Jono Neiger and his wife Kemper Carlsen and son Forest have built and managed Hickory Gardens a 3-acre permaculture inspired homestead in North Leverett, with a diversity of garden elements including a terraced gardens, roof rainwater fed pond, forest garden, chickens, and perennial crops. They have a passive solar home which has been a been a long-term renovation project including rainwater collection, compost toilet, and a new addition using the best in energy efficient design. Numerous woodland planting, and regenerative land management have yielded abundance of habitat for wildlife on the land as well as tree crops and medicinal herbs. A public forest garden at the nearby food coop property was designed and implemented by Jono and is cared for with neighborhood help.