• Website : www.livingground.art

Leisha Brand

Cultivating Self-Reliance from Earth to You

From dream to reality, from soil to soul, my journey has been one of deep connection with the natural world and empowering others to do the same. I do not have a Ph.D., but I have spent a lifetime in study. Life and experience, failures and successes gift you wisdom. I have lived in the harsh north and more than ten years in the semi-tropics of Ecuador. Both present challenges I have surmounted. I am not perfect and I don’t pretend to be, but I am passionate and have the stamina to make this a better world.

Born in England and raised in Australia and Canada, my youthful dreams revolved around living independently and harmoniously with nature. As a child, I was captivated by the outdoors, learning about the wild plants of Canada and passionately sharing this wild food knowledge with others. Now, four decades of homesteading, four years off-grid in a self-built treehouse in Ecuador, and countless harvests later, that dream thrives at both my homestead and the Project Site of Living Ground ~ Suelo Vivo Project in Ecuador.

As the founder of the Living Ground Project, I created it with a passion to prove that the little guys can create miracles. I believe and practice the profound laws of nature that state we cannot receive unless we give, nature knows better than us, and in the eyes of the creator, we are blessed.

My passion isn’t just about growing and enjoying nature’s bounty; it’s about empowering individuals to cultivate personal self-reliance and sufficiency. This includes everything from nurturing the magic of microbes in the soil to creating nourishing food and herbal remedies in your kitchen, and ultimately understanding and caring for your own health.

My Diverse Background Gives Me Unique Tools to Share:

Formal Education:
I hold a degree in Corporate Communications from Centennial College of Canada and a Naturopathic Doctor diploma from the Alternative Medicine College of Canada, providing a strong foundation in both conventional and natural health approaches. Additionally, I hold a Doctorate in Homeopathy from the British Institute of Homeopathy.

Hands-On Experience:
Years of homesteading, off-grid living, and studying with renowned herbal practitioners like Susan Weed, alongside Ayurvedic training with Dr. Vasant Lad of the Ayurvedic Institute, have instilled in me a deep understanding of practical skills and holistic knowledge.

Recognition and Certifications:
I am recognized by the Canadian Naturopathic Association of Drugless Practitioners and various institutions, validating my expertise and commitment to ethical practices. I have practiced Live Blood Analysis for over 10 years, seeing over 2,500 clients.

I am also a Certified Consultant Trained Professional (CTP) and Certified Lab Technician with Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web (www.soilfoodweb.com), diving into the study of soil microbiology and becoming a proficient microbe farmer/grower. Currently, we are mass-producing microbe-rich compost at Living Ground.

Through Living Ground, I aim to share these skills and experiences with a broader community, helping others forge deep connections with nature and unlock the secrets to a self-reliant and harmonious life.