teach permaculture principles, with firsthand understanding.
By 2021, we partnered with Barnstable Land Trust (BLT) to use a small area of Fuller Farm for a demonstration garden and launched our volunteer program. In 2022, BLT began construction on its barn, where we are now able to hold some of our workshops and other events.
After several years of planning, we launched our program with Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod, starting with three houses in Sandwich in 2023, and scheduled to grow each year. We arrange for volunteers to help and are able to use the permablitz model to leverage labor while again teaching people firsthand, on the ground about permaculture principles.
Resilient Roots was an all-volunteer organization until 2023, when we brought on two part-time staff to meet the growing need for our nonprofit programming and services.