Anyone who has lovingly tended a yard knows that gardening is good for the 
mind, body and soul. Therapist Rachel Kaplan’s permaculture practice is as much a balm for anxious times as a solution to tough economic times. To help make ends meet, Kaplan converted her 6,000-square-foot house and yard into an urban homestead, growing much of her produce on site and teaching others to do likewise in Northern California. People have questions; Kaplan and her partner, K. Ruby Blume, provide answers through sales of their book, “Urban Homesteading: Heirloom Skills for Living Sustainably.” Closer to home they provide consultations and workshops to newbies interested in saving money and slowing down.