In 2020, the owner of Permatierra launched Potted Peace Project in an effort to support people of color in Colorado. In the first year alone we gained 2k followers on Instagram and gifted plants to over 300 people. As the project grew quickly, as did our need for space and financial support! Permatierra began as the dream of running a business to support an earth-focused project with a big impact.

In 2022, the owner of Permatierra immersed herself in a climate and community resilience sanctuary, Shared Ground, as a core steering committee member. She soon moved Potted Peace Project into the building Shared Ground occupied; a former church in Denver's highly gentrified Northside neighborhood. As she and the community reclaimed space by gathering to host events focused on the needs of the earth and the people, such as clothing swaps, community potlucks, local art markets, queer open-mic nights, solstice celebrations, seed saving workshops, and botany classes, the spirit of the colonizer displaced the community. But, this step "backward" only inspired two steps forward...

After connecting with an abundance of talented marginalized artists, passionate land stewards, and intelligent activists, a lease for a cozy little commercial unit with just enough space was signed in December of 2023 and Permatierra was birthed. Mutual aid efforts, art/goods made by local community members, and donated plants are now housed within and supported by Permatierra as we continue to gift free plants, uplift marginalized communities, and center the Earth. Permatierra supports the creative expression of marginalized communities and we continue to embody the dream of Shared Ground by providing opportunities for community resilience by bringing people together to learn, take action towards a more habitable world, express care, and share resources.

It's important to note that without a love for animals, and specifically dogs, none of this would have been possible. As a teen mother, the owner of Permatierra leaned on the special creatures of the earth and our connection to them to guide her family away from abuse and into the arms of the earth along with the safe, loving community she found in Colorado. Doggy Downtime started as a pet care service the owner ran to support herself as a teen mother. That little business allowed her to a deepen her skills in handling a variety of animals and understanding many dog breeds. This path presented the owner with the opportunity to study canine behavior in Denver where she continued to gain certifications in animal reiki and mastered the art of dog grooming. With a uniquely gentle touch rooted in care for creatures, people, and the planet, inter connectedly, Doggy Downtime opened as a brick-and-mortar business in 2020 which ran successfully until closing due to the pandemic and the owner's need for rest. Denver's first eco-friendly 1:1 dog groomery reopened in 2024 and is now happily nested within the walls of Permatierra.