Kareen has a BSc. in Environmental Science from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada and is an experienced permaculture practitioner. She obtained her Permaculture Design Certificate in 2006 and completed an advanced permaculture program taught by renowned designer Geoff Lawton, at the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia. This included specific training in earthworks, composting methods, soil biology, and urban permaculture design. Kareen was also trained in teaching permaculture by Rosemary Morrow, author of the Earth User's Guide to Permaculture. 

She has a Master Gardener Level 1 and Master Composter Certification, training in Ecology Action's Grow Biointensive methods and participated in a Food Forest Design Charrette for Helena's 6th Ward Garden Park with author, teacher and designer, Dave Jacke. She has also worked as a permaculture consultant for the sustainability organization, GoodtoChina, in Shanghai, China and volunteered on numerous organic farms in Australia, New Zealand, Western Massachusetts and Montana, including Gallatin Valley Botanical and Three Hearts Farm in Bozeman.  Kareen is currently one of 40 teachers involved in the Online Women's Permaculture Design Course and has also been teaching with Jerome Osentowski, author of Forest Garden Greenhouse and founder of the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute.

Kareen is a regular contributor to Rocky Mountain Gardening Magazine, Permaculture Women Magazine and was featured in The New Pioneer.