Dr. Joseph MercolaDr. Mercola is a New York Times bestselling author; was also voted Ultimate Wellness Game Changer by the Huffington Post; and featured in TIME magazine, LA Times, Chicago Magazine; and on CNN, Fox News, ABC News, Today Show, CBS’s Washington Unplugged and the Dr. Oz Show. His experience as a physician for 25 years to tens of thousands of patients led to a personal transformation from mainstream physician to build the world’s most visited natural health website that empowers millions of subscribers to “Take control of your health!” A consummate student and teacher devoted to educating others on health; Dr. Mercola also continues his political strategies focused on labeling GMOs, phasing out mercury fillings, ban misguided water fluoridation practices, and to preserve informed consent for all forms of vaccination.
Vani HariVani Hari started foodbabe.com in April 2011 to spread information about what is really in the American food supply. She teaches people how to make good purchasing decisions at the grocery store, how to live an organic lifestyle, and how to travel healthfully around the world. Success in her writing and investigative work can be seen in the way food companies react to her finding and exposing the truth.
After receiving tremendous attention on her posts about Chick-Fil-A, she was invited by the company’s leadership to meet at its headquarters to consult on specific improvements to ingredients used by the national chain, which they later implemented. 7 months after Vani petitioned Kraft to remove harmful petroleum-based artificial food dyes from Mac & Cheese, Kraft responded by removing the dye from all products aimed at children. Other major food companies that have responded to her writing include Whole Foods, Lean Cuisine, McDonalds, General Mills, Coca-Cola, Chipotle, Yoforia, and Moe’s South West Grill.
Vani’s activism brought national attention at the Democratic National Convention when she used her status as an elected delegate to protest in front of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on the issue of GMO labeling. Vani has been profiled in the New York Times, USA Today, Washington Times, and Chicago Tribune. She appeared on The Dr. Oz Show, Good Morning America, Doctors Show, NBC News, and Fox News. She’s a regular cooking contributor on NBC’s Charlotte Today and a food expert on CNN.
Impassioned by understanding of how food affects health, Vani loves sharing her message with 4 million readers across the globe.
Prof. Dr. Rajiv Kumar SinhaBorn in India (9th academics since 1971 in India and 2000 in Australia. I left Griffith University, Australia as ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR of Environmental Sciences in 2013. Currently, I am VISITING PROFESSOR & ACADEMIC ADVISER at Charotar University of Science & Technology, India. I am also CONSULTANT in VERMIBIOTECH (Australia). VERMICULTURE is area of my RESEARCH interest as EARTHWORMS have great SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL & ECONOMIC values for mankind especially for the ‘FARMERS’ – the ‘feeders of nations’. I have been credited for the development of a NEW & INNOVATIVE VERMIFILTRATION TECHNOLOGY for ‘Wastewater Treatment by Earthworms’ at Griffith University, Australia. It is highly economical with beneficial end-products for REUSE in agriculture. It has been commercialized in several countries now.
I have published 22 books and over 150 scientific papers (42 papers are listed in GOOGLE). My book on ‘VERMICULTURE REVOLUTION: Technological Revival of Charles Darwin’s Unheralded Soldiers of Mankind’ published by NOVA Science Publications, USA, in 2011 has brought global academic recognition for me.
I have visited several institutions in Europe & North America in academic connections. I was recognized among the 100 TOP EDUCATORS of WORLD in 2011 by Cambridge (UK). I was selected by undation for Environmental Conservation, Geneva, Switzerland (1996) ‘WHO IS WHO & DOES WHAT IN ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION’; for US MARQUIS Book for ‘WHO IS WHO IN SCIENCE & ENGINEERING’ 2010 & among ‘Great Minds of the 21st Institute. March 1949), I am now CITIZEN of Australia. I am in Century’ 2011 by American Biographical
Jeffery SmithThe leading consumer advocate promoting healthier non-GMO choices, Jeffrey Smith’s meticulous research documents how biotech companies continue to mislead legislators and safety officials to put
the health of society at risk and the environment in peril. His work expertly summarizes why the safety assessments conducted by the FDA and regulators worldwide teeter on a foundation of outdated science and false assumptions, and why genetically engineered foods must urgently become our nation’s top food safety priority.
Mr. Smith’s feature-length documentary Genetic Roulette, The Gamble of Our Lives was awarded the 2012 Movie of the Year (Solari Report) and the Transformational Film of the Year (AwareGuide). Described as a “life-changer” and seen by millions world-wide, the film links genetically engineered food to toxic and allergic reactions, infertility, digestive disorders, and numerous problems that have been on the rise in the US population since genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were introduced.
His books include: Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You’re Eating, which is the world’s bestseller on GMOs; and Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods, which is the authoritative work on GMO health dangers.
An admired keynote speaker , Mr. Smith has lectured in 37 countries, counseled leaders from every continent, and has been quoted by hundreds of media outlets including: The New York Times, Washington Post, BBC World Service, The Independent, Daily Telegraph, New Scientist, The Times (London), Associated Press, Reuters News Service, LA Times, and Time Magazine. Also a popular guest, he appears on influential radio shows and television programs, such as the BBC, NPR, Fox News, Democracy Now, and the Dr. Oz Show.
He is the founding executive director of The Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT), a leading source of GMO health risk information for consumers, policy makers, and healthcare professionals. IRT’s educational programs are driving the tipping point of consumer rejection against GMOs, which is already starting to push genetically engineered ingredients out of the market in the US. Mr. Smith lives in Iowa, surrounded by genetically modified soybeans and corn.
Ronnie CumminsRonnie Cummins is founder and Director of the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), a U.S. non-profit. He is also editor of OCA’s website and newsletters Organic Bytes and Organic View. He has served as director of US and international efforts such as the Pure Food Campaign, and Global Days of Action Against GMOs.
Percy SchmeiserPercy Schmeiser is a long time farmer and farm equipment dealer from Saskatchewan, Canada. His canola fields were contaminated with Monsanto’s Roundup Ready Canola. Monsanto sued Schmeiser, demanding he pay a technology fee of $15 per acre because he was benefiting from their technology. Percy counter-sued and took the case all the way to the Canadian Supreme Court.
Andrew KimbrellAndrew Kimbrell is Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Food Safety, serving as an internationally recognized voice and leading public interest attorney in the fight to protect the environment and the public from the threats of global industrial agriculture and faulty governmental policies. As Senior Attorney and Policy Director for the Foundation for Economic Trends, Kimbrell successfully challenged federal agencies in several key environmental court cases, including a U.S. Supreme Court victory forcing regulation of motor vehicles carbon dioxide pollution under the Clean Air Act to safeguard the American public from ozone layer depletion and raise global climate change standards.
An author and activist promoting sustainable forms of agriculture and organic policies, Kimbrell has challenged the logic and lawfulness of industrial agriculture in numerous published articles and public forums, including featured speaking engagements at Google Author Talks, Slow Food Nation, and keynoting at top universities and global food conferences. His most recent book Your Right to Know: Genetic Engineering and the Secret Changes in Your Food (2006) tackles the current controversial issues of GE foods and the vital need for a more just and healthy food system.
A noted expert in environmental and food issues, Kimbrell has been called to testify before the U.S. Congress and is a frequent contributor to documentaries, including the recent film The Future of Food. Kimbrell’s accolades include a spot on Utne Reader’s list of the world’s leading 100 visionaries, and The Guardian recognized him in 2008 as one of the 50 people who could save the planet.
PRESENTATION SPEAKERS Albert StrausFounded by Albert Straus in 1994, Straus Family Creamery is a family-owned and operated business, dedicated to making high quality, minimally-processed organic dairy products. The organic milk is supplied by eight family farms in Marin and Sonoma Counties, including the Straus family dairy. Straus Family Creamery sustains collaborative relationships with dairy farmers, offering stable prices and predictability in what is, otherwise, a volatile marketplace.
Albert Straus followed in the footsteps of his parents, who were early environmentalists, and has continued to expand their vision of environmental stewardship. As a result, the Straus dairy is now an evolving combination of traditional land stewardship, sustainable farming practices and cutting-edge technology. The entire dairy and Albert’s car are powered by electricity that is generated from the cows’ manure, through a methane digester.
Always a pioneer, in 1994, Albert Straus transitioned the Straus family dairy to be the first certified organic in the Western United States. During the same year, the creamery became the first 100% certified organic creamery in the country. In 2010, Straus Family Creamery was the first creamery in the nation to receive Non-GMO Project Verification.
Straus Family Creamery bases business decisions upon environmental and ecological considerations, grounded in sustainable, organic family farming. It does this for the health and well-being of the company, farmers, employees and the community it serves.
Alice DoyleAlice Doyle is a co-founder of the innovative Oregon wholesale nursery Log House Plants. The first grower in the United States to offer grafted vegetables to home gardeners, Log House Plants seeks the best of traditional edibles and food crops of tomorrow, distributing annuals, vegetables, perennials and herbs to the fine independent nurseries of the PNW and grafted vegetables nationally through SuperNaturals Grafted Vegetables LLC with Plug Connection and GardenLife.
Andrew GuntherAndrew Gunther joined the Animal Welfare Approved program in April 2008 as program director. Previously, he was the senior global animal compassionate product procurement and development specialist for Whole Foods Market, leading the team that designed and launched the company’s five-step welfare program in the United Kingdom. From a truly agricultural background, Andrew, with his wife and children, pioneered the world’s first organic poultry hatchery for chickens. The Gunther family also managed the production for the largest independent organic chicken producer in the United Kingdom.
As Program Director for Animal Welfare Approved, Andrew has spearheaded the program’s unprecedented growth, increasing the number of approved farms tenfold, promoting farm viability for humane
livestock farmers, and growing market strength. The Animal Welfare Approved standards have been rated “most stringent” in both 2008 and 2009 by the World Society for the Protection of Animals. Andrew also works with restaurants groups and retailers to increase the availability of Animal Welfare Approved meat, dairy and eggs in traditional retail settings. Andrew is currently part of the Texas State Board of Agriculture’s organic advisory board and a member of the American Association of Agricultural scientists.
Anna PeachBoth an urbanist and the product of 6 generations of Wisconsin farmers, Anna Peach developed Squash and Awe- Guerrilla Farm, a one person, no-till 1/4 acre farm model to trial Hawaiian and international heirloom squash, and bring tons of produce through every step of the food system. Fostering mutually beneficial relationships, Anna creates innovative systems for native Hawaiian plants to co-exist with agriculture, while also looking for opportunities to offset the importation food by breeding pure seeds that thrive in Hawaii and beyond.
Bethany ArgisleBethany Argisle has a long career in news media, public relations, and performance. Also known as the “Princess of Argisle” and storyteller extraordinaire, she is a writer of plays and poetry for children of all ages and has produced many shows for families. Her focus is on the Earth, Environment, and Health. Bethany originally worked for the Los Angeles Times and then moved to San Francisco, where she worked in public relations. She wrote, produced, and directed her own shows, which were performed as the San Francisco Museum of Art and other venues. Since that time, she has continued her environmental writing, published in various venues. Bethany met Elson Haas in 1976 and they have been allies and business associates since that time. Their collaboration has evolved into their current partnership, Seasons Studios, based on Dr. Haas’ first book, Staying Healthy with the Seasons. Their mutual concern now is for young people’s awareness about Health and the Earth. Bethany is currently an editor and guides authors in their work. She has collaborated with Dr. Haas’ and they have created many health texts for children and families, as well as edu-wear (anatomy t-shirts and reflexology socks) and animated Apps in their company, Seasons Studios.
Birke BaehrAn Internationally recognized speaker and youth advocate for sustainable food and agriculture, Birke has visited and volunteered at farms around the United States and published his first book in 2012, “Birke on The Farm“. Birke has spent the last five years traveling around the United States and Italy visiting organic farms and learning from the farmers who steward those farms. He has attended numerous organic agriculture seminars and workshops; including one with renowned farmer and author, Joel Salatin who Birke looks up to in his pursuit of new thinking about food and agriculture. Birke continues to educate himself in this genre and intends to be a sustainable organic agriculturist in the future. He has a passion for educating others, especially his peers, about the destructiveness of the industrialized food system and the enlightening alternatives of sustainable and organic farming, food and practices. Birke was the youngest presenter and TEDx Next Generation Asheville (Aug. ’10) where he gave the talk entitled, “What’s Wrong With our Food System” which became an internet sensation with millions of cumulative views. His TEDx talk is also featured of TED.com.
Bob CannardBob Cannard has been farming sustainably for 30 years. His father was a nurseryman and, though he was brought up to accept pesticides as a normal part of gardening, he has since repudiated the use of synthetic chemicals. 1976 began Cannard farm on a heavily eroded hillside plot to study nature and grow nutritionally sound food for people. Primary grower of vegetables and herbs for the restaurant Chez Panisse (Alice Water / Berkeley). Keynote speaker at industry gatherings, Acres USA honoree. He has long been an important member of the sustainable food movement in Northern California.
Bob McFarlandBob McFarland is serving his third term as the elected President of the California State Grange, the oldest agriculture organization in the country, with over 10,000 members serving 185 communities across the state. Under Bob’s leadership, a Grange Renaissance is taking place in California.
For the first time since the 1970’s, Grange membership is growing. Forty-two new Grange chapters have been formed since 2009. The average age of a Granger has dropped from 65 to 45. The Grange’s political circle of influence is expanding. But, most importantly, members are rediscovering and celebrating their Grange roots and purpose.
Bob has forged important alliances with organizations such as LabelGMO, Moms Across America, Center for Food Safety, Hemp USA, Environmental Working Group, Noah’s Wish, Food and Water Watch, Pesticide Action Network, and others. Bob supports a progressive agenda that includes the legalization of industrial hemp, labeling of GMOs, a moratorium on fracking, pesticide restrictions, food sovereignty, and farmers’ rights.
Representing the Grange, Bob has spoken out at rallies, public events, and testified numerous times before the California State legislature. He has marched against Monsanto, picketed with the UFW, paraded with Moms Across America, toured with Pamm Larry and Howard Vlieger, and supported sustainable agriculture at conferences and workshops.
Bob is an activist and populist who believes in the power and positive energy that is generated when many voices speak as one.
Bob QuinnBob Quinn owns and operates a 4th generation small grain certified organic dry land family farm of 4000 acres near Big Sandy in North Central Montana. He earned a PhD in plant biochemistry from the University of California at Davis. His whole farm, 100% organic since 1989, is his laboratory as well as his garden. He experiments with organic cropping systems, dry land vegetables, a small orchard as well as growing high oleic safflower which is crushed and used first for food by local restaurants and then for fuel to run his tractor. In 1986 he introduced Kamut brand khorasan ancient wheat to the natural food market place. Bob is active in his church and community and has served on numerous local and national boards. He is a member of the Alternative Energy Resource Organization (AERO) receiving AERO’s Sustainable Ag Award in 1988. In 1993, he was named one of Montana State University’s 100 outstanding alumni. He served on OCIA (Organic Crop Improvement Association) International board of directors and was named their outstanding member in 1991. He served on the first USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). In 2007 he received a lifetime of service award from the Montana Organic Association. He has been a member of OTA (Organic Trade Association) since 1987 and in 2010 received their National Organic Leadership award. In 2013 he received the national Organic Pioneer Award from the Rodale Institute. He and his wife Ann, (married for 43 years) have five children and 17 grandchildren.
Brad GatesBrad Gates, owner of Wild Boar Farms has been living, breathing, and breeding tomatoes for over two decades.
Carol Grieve’Carol Grieve’ is a health and wellness coach and the host of the widely-acclaimed talk radio show, Food Integrity Now. Food Integrity Now’s mission is to educate the masses about what is happening with our global food supply. She has interviewed some of the most influential people in the world on her show including, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Jeffrey Smith, Dr. Don Huber, Food Babe, Zen Honeycutt, Howard Vleiger, Jim Gerritsen, Prof. Gilles Eric Seralini, Dr. Judy Carmen, Joel Salatin, Dr. Theirry Vrain, Professor Tyrone Hayes, Pamm Larry, Dr. Russell Blaylock, and many more. She has spent the last 4 years researching and educating herself as to what has happened to our food supply. Her 125+ interviews are archived on her website, (www.foodintegritynow) and is a wonderful resource for anyone wanting to learn about any relevant topic regarding food, health and wellness.
Caroline KinsmanCaroline Kinsman works for the Non-GMO Project, the only third-party verification for products produced according to rigorous best practices for GMO avoidance. In her role as Communications Manager, she works with national and international brands to help share the story of their non-GMO commitments. Caroline’s passion for honest food production started at a young age on the family-owned daily farm where she grew up. She traded in her milking shifts for a career in marketing and public relations for important causes. Today, Caroline still feels at home talking about farming and food production. Her current work brings attention to how consumers, retailers, manufacturers and farmers are working together to create remarkable change in the food industry.
Christy WilhelmiChristy Wilhelmi empowers people to grow their own food, to be more self-reliant, and to reduce pollution and waste, one garden at a time. Christy is author of Gardening for Geeks, and founder of Gardenerd (gardenerd.com), the ultimate resource for garden nerds, where she publishes information-packed monthly newsletters, weekly blog posts, and podcasts. She also specializes in small-space, organic vegetable garden design and consulting. She holds regular organic gardening classes in California, and has co-taught organic gardening at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA. Christy has been a board member of Ocean View Farms Organic Community Garden in Mar Vista, California since 1999, and gardens almost entirely with heirloom vegetables. Between 70-80 percent of her family’s produce comes from her garden of less than 200 square feet. Her writing has appeared in From Scratch Magazine, Edible Los Angeles & Edible Westside magazines, LowImpactLiving.com and the Heirloom Gardener Magazine. Christy has appeared on the Emmy nominated Home and Family Show, KCAL 9 News, Rosie on the House radio and Good Food with Evan Kleiman. She lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband, some chickens and two gardens.
Colum RileyColum Riley is co-founder and co-owner of Malibu Compost, a producer of certified Biodynamic® soil products and amendments of the highest organic integrity. As a lifelong activist for social, political and environmental issues, Colum was inspired in part by the inextricable links between healthy soils, healthy foods and healthy people (and pets… and planet).
Colum grew up on a biodynamic farm in PA and attended Waldorf School before moving to Ipswich, MA where his family founded The House of Peace, a home for refugees from war-torn countries. In 2003, his environmental activism prompted him to run for, and get elected to, the City Council of Hudson, NY. After serving a term, Colum moved to Los Angeles for graduate school and in 2008 received his MBA.
Founded in 2009, Malibu Compost has quickly developed a reputation as the “gold standard” of commercially available soils, working closely with certified Organic dairymen to procure manure free from GMO’s, insecticides, herbicides, antibiotics and hormones. By purchasing the manure, Malibu has helped to establish additional revenue streams for organic farmers.
Colum is an outspoken critic of the allowance of sewage sludge, municipal ‘green’ waste and manures from confined animal feeding operations (CAFO’s) in organic standards including the NOP and OMRI, and has worked closely with Demeter USA in creating the most stringent Commercial Compost Standard on the market today. With 300+ national retailers and counting, Malibu Compost is changing the way in which consumers think about soil and food.
Darla EatonDarla Eaton is a co-manager of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, a worker-owned seed business specializing in heirloom, non-GMO, open-pollinated organic seed. There she works to democratize the seed supply, preserve genetic diversity and heritage, and promote more just food systems. She periodically organizes events for Young and Beginning Farmers to access the resources and knowledge they need. She is also an educator about seed saving, consolidation in the seed industry, and organic gardening. She helps to coordinate Plant a Row for the Hungry in her county, which encourages gardeners to grow extra produce for their local food bank and holds gardening workshops and events in their demonstration garden. She currently resides at Acorn Community, which is an income-sharing, feminist, egalitarian, ecologically-conscious commune. Some of her interests include green design and construction, zero-waste systems, strengthened local food networks, cooperative and humane economic systems, horizontal leadership/participatory governmental process, cultural rehabilitation, and any number of projects aimed at creating a more viable and just society, both at the commune and in the larger world. She loves learning about the innovative ways in which people are using less resources, becoming more self/mutually-sufficient, dismantling oppression, uplifting one another, using technology appropriately, sharing knowledge and skills, and transcending class. She also likes to play the accordion in unexpected locations, revel at the intricacy of small organisms, and make strange noises.
Dave MurphyDave is the founder and executive director of Food Democracy Now!, a grassroots movement of Americans dedicated to reforming policies relating to food, agriculture and the environment.
David BronnerDavid Bronner is President of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. He is a grandson of company founder, Emanuel Bronner, and a fifth generation soap maker. Under David’s leadership, Dr. Bronner’s was one of the first brands to certify their soaps, lotions and balms under the USDA National Organic Program in 2003.
Today Dr. Bronner’s is coordinating certified fair trade projects for all major ingredients, including olive oil from the West Bank and Israel, coconut oil from Sri Lanka, and palm oil from Ghana. Alongside the company’s stewardship for fighting for organic standards in body care and the re-commercialization of industrial hemp, another core company initiative is the advocacy for GMO Labeling and waking Americans up to the secret changes the chemical pesticide industry is making to our food. Dr. Bronner’s was a top donor to California’s Prop 37, Washington’s I-522 and is currently supporting Oregon’s Measure 92 as well. All Dr. Bronner’s products are certified under the same National Organic Program that certifies food.
David was born in Los Angeles in 1973, and now lives in Encinitas, California with his wife Kris and daughter Maya. He enjoys playing soccer and dancing late into the night.
Deborah Koons GarciaDeborah Koons Garcia has a Master of Fine Arts from The San Francisco Art Institute. She has made fiction, educational and documentary films. Her film production company, Lily Films, is located in Mill Valley, California. She is the director/producer of two groundbreaking, feature-length documentaries, The Future of Food and Symphony of the Soil, which was designated a New York Times Critics’ Pick in 2013.
Deborah NiemannDeborah Niemann is a homesteader, writer, and self-sufficiency expert. In 2002, she relocated her family from the suburbs of Chicago to a 32-acre parcel on a creek “in the middle of nowhere”. Together, they built their own home and began growing the majority of their own food. Sheep, pigs, goats, chickens, and turkeys supply meat, eggs and dairy products, while an organic garden and orchard provides fruit and vegetables. Deborah is an adjunct professor in sustainable agriculture for the University of Massachusetts and is the author of Homegrown and Handmade, Ecothrifty, and Raising Goats Naturally.
Ed BrownEd Brown grew up in the small town of Altoona, Pennsylvania USA. After graduating, he went on to become a double major at Shippensburg University, neither of which had been in the film world. After graduating, he moved on to work as a highlight writer with CBS Sports in New York City, and he also worked on websites for Michael Moore and HBO. He is married to Lauren Brown, and they have three young children, Brayden, 6, Maia, 4, and Jack, almost 1. Ed Brown’s film, “Unacceptable Levels” opens the door to conversations about the chemical burden our bodies are being exposed to, so we can make informed decisions and make a difference. This film poses particular challenges to our companies, our government, and our society to do something about a nearly unseen threat, and also provides inspiration about what you can do as an individual. He is currently in the process of creating a new film called “A New Resistance” a film about Glyphosate (Roundup).
Elizabeth UElizabeth Ü is a writer, speaker, coach, and consultant who is passionate about helping people achieve their personal and entrepreneurial goals, particularly as they relate to money. She is author of Raising Dough: The Complete Guide to Financing a Socially Responsible Food Business (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2013), a book that demystifies the complex and ever-evolving world of financing options. In 2010 Elizabeth founded the nonprofit Finance for Food. As its executive director, she designed and delivered dozens of keynote addresses, panel presentations, conference tracks, and interactive workshops on the topics of raising capital for — and investing in — socially responsible food businesses, including a talk at the inaugural TEDxManhattan.
Previously, Elizabeth spent three years with RSF Social Finance, a nonprofit financial services organization dedicated to transforming the way the world works with money, where she served on the management team and helped launch the organization’s newest loan fund. On staff at the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), Elizabeth helped local networks of independently-owned businesses share tools and resources related to local food systems and community capital. She also spent two years as project manager of Slow Money, which was then project of Investors’ Circle, a network of angel investors, professional venture capitalists, foundations and family offices using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable economy.
A Food & Community Fellow, Elizabeth graduated with great distinction from McGill University with a BSc in Geography and holds an MBA in Sustainable Management from Presidio Graduate School. She lives in Bolinas, CA.
Elson Haas, MDAuthor of Staying Healthy with the Seasons and many other books, Dr. Elson M. Haas (www.HaasHealthOnline.com) is a long-time integrative family physician with a “barefoot doctor” philosophy of keeping people healthy by connecting to Nature and her cycles. Dr. Elson also founded (1984) and directs Preventive Medical Center of Marin (www.pmcmarin.com) with a great team of staff and practitioners providing family care to the Bay Area community as one of the only integrative clinics that takes insurance for many services. Dr. Haas’ focus there is on health assessments and healing programs for protecting and enhancing patients’ health. Other books include The Detox Diet and Staying Healthy with Nutrition.
Eric Holt-GimenezEric Holt-Giménez is the Executive Director of Food First Institute for Food and Development Policy. The Food First institute is a “peoples’ think-and-do tank” dedicated to eliminating the injustices that cause hunger and environmental degradation.
Previously, Eric worked as Latin American Program Manager at the Bank Information Center in Washington, D.C., where he monitored projects and policies of the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. He has held positions as a lecturer in International Development and Agroecology at the University of California, and Boston University’s Global Ecology program.
Throughout the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, Mr. Holt-Giménez lived and worked in Latin America where he helped organize and train farm leaders in agroecology. He was a consultant to non-governmental organizations, government ministries, and foreign aid agencies. In his path-breaking participatory research Measuring Farmers’ Agroecological Resistance to Hurricane Mitch, two thousand farmers documented the superior sustainability of agroecologically-managed farms to conventional farms in Central America.
His first book Campesino a Campesino chronicles nearly thirty years of work with Latin America’s “Farmer to Farmer Movement” for sustainable agriculture. In his recent book Food Rebellions! Crisis and the Hunger for Justice, co-authored with Raj Patel and Annie Shattuck, Mr. Holt-Giménez proposes equitable, sustainable solutions to the root causes of the global food crisis. He is the editor of Food Movements Unite!: Strategies to Transform our Food Systems a collection of chapters from food movement activists around the world.
Mr. Holt-Giménez holds a Master of Science degree in International Agricultural Development from University of California, Davis, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from University of California, Santa Cruz.
Erik OhlsenErik Ohlsen is a licensed contractor, Founder and owner of Permaculture Artisans (Ecological farm and landscape company). Erik is a renowned Certified Permaculture designer, and Certified Permaculture teacher and has been practicing permaculture and ecological deign since 1998 when he co-founded his first non-profit called Planting Earth Activation, PEA. This charitable organization designed and installed community gardens in northern California for public and private use from 1998-2001. In the field of ecological land development and management Erik has extensive experience with projects that range from small urban lots to 100+ broad acre design and implementation. His many years of experience, observation and listening of landscape patterns, managing installation crews and design teams, and his understanding of ecology make Erik a leader in the field of ecological landscape development. Erik’s design and field experience comprise of a huge variety of skills including, farm design and implementation, water harvesting/storm water management, erosion control, extensive earthwork operations, heavy machine operating, irrigation systems, ponds, food forests/orcharding systems, native plant systems, wildlife habitat enhancement, integrated pest management, microclimate moderation, roof water catchment systems, sustainable forestry, soil building, vermaculture, hardscape design and implementation, client relations specialist, project management, and much, much more.
Errol SchweizerErrol Schweizer is Senior Global Grocery Coordinator for Whole Foods Market. He has dedicated his career to improving the landscape of the natural and organic food industry.
Fred HempelFred Hempel is Co-Owner of Baia Nicchia Farm and Artisan Seeds. He has a Masters in Rangeland Management (UC Berkeley) and Ph.D in Plant Biology (UC Berkeley), and has been breeding tomatoes for the last decade. He has been farming tomatoes since 2006, and produce from Baia Nicchia Farm is used in many Bay Area restaurants. Fred’s breeding work was recently featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, and a number of his lines have been released by Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Baker Creek Seed Company and others.
Frederick SmithFrederick Smith, the host, has been an active member of Slow Money since 2010. He is a private consultant and a Small Business Development Center Advisor in Sonoma and Napa Counties. Fred is in the leadership of the Point Reyes Farmers Market, and two local investment groups in the North Bay.
Grover StockGrover is a long time organic food forest farmer, educator, and consultant. His work with Permaculture Artisans weaves soil health, edible plantings, grafting, orchard care, erosion prevention, water stewardship, earth sculpting, stonework, design and the day to day joys of restorative landscaping. As Soil Food Web Advisor, Grover consults with farmers and gardeners to create and maintain the dynamic living cycles of fertile soils. As chairperson of the International Association of Analog Forestry, he creates curriculum and facilitates AF practices, bridging multiple disciplines in ecology to create sustainable rural economies in communities around the globe. He is a permaculture instructor and member of the Executive Committee of the Biodynamic Association of Northern California.
Guido FrosiniAt TrueGrass Farms they believe that food production and wilderness are symbiotic – the one supports the other. They manage their herd to enhance the biology of the soil, that in turn feeds the plants and the grasses. This is the basis of healthy grass fed and finished beef on land that supports more than just livestock but a whole ecology of plants, insects and animals. When you buy a pound of ground beef from them you are not just feeding yourself, you are making your environment a better place.
Harvindar SinghAs local product forager for Whole Foods Market, Harv cultivates and nourishes relationships with local food suppliers in Northern California & Reno. Harv’s mission is to help develop the next generation of local brands, to drive community awareness about the importance of supporting local sustainable food systems and to support the growth of local food entrepreneurs including local growers and ranchers. One way in which he does this is through Whole Foods Market innovative Local Producer Loan Program, which provides low interest loans to assist small farmers, ranchers and artisan food producers to grow their business. Since joining Whole Foods Market in 2007, Harv has loaned over 900K to 27 local producers including St. Benoit Yogurt, Three Twins Ice Cream, Love & Hummus, Lydia’s Organics, Rustic Bakery, Naia Bars, Ritual Coffee and more.
Heather GordyHeather Gordy has a Master’s of Science in Recreation from San Francisco State University where her focus was on sustainable tourism. She has worked for Global Exchange Reality Tours as a Research Fellow under Malia Everette where she first began to study socially responsible tourism. She created a survey for Reality Tour participants in the summer of 2012 to examine if socially responsible tourism leads to advocacy. She presented her findings in September 2012 at the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference 2012 in Monterey, California. During the summer of 2012 she was awarded a full scholarship for an Outdoor Educator Course through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). She travelled to the Yukon with NOLS where she backpacked and whitewater canoed for a month while learning leadership and wilderness skills. In 2013 she worked as an assistant to the Travel Director of the Commonwealth Travel Club where she created a Sustainability Initiative. She then worked for Bay Area Green Tours, a local tour company that provides educational tours about sustainability around the Bay Area as the program manager. Now she is working with Altruvistas with administration, marketing, and event planning. Her Masters project researched socially responsible tourism on a November 2013 tour with Amazon Watch in the Ecuadorian Amazon which was submitted to The Journal of Sustainable Tourism. She is also a lead author of a textbook on sustainable tourism, tentatively titled, “The Good Company: Tourism, Travel, Hospitality and Wine” to be published next year.
Heidi HerrmannHeidi Herrmann is a farmer, college farm teacher and owner of Strong Arm Farm in Healdsburg. Vegetables, flowers and herbs are grown on the 1.5 acre farm, and you can find her vending at the Healdsburg Farmers’ Market. She has an Ornamental Horticulture degree from Cal Poly and an MA from SSU in Education. She is in her 7th year of teaching Sustainable Agriculture at SRJC, and is an avid seaweed harvester too. Heidi is the only commercial seaweed harvester in Sonoma County and sells a variety of healthful and tasty seaweed products. Nori, Bladderwrack, Sea Palm, Kombu, Wakame and Gomasio will be available for sale in 1 oz. packages.
Heidi will offer seaweed packets for sale at her booth in the Farmers’ Market area for the duration of the Heirloom Expo.
Howard VliegerHoward Vlieger is a third generation family farmer who has been a “student of the soil,” studying why and how the soil works as it does, since 1989. Howard lives on the family farm where he was born and raised in northwest Iowa, and assists his son with some of the farming duties. Since 1992 Howard has been a crop and livestock nutrition adviser. He has founded two companies to help family farmers reduce their dependency on chemical- based farming and transition to biological and/or organic crop production. Howard works and teaches as an independent crop nutrition advisor, helping crop and livestock farmers all across the US. Howard works with scientists and researchers around the world to develop effective solutions, based on the latest science, for the real-
life problems farmers are experiencing because of GMO crops and glyphosate. Howard is a co-author and the primary coordinator of a first of its kind scientific study: the feeding of GMO grain and non-GMO grain to hogs for their lifetime as a meat animal. Howard is an internationally recognized speaker on the topic of GMOs. Howard serves on the board of directors for the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA) and the Council for Healthy Food Systems (CHFS). His greatest accomplishment is that of being a Christian husband to his wonderful wife Pamela of 33 plus years, a father of 3 young adult children and proud grandfather of one.
Irina StoenescuIrina Stoenescu’s career made a dramatic and permanent turn when she met Joseph Simcox. Having studied international relations and history and having an endless curiosity in world cultures she realized that food is the ultimate unifier of humanity. Over the last 7 years she has traveled the globe studying first hand food policies, food culture and food traditions.
Her studies have found her in libraries and archives from Vanuatu to Vienna. Her special interest is in uncovering food secrets. Irina contends that food traditions past allow us to reconnect with our own identities as individuals in society, she also feels that it opens new opportunities for the future. Irina is presently the Manager of Comstock Ferre & Co., and a coordinator of the National Heirloom Expo.
Jared ZystroJared Zystro is OSA’s California research and education specialist. He has a master’s degree in plant breeding and plant genetics from the University of Wisconsin. Jared has worked in the organic seed industry for over 10 years, managing seed production at two farms and conducting research and education projects with OSA. In his work at OSA, he manages OSA’s regional development in California, conducts participatory breeding projects and variety trials, and teaches farmers about seed production and plant breeding at workshops, conferences and field days.
Jeanette BerangerJeannette is the Program Manager for The Livestock Conservancy. She brings with her 30+ years of experience working as an animal professional and uses the knowledge to plan and implement endangered breed conservation programs. At home she maintains a heritage breeds farm with a focus on rare breed chickens & horses.
Dr. Jeffrey Nekola and Linda FeyJeff has a PhD in Ecology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and has a passion for biodiversity in its many forms, whether it be plants, butterflies, and land snails in the wild or crops grown in gardens, orchards and fields, or the use of those foods as expressed by the entire range of humanity’s cuisines. You can learn more about his vocation and avocations at http://sev.lternet.edu/~jnekola.
Linda’s first and finest childhood memories are of helping her mother and grandmother in the garden and then bringing in freshly picked produce to the dinner table. She also learned how to make bread, gather wild foods, and improvise simple but nutritious home-grown meals. As an adult, she has over 20 years of experience in market gardening and teaches middle-school English at the Albuquerque Institute for Math and Science, one of the top 50 middle and high schools in the country. Visit http://lindafey.com/ to view her writing about food and life.
Jeffrey WestmanJeffrey brings over 30 years of entrepreneurial, managerial and philanthropic experience to Marin Organic. Since returning to the US in 2004 Jeffrey has dedicated himself to his true passions: sustainable agriculture, education and evolved management practices; working to understand the relationship between the economic, social and spiritual aspects of organizational structure and efficiencies. Jeffrey is passionate about addressing today’s economic, environmental, social, and cultural challenges in new and creative ways. His many years in Europe, particularly Scandinavia, opened his mind to the power of collaboration, consensus building and long term strategic thinking. With over 15 years in the media and technology world, which included building and launching Yahoo! Sweden, Norway and Denmark as well as founding e-licious, a multi lingual recipe database, Jeffrey returned to his roots in farming and agriculture by reviving a tangled overgrown potato farm in the north of Sweden. After shepherding California FarmLink through a complex restructuring which included building a robust micro lending program, Jeffrey was elected to the post of Board President. Jeffrey also serves as Board President on the board of Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm. Jeffrey is also an advisor and sits on the leadership council of Kitchen
Table Advisors, a non profit organization working to help sustainable farms become sustainable businesses.
Jessica PrenticeJessica Prentice is a professional chef, author, local foods activist, and social entrepreneur. Her first book, Full Moon Feast: Food and the Hunger for Connection, was released by Chelsea Green Publishing in 2006. Prentice is a co-creator of the Local Foods Wheel, and coined the word “locavore.” Jessica is also a co-founder of Three Stone Hearth (www.threestonehearth.com), a Community Supported Kitchen in Berkeley that uses local, sustainable ingredients to prepare nutrient-dense, traditional foods on a community scale. She is on the honorary board of the Weston A. Price Foundation. Jessica lives, works, and writes in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Jill NussinowJill Nussinow, aka The Veggie QueenTM is a Registered Dietitian who has been teaching plant-based, whole foods cooking for more than 25 years. Her focus is on locally grown, sustainably produced, seasonal heirloom produce as the basis for the ideal way to eat. Jill has been adjunct culinary faculty at Santa Rosa Junior College for twenty five years. She is the author of three cookbooks: her most recent is Nutrition CHAMPS: The Veggie Queen’s Guide to Eating and Cooking for Optimum Health, Happiness, Energy and Vitality (2014), The New Fast Food: The Veggie Queen Pressure Cooks Whole Food Meals in Less than 30 Minutes and The Veggie Queen: Vegetables Get the Royal Treatment. Jill stars in the DVD: Pressure Cooking: A Fresh Look, Delicious Dishes in Minutes and Creative Lowfat Vegan Cuisine. Jill is at work on her next book due out Fall 2015, Vegan Under Pressure. You will find her frequenting local farmers markets weekly. She also loves mushroom hunting, teaching fermentation classes, doing yoga and sharing her food philosophy with anyone who will listen. Her website is http://www.theveggiequeen.com
John JeavonsJohn Jeavons is President and Director of Ecology Action, with 42 years of biologically-intensive farming experience, director of global and local education programs. He has authored or edited more than 250 “how-to” publications on biointensive sustainable growing.
John KempfJohn Kempf grew up on a fruit and vegetable farm in northeastern Ohio and experienced first hand the challenges faced by crop producers everywhere. Growing fresh market vegetables since 1994, John witnessed intensifying disease and insect pressure on crops which did not respond to the usual pesticide treatments.
John began seeking to understand the underlying causes of disease and insect pressure on crops. He learned how to prevent pest damage to plants by enhancing natural plant immunity with nutrition. Learning from many leaders in the field of crop consulting and plant health, John began building a comprehensive systems-based approach to plant nutrition, solidly based on the sciences of plant physiology, mineral nutrition, and soil microbiology.
John is an internationally-recognized teacher on the topic of biological agriculture and plant immunity. He has a unique ability to simplify and clearly explain very complex concepts in the areas of soil and plant health. He skillfuly discusses the larger social and environmental impacts of food, agriculture and ecology.
Since 2006, Advancing Eco Agriculture has been an leader in the area of soil and plant nutrition. AEA is an agricultural consulting and manufacturing company that works with farmers internationally.
John is a member of the Amish community and lives in Middlefield Ohio.
John KohlerJohn starting growing food to enable him to become healthier. After almost losing his life in his 20′s he realized that you are what you eat, and he wanted to put the best foods into his body. He first started doing this by making dietary changes to include minimally processed, whole plant foods into his diet. Later he realized to have the best food he needed to grow it himself, the problem was he didn’t live on a farm, but in a standard suburban tract home. So he figured out how to grow the majority of his vegetables on his small suburban tract home, shares this with you how at www.growingyourgreens.com
John RoulacJohn Roulac is the CEO & Founder of Nutiva, and co-founder of GMO Inside. Considered one of the top entrepreneurs in the organic food movement, his life’s mission is to revolutionize the way the world eats. Nutiva brought organic coconut, hemp, chia, and red palm superfoods into the country’s consciousness. More importantly, John is a philanthropic entrepreneur. He founded four nonprofit ecological groups in addition to the Nutiva Nourish Foundation, which donates 1% of Nutiva’s sales to support sustainable agriculture and environmental programs. To date, $2 million has been donated with a goal of $10 million by 2020.
John ValenzuelaJohn Valenzuela is a horticulturist, consultant, educators, and rare fruit enthusiast based in the northern San Francisco Bay area. With decades of hands-on field experience, he specializes in productive perennial polycultures known as ‘edible forest gardens’ and is the founder/owner of ‘Cornucopia Food Forest Gardens‘. He has studied and practiced permaculture design for 25 years, teaching courses throughout Hawai’i, Costa Rica, California, and Washington state. John currently enjoys serving his 5th year as chairperson of the California Rare Fruit Growers, Golden Gate Chapter, and volunteers his expertise at Indian Valley Organic Farm and Garden at the College of Marin in Novato, CA.
Joseph SimcoxJoseph Simcox is “ The Botanical Explorer”. His childlike wonderment of the marvels of plant diversity drives him to share his discoveries with humanity. He has faith that humankind will progress to the point that the majority of the world’s population will one day live in harmony with nature. “By preserving biodiversity we are not only being respectful to other living things we are ultimately being conscientious of our own needs.” he says. Joseph has led more than 300 expeditions to all corners of the globe studying food plant diversity. It is reputed that he has eaten more different plant species and varieties than anyone on earth. Joseph does not concur that the world is over populated nor does he doubt the potential to feed the world’s population many times over. His perspective for the future of agriculture is that we will realize that we should examine and domesticate plants that are already adapted to their respective environments. He calls this approach “ecological adaption strategy”. Simply put; don’t try to grow corn in a desert or a cactus in a swamp! Joseph’s fiancé Irina Stoenescu a Food Historian tries to temper his craziness and ground him in the real world. Joseph travels much of the year, he calls anyplace he and his loved ones are… home.
Julia ValentineJulia Valentine teaches gardening in the Sonoma County public schools to children K-8th grade, where her passion for education and gardening are best realized. She is a trained Waldorf kindergarten teacher with over a decade of experience, as well as a permaculture designer and teacher. Julia currently serves as the President of the Board of the School Garden Network.
Kami McBrideKami McBride is the author of the Herbal Kitchen. She has developed and taught herbal curriculum for the Masters program at the California Institute of Integral Studies and at UCSF School of Nursing. Since 1988 Kami has taught hands-on herbal programs focused on sustainable wellness practices and revitalizing our relationship with the plant world. Her popular course, Cultivating the Herbal Medicine Woman Within is an experiential herbal studies program that empowers people to use herbal medicine in their daily lives for prevention and wellness care.
www.livingawareness.com
Kate FreyKate designed and managed the famous edible and biodiverse gardens at Fetzer Vineyards in California for twenty years. In May 2003 her garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in London won a silver/gilt medal, and in 2005 and 2007 her gardens illustrating many elements of biodiversity and sustainability, won gold medals and were visited by the Queen. In 2009 she competed in the World Garden Competition in Hamamatsu, Japan and in 2011 participated in the Floria Garden Show in Putrajaya, Malaysia. She consulted for two years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on a Prince’s organic farm. She currently works as a consultant, designer and a freelance writer, specializing in sustainable gardens that encourage biodiversity. In July, 2009 Kate became the coordinator of the Sonoma State University Sustainable Dept. of Extended Education Landscape Program. Kate earned a B.A. Summa Cum Laude with Distinction in English at Sonoma State University in 2006.
Ken GreeneKen Greene is a seedsman, seed farmer, and founder of the Hudson Valley Seed Library. Greene has spent the last decade collecting, protecting, and producing heirloom and open-pollinated seed, fostering a regional seed-saving community, and celebrating seeds through art. Greene is on the board of directors for the Organic Seed Alliance and has given presentations at Seed Savers Exchange, Young Farmers Conference, NOFA, Organic Seed Conference, National Heirloom Expo, Culinary Institute of America, Cornell and many other organizations.
Ken RoseboroKen Roseboro has been called “the nation’s reporter on all issues surrounding genetically modified foods” by Acres USA magazine. Ken is editor and publisher of The Organic & Non-GMO Report, a monthly news magazine that focuses on threats posed by GM foods and the growing non-GMO food trend. He is also editor and publisher of The Non-GMO Sourcebook, a directory of suppliers of non-GMO seeds, grains, and ingredients. Ken is author of Genetically Altered Foods and Your Health and The Organic Food Handbook both published by Basic Health Publications. He is a member of the board of directors of the Iowa Organic Association. Ken appears in the new documentary film, GMO OMG.
Kenneth “Chip” MorrisKenneth “Chip” Morris graduated with a B.S. degree from California State University, Chico in Agricultural Business and Management. His family homesteaded in Yolo County just north of Woodland, California over 125 years ago. Chip has been involved in farming all of his life and had grown commodity crops for many years. About 20 years ago, while doing some consulting work he stumbled upon some unusual beans. After doing some serious research, test plots, consulting with several universities and developing some special equipment for the task, he decided to try farming some of these beans. He started out with 54 varieties on 180 acres and has been successfully growing them ever since. Today he farms several hundred acres of the very best and most popular heirloom bean varieties with his first cousin Jerry Fry, on a 2500-acre sixth-generation family-owned and operated ranch. Chip has also worked on dry bean research at University of California, Davis for the past 11 years.
Lars CharasLars Charas worked in gastronomic sustainability and food security for 14 years as a chefs, farmer and researcher. Currently Lars Charas is Project manager Feed the planet at Worldchefs, the global chefs association representing 10 million chefs in 100 countries. Our mission is to make sure current and next generations of chefs have access to sufficient, healthy, tasteful and divers food. The goal is to inspire, educate and activate 1 million chefs in 50 countries in the 6 years to come. How to feed the planet is about efficiency and diversity; it has a technical and social component and an industrial and artisan. Global food cultures have never been as rich and poor at the same time. Rich in combining insights from a broad range of food cultures but only 20 crops produce over 90% of the food in the world. Under utilized species help gastronomy to continue in the creation of new dishes, tastes and textures, but also help to introduce new crops to society. There are hundreds of crops waiting and screaming to be used. That is my task and mission to feed the planet by gastronomic innovation.
Leslie GoldmanLeslie Goldman, Your Enchanted Gardener/ Plant Your Dream Blogger from San Diego shares inspirations from the Campaign to Grow A Healthier Pizza. Will you help build our grassroots movement so that Uncle Sam gives up his unholy relationship with Biotech GMO in the farm bed and gets married to “Anti” (Auntie) GMO? Being a matchmaker for this wedding is a job that belongs to all gardeners who want to fulfill the vision of the Founding Gardener Presidents of America the Beautiful. Thousands of new Plant Parents are needed! The wedding date is in your hands. The invitation to the wedding goes out to all who grow food with heirloom seeds and ancient grains. His favorites are Kamut® ancient wheat and heirloom seeds from the Baker Creek collection. Read more here about his workshop, Helping Uncle Sam Marry “Anti” GMO. The Ultimate Gardener: The Best Experts’ Advice for Cultivating a Magnificent Garden with Photos and Stories (HCI, 2009) credits Leslie for photographs and inspiration. The book’s dedication reads: “To Leslie Goldman, The Enchanted Gardener, for planting dreams and seeds of inspiration. To all those who garden and for those who dream to have a garden one day.”Robert Muller, then U.N. Assistant Secretary General, gave Leslie a U.N. Peace Medal in 1983 for the work he would do in his lifetime. That work continues helping us to win back our sacred seeds.
Lynette Marie (Pate)Organic Guru Lynnette Marie: a sought after inspiring speaker and Author of one of the best internationally selling books: ‘Fuel for the Body’ in which has been endorsed by many health activist, nutritionist and holistic doctors. Lynnette is the founder / creator of grass roots efforts, Fuel for the Body bike T.O.U.R.s. (Total Organic Understanding Ride) in which she began her tour journeys in April of 2011. She and her team empower the world of the importance of organic and sustainable farming and how to take back their health. Organic Guru has her certification for Medicine Woman and Minister for the Environment. A ‘Patient Expert’, named by national speaker and chiropractor, Dr. Ramah Wagner. Lynnette is also the founder/ creator of one of the most prestigious seals in the world that has recently launched. The Pure Integrity VerifiedTM seal of approval.
Organic Guru Lynnette Marie has recently been honored to serve as the regional Ambassador for the American Anti-Cancer Institute as well as selected as Ambassador of America’s Outstanding Mom. Follow Lynnette on her many journeys around the world to help make the environment a healthier planet as she takes each of your voices with her! Being a PURE health advocate, Lynnette was also selected to be one of the PHresh Super stars / spokes persons for an amazing company: PHresh Products. More at www.phreshproducts.com She is also a brand Ambassador for an amazing skin care and make-up company, Ecco Bella. More at www.eccobella.com She proudly supports companies who have true integrity! More information on Organic Guru Lynnette Marie missions at: www.fuelforthebody.org LIVE HAPPY. BE PURE!
Lucas OshunBorn and raised in Sebastopol California, Lucas Oshun graduated from University of California Santa Cruz in 2007 with degrees in Community Studies and Politics with a focus on International Relations. During his studies he interned at Global Kids in NYC, where he learned about the importance of discussion based workshop education, and international relations education for high school students. He has traveled extensively in South East Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Central and South America. Grateful for having had the opportunity to experience different cultures, and to travel internationally, Lucas believes strongly in providing travel, cultural immersion and grassroots organizing opportunities to young people.
Mac CondillMac Condill is a famed cucurbit farmer from Arthur, Illinois. Growing over 300 varieties, he searches the world for heirloom seeds to save. Growing the finest pumpkins, squash and gourds has been the legacy of the Condill family for more than two decades now. The farm has been in the McDonald-Condill family for five generations (since being homesteaded in 1859) and is now famous for bringing visitors “The Great Pumpkin Patch,” with cucurbits from over 30 countries around the world. The Great Pumpkin Patch has had the distinction of creating the world’s largest pumpkin display on the White House lawn and each year at the National Heirloom Expo in Santa Rosa, California. In keeping with their passion to preserve genetic diversity, Mac Condill launched The Homestead Seeds in 2008. He and his crew take great care to ensure not only the purity, but also the continuity of both the common and the rare cucurbit varieties. They sell nearly 200 varieties
of pumpkins, squash and gourd seeds in bottles of 15 seeds each.
Marissa ThortonMarissa is the sixth generation of the family to steward this land. Marissa dreamed of bringing the shuttered dairy back to life, so with a business plan in her pocket she launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2013 to buy a herd of Jersey cows. Her plan resonated so strongly with donors that she exceeded her goal by nearly $15,000.
Gary helped Marissa select her cows and taught her how to milk them. “When my dad had the cow dairy I would watch him and help out when I could, but I had never actually milked a cow before. So he showed me step-by-step how he would clean the teats and attach the machines, post dip them, etc. He said it brought back a lot of memories.” Just a few months later, Marissa is milking 10 friendly cows and more than 100 sheep purchased with an FSA loan, and piping the milk directly to the cheese vat next door at Bleating Heart. Ten more cows are on the way come fall. Her milk goes on to become coveted artisan cheese in the hands of Bleating Heart’s Seana Doughty and Dave Dalton.
Organically, one woman’s agricultural passion has stirred up a lot of memories and promise in the North Bay. “A lot of people have said they want to help make my dreams come true because they could tell I was passionate about agriculture and would hold up my end of the deal, which was really reassuring,” said Marissa. “They want to feel like they have a part in this project since it is for the good of agriculture.”
Mark KastelMark Kastel is co-founder of The Cornucopia Institute, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2014, is a populist farm policy research group based in Wisconsin. Kastel acts as its Senior Farm Policy Analyst and directs its Organic Integrity Project — the nation’s preeminent organic industry watchdog.
For almost 20 years prior to Cornucopia’s launch he was president of M. A. Kastel and Associates, Inc. His professional practice included political consulting/lobbying on behalf of family farm groups, and business development work benefiting family-scale farmers. Kastel played a key role in a number of cooperative ventures designed to empower farmers in the marketplace.
Kastel played a key role in the farm community’s response to the introduction of rBGH (the first commercialized GMO). His watershed research, published while doing policy work for the Farmers Union, brought great media scrutiny when he revealed that cows were dying and whole herds were suffering from serious illnesses soon after they were injected. He was intimately involved during development of the bill to regulate organic farming in Congress, as part of the 1990 farm bill, and the subsequent rule making process at the USDA. He continues to be closely involved in monitoring the seriously flawed management of the National Organic Program at the USDA.
Kastel, who worked for agribusiness giants International Harvester, J.I. Case and FMC before making the paradigm shift to sustainable farming, lives on a 160-acre organic farm in the rugged hills of southwestern Wisconsin, near the tiny burg of Rockton.
M.E.A. McNeilM.E.A. McNeil is a journalist and Master Beekeeper who lives on an small organic farm in San Anselmo, California. She is on the board of the UC Davis Mondavi Center Honey and Pollination Board as well as SuperOrganism, a non-profit dedicated to sustainable agriculture.
Melanie ChengMelanie is the founder of FarmsReach, an online and offline platform for farmers to access inputs and services, increase sales, and connect for accelerated learning, success and camaraderie. She operated the first farmers market-to-restaurant co-op in San Francisco in 2002, and developed the OmOrganics.org website – a resource for consumers to learn about organic agriculture and find sustainably grown foods in the SF Bay Area. In 2010, Melanie was curator of the Food Systems track at the international Social Capital Markets conference, and authored the Building Regional Produce Supply Chains white paper.
She and her FarmsReach team will be sharing practical info and details of new services to help small and medium scale farms improve their operations: Farmers Market Deliveries in partnership with Instacart, Route Optimization Tools in partnership with Heifer Int’l, and Learning Tools in partnership with many regional agriculture organizations.
Pamm LarryPamm Larry is the Director of Labelgmos.org, the grassroots group that sparked California’s Prop. 37 in 2012. She works locally, statewide and nationally with grassroots groups and other nonprofits to continue the fight for GMO labeling and other food sovereignty issues.
Pamela LanierMs. Lanier would like to volunteer at the World Parks Conference to introduce speakers, moderate panels, interview speakers, (she conducted several interviews of speakers at Wild 10 last year), Ms. Lanier is an Eco Ambassador at National Geographic and a regular contributor to numerous news wire services including ETN and examiner.com, so interviews that she participates in may receive additional media from her.
Pamela Lanier is the author of 15 travel titles in over 120 editions. She is the founder of Bed and Breakfasts Inns and Guest Houses International and established the TravelGuides.com network (www.familytravelguides.com, and www.elegantsmallhotel.com).
Pamela is a keen advocate of small and independent lodgings and, in the recent past, has increased her involvement in ecotourism and sustainable travel. Most notably, in September 2012, she led two presentations at the World Conservation Congress in Jeju, South Korea, and in October 2013, she gave a presentation and participated in a panel at the World Wilderness Congress in Salamanca, Spain. She was also a participant in the roundtable meeting on Accessible and Responsible Tourism held by World Travel Market in London. She is a National Geographic Geo Ambassador and the founder of Friends of Sustainable Tourism International, a non-profit organization to provide ecolodges, tours, and destinations with the knowledge and tools for success. Her most recent title is Sustainable Tourism: A Small Business Handbook for Success, released in 2013. Pamela has spoken at over 130 conferences worldwide and in many occasions has presented on panels and roundtables, etc. Her work has been a collaborative and she enjoys moderating presentations to present a fair overview of all viewpoints being presented.
For more information on Pamela Lanier and her work, visit pamelalanier.com and visit our website at ecogo.org
Paul KaiserPaul Kaiser is a leader in ecological agriculture who was recently recognized with a local Leadership in Sustainability Award as well as an international Farmer/Rancher Award for his work in biodiversity and pollinator conservation on his farm, Singing Frogs Farm. Besides being one of the first certified Bee Friendly Farms, Paul continues to be a practitioner and advocate for his unique, non-mechanized no-till and ecological farming practices that benefit and support pollinators, enhance the soil biology and ecology of his farm landscape and create year-round job security for his employees. Paul began his career in agroforestry in the tropics working to convert degraded lands into economically viable and biologically diverse and resilient farmland. Since then Paul has received dual Masters Degrees in Natural Resources Management and Sustainable Development from American University and the United Nations University for Peace. In the last eight years, Paul and his wife Elizabeth, have married sustainable land management with local food production at their biodiverse, no-till, and family friendly Singing Frogs Farm in Sebastopol, California.
Peg SchaferPeg Schafer is the owner/operator of the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm outside Petaluma. This primarily educational and research farm has grown out more than 250 different Chinese herb crops over the past 17 years. She is the author of The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm A Cultivator’s Guide to Small-Scale Organic Herb Production recently published by Chelsea Green. Peg’s focus in all endeavors is on growing the highest quality and most efficacious Chinese herbs possible.
Penny Livingston-StarkPenny Livingston-Stark is internationally recognized as a prominent permaculture teacher, designer, and speaker. She holds a MS in Eco-Social Regeneration and a Diploma in Permaculture Design. Penny has been studying the Hermetic Tradtion of alchemy and herbal medicine making in Europe and the United States for 4 years.
Penny has been teaching internationally and working professionally in the land management, regenerative design, and permaculture development field for 25 years and has extensive experience in all phases of ecologically sound design and construction as well as the use of natural non-toxic building materials. She specializes in site planning and the design of resource-rich landscapes integrating, rainwater collection, edible and medicinal planting, spring development, pond and water systems, habitat development and watershed restoration for homes, co-housing communities, businesses, and diverse yield perennial farms.
With herhusband James Stark, and in collaboration with Commonweal — a cancer health research and retreat center — Penny co-manages Commonweal Garden, a 17-acre organic and certified salmon-safe farm in Bolinas, California. In addition, Penny and James are stewarding and working to restore 200 acres of land in Trinity County, California.
Penny co-created the Ecological Design Program and its curriculum at the San Francisco Institute of Architecture, and she co-founded the West Marin Grower’s Group, the West Marin Farmer’s Market, and the Community Land Trust Association of Marin. Penny has also worked with the Marin County Community Development Agency and Planning Department to develop recommendations on sustainability for updating the Community Plan.
Penny is a founding member of the Natural Building Colloquium, a national consortium of professional natural builders, creating innovations in straw bale, cob, timberframe, light clay, natural non-toxic interior finishes and other methods using natural and bio-regionally appropriate materials for construction.
Peter MartinelliPeter’s beets, kale, collards, and chard grow alongside flowers, strawberries and potatoes on two bowl-shaped plots ringed by wild blackberry bushes. These bushes are heavy with fruit by midsummer and become just another of the many products that Peter purveys. There are also chickens, goats, plenty of dogs and even a few alpacas on the farm. In addition to growing over 40 kinds of fruit, vegetables and flowers, Peter also collects nettles, mushrooms, watercress and other treats from the wild.
Peter RuddockI have been active with Slow Food in various locations throughout California, working on education and organization. Later, I started working with Slow Money, finding its focus on re-building local food economies to be a great complement to the work that I was doing. About the same time, I joined the San Mateo County Food System Alliance, then through it the California Food Policy Council, where I am a founding steering committee member, adding policy to my roster of food system change tactics. I’ve recently joined the planning committee for the EcoFarm Conference. And occasionally, I lead tours for Bay Area Green Tours. Together, all of these things give me great opportunities to improve our food and our local economy.
Qachuu Aloom Farmers & The Garden’s EdgeFour members of the Qachuu Aloom Association, and Sarah Montgomery from The Garden’s Edge will present. Qachuu Aloom is a network of 400 Guatemalan farmers who have started a Maya run farmers association to preserve the seeds and agricultural practices of their ancestors. The Garden’s Edge is a non-profit from New Mexico who helped start Qachuu Aloom. In Guatemala we work with 24 villages. The majority of our members are women working to rebuild their lives after decades of civil war and genocide against the Maya.
Rachel KaplanRachel Kaplan is the co-author of Urban Homesteading: Heirloom Skills for Sustainable Living (with K. Ruby Blume.) She works alternately as a somatic psychotherapist, farmer, activist and educator. Other written works include The Probable Site of the Garden of Eden, and a forthcoming book called Circle the Earth, The Story of A Dance Ritual, co-written with dance luminary Anna Halprin. She lives with her family on a small urban homestead called Tiny Town Farm, on the southern edge of Petaluma.
Rebecca SpectorRebecca Spector is Center for Food Safety’s West Coast Director, where she champions policy initiatives at the state and federal level and coordinates public outreach campaigns to promote healthy, safe and sustainable food systems. She has been working in the environmental and agricultural sector for more than 20 years, and her experience includes establishing regulations to limit the production of genetically engineered (GE) fish in California, and writing and sponsoring numerous legislative initiatives including state bills to require labeling of GE foods, labeling of GE fish, labeling of food from cloned animals, and farmer protections from GMO contamination. Previously, she served as director of development at Green Seal, the first U.S. product eco-labeling organization, and at Mothers & Others for a Livable Planet she spearheaded its organic cotton marketing campaign. Rebecca is associate editor of Fatal Harvest: The Tragedy of Industrial Agriculture and Your Right to Know: Genetic Engineering and the Secret Changes in Your Food. She has authored numerous articles and reports including “Livestock Cloning and the Quest for Industrial Perfection” in CAFO: The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories and “Fully Integrated Food Systems: Regaining Connections between Farmers and Consumers” in Fatal Harvest. For ten years, Rebecca was co-owner of the first certified organic farm in Half Moon Bay, California, and created its community supported agriculture (CSA) and farmers’ market programs that served hundreds of families in the Bay Area. She holds an M.S. in Environmental Policy from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment.
Richard Stephen FelgerRichard Felger is a researcher with the University of Arizona Herbarium and Sky Island Alliance in Tucson. He resides in Silver City with his wife, Silke Schneider, and their animals and plants. Dr. Felger has conducted research in deserts worldwide and written or co-authored more than 100 peer-review publications in addition to books and writings in botany, ethnobiology, new food crops. One of his strong interests is addressing world hunger through agricultural independence for arid regions. (see University of Arizona Herbarium for publications)
Rishi KumarRishi and Pearl Kumar are the founders of The Growing Home, Los Angeles’ premier model of suburban sustainable living and educational center. Since 2011, they have been converting their family’s suburban tract home into a sustainability research station that grows food for their family, grows connection and interdependence among their community, and grows knowledge to be shared and spread worldwide. Their work and story was recently chronicled in the documentary Urban Fruit.
Rob KellerRob Keller came interested in incorporating bees into his art practice while working on his MFA from UC Davis in 1999. Now, as the owner of a small bee business, The Napa Valley Bee Company, his
goal is to build a community of beekeepers in his area that practice responsible, sustainable hive management with the bees’ best interest in mind. These days the bees are working less for Rob’s art, and he’s working more for the bees – becoming one of the leading advocates for bees in his area. Rob currently runs three large scale apiaries in the Valley, manages numerous private hives, and teaches the vocation of beekeeping at The St.Helena Montessori School in the Napa Valley. He lives in downtown Napa with his yogini wife and ten-year-old beekeeping-son Davis.
Robert KourikRobert Kourik is the author of 6 books, wrote and self-published 8 books. Organic landscape maintenance Marin County, CA 1974-1979. Director of the Edible Landscape Program of the Farallones Institute Rural Center, Occidental, CA; 1979-1982. Graywater systems installer, educator, consultant and writer; 1977-present. Member of the Santa Barbara County Graywater task force, drafted the first legal gray water ordinance in America, 1990. Wrote the Graywater Ordinance for the City of Malibu, CA; 1992-1994. Member of the Graywater Advisory Committee for East Bay Municipal Utility District, 1995. Drip irrigation installation, design, consulting and writing; 1977-present. Ornamental and edible landscape construction and installation, 1975-1989. Environmental and edible landscape design and consultation, 1978-present. Environmental communications and freelance writing, 1986-present. West Coast Contributing editor to Garbage magazine, 1989-1994.
Rowen WhiteRowen White is a Seed Keeper from the Mohawk community of Akwesasne and a passionate activist around food and seed sovereignty. She is the director and founder of the Sierra Seeds, an innovative organic seed cooperative focusing on local seed production and education, based in Nevada City CA. She teaches creative seed training immersions around the country and small farming communities.
School Garden NetworkThe School Garden Network is a decade-old, non-profit organization dedicated to the creation and support of sustainable garden and nutrition-based learning programs in K-12 schools throughout Sonoma County. School gardens are a powerful means of instilling lifelong nutritional and environmental literacy among students. The School Garden Network works to address the most significant obstacles school gardens face by providing direct financial and mentoring support to school garden programs.
Scott ChaskeyScott Chaskey is a farmer, poet and an educator. Since 1990 he has farmed garlic, potatoes, greens (and seventy other crops) for the Peconic Land Trust at Quail Hill Farm, one of the original Community Supported Agriculture farms in the country. He is a founding Board member of the Center for Whole Communities (Vt.) and of Sylvester Manor Educational Farm (NY), and is past president of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York. In 2005 Viking/Penguin published his memoir, “This Common Ground, Seasons on an Organic Farm.”. His newest book, “Seedtime: On the History, Husbandry, Politics, and Promise of Seeds,” was published by Rodale, in January 2014.
Sean KaminskySean Kaminsky is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and writer. The body of Sean’s work has tackled a range of urgent topics – from social to political – while telling stories that engage and entertain. Sean has worked for TV networks such as HBO, PBS, Sundance Channel and MTV’s logo. Open Sesame – The Story of Seeds is his debut feature as a director.
Sharon Palmer, RDNSHARON PALMER, RDN is a registered dietitian, editor of the award-winning health newsletter Environmental Nutrition, and a nationally recognized nutrition expert who has impacted thousands of lives through her writing and clinical work. She is also the author of The Plant-Powered Diet. She lives outside of Los Angeles with her husband and two sons. For more information see www.sharonpalmer.com.
Shoshanna EaslingOwner of The Bulk Herb Store, Shoshanna Easling grew up gardening with her family and has always grown medicinal and culinary herbs. In addition to having written and published many articles and booklets on herbs, natural remedies, tinctures, and cooking with herbs, she has also produced educational videos, DVDs and books, including Making Babies—a 480-page book and DVD series.
Stefanie BourcierStefanie is the CEO and research director at Farm Fuel, located in Watsonville, CA. Stefanie came to FFI in 2007 after graduate school to help the FFI farmer board to better understand how brassica seed meal could be used as a soil amendment. Since coming to FFI, the company has taken on farming, manufacturing, sales, distribution, research, and field consultation. In the past three years, FFI has created a fumigant replacement program for conventional strawberry growers and new tools for organic farmers to treat soil borne pathogens. FFI also makes biodiesel in-house from home-grown mustard seed.
Steve PetersA gardener since childhood, Steve harvests not just food, but knowledge and inspiration from his efforts. He received a Masters degree in vegetable crops and soil science at Cornell University in 1986. He then worked as a research agronomist for the Rodale Research Center in Pennsylvania for 9 years and, among many projects, managed a long term farming systems trial comparing organic and conventional agricultural practices. From 1995 until 2010 he was seed production manager and garden product development manager for Seeds of Change. He then helped launch the Family Farmers Seed Cooperative, and In 2012 was farm research manager for the Native Seeds/SEARCH farm in southern AZ. He now resides in San Mateo, CA where he is involved in plant breeding and running vegetable field trials for Organic Seed Alliance. His independent seed consulting business, ‘Seed rEvolution Now’, promotes and distributes high quality, open source, organic vegetable seed. He is passionate about working to create a bioregional farmer-driven seed cooperative centered on the San Francisco Bay Region, a project which has gained the support of the Ecological Farming Association and the Organic Seed Alliance.
Steve SchwartzSteve Schwartz, Executive Director, Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative is an experienced food systems advocate with over 20 years of professional leadership working with farmers and farm policy to advance sustainable agriculture. Schwartz has worked with representatives of dozens of faith-based groups on projects to advance sustainable food systems including “CSA- Congregation Supported Agriculture”; community gardens; and programs to facilitate healthy food access for low-income individuals. He served as a consultant to the California Caucus of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition during the 2014 farm bill. He served as founding Executive Director of California FarmLink from Fall of 1998 until August, 2011. Schwartz has organized and presented at over 100 workshops on farm finance, management and food security. Before that Schwartz worked for the Community Alliance with Family Farmers and two California Legislators. He has worked with Buddhist and Jewish communities at several points in his career to facilitate projects connecting congregants to the food system and environment. Schwartz served on the Boards of the International Farm Transition Network, Sonoma County Farm Trails, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers and the Community Reinvestment Coalition. He currently serves on the Marin Food Policy Council and Sonoma County Action Nutrition Network. He is conversant in Spanish, Thai and Laotian.
Suzanne MackeySuzanne Mackey works with children and their families in her backyard and school gardens. Her programs introduce kids and grown-ups alike to the principles of Permaculture with hands-on experience in an ever evolving urban food forest. In her backyard on a 6000 square foot lot near downtown Petaluma she and her husband Paul keep chickens, ducks, rabbits, and honeybees. They raise much of their own food, have 3000 gallons of rainwater catchment, produce all of their own compost on site, and start seeds in their recycled/reclaimed greenhouse. From her gardens Suzanne teaches classes on Natural Dyes, Herbal Medicine, Art and Nature, and Cooking from the Garden. She uses the Permaculture garden to facilitate deep nature connection in children and adults. Her website is www.chickweedpatch.com
Terry d’SelkieTerry d’Selkie has been harvesting sea vegetables from the Mendocino Coast of California since 1997. The ocean is her office and she is dedicated to bringing the best gourmet quality seaweeds to your table. Seaweed harvesting is an artisanal venture. Harvesting, drying and packaging can be very labor intensive, like other types of “farming” or “wildcrafting” and making sure you get the most nutritious and delicious seaweeds is important to Ocean Harvest Sea Vegetable Company. We are the only local company who has been independently testing for radiation since May 2011. Your health is important to us! It offers us peace of mind when we are working in our ocean office, to know that the seaweed we harvest for you has had no radiation detected! Come get your daily dose of trace minerals and try some local seaweeds today! www.seaweedmermaid.com
Toby HemenwayToby Hemenway is the author of Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, which was awarded the Nautilus Gold Medal in 2011, was named by the Washington Post as one of the ten best
gardening books of 2010, and for the last eight years has been the best-selling permaculture book in the world. Toby has been an adjunct professor at Portland State University, Scholar-in-Residence at Pacific University, and has taught over sixty 72-hour permaculture design courses. He has presented lectures and workshops at major sustainability conferences such as Bioneers, SolFest, and EcoFarm, and at Duke University, Tufts University, University of Minnesota, University of Delaware and many other educational venues. His writing has appeared in magazines such as Natural Home, Whole Earth Review, and American Gardener. He has contributed book chapters for WorldWatch Institute and to several publications on ecological design.
Tony LinegarI have a Bachelors Degree in Biological Science and have worked in three Ag Commissioner’s Offices in Shasta, Mendocino and now Sonoma. I was the Agricultural Commissioner in Mendocino before taking the same position with Sonoma County in 2012.
Trathen Heckman and Ryan JohnstonTrathen Heckman is the founder and Executive Director of Daily Acts Organization and Board Chair of Transition US.
Ryan Johnston is a Senior Programs Coordinator at Daily Acts Organization.
Daily Acts is a Sonoma County-based non-profit organization that was established in 2002. Daily Acts’ mission is to transform our communities through inspired action and education, which builds leadership and local self-reliance.
Wendy JohnsonWendy Johnson lived and trained at Green Gulch Farm from 1975-2000. She is one of the founders of the Organic Farm and Garden Program at Green Gulch, a lay dharma teacher, and the author of Gardening at the Dragon’s Gate (Bantam, 2008). Wendy is a garden mentor to the Edible Schoolyard program and a College of Marin instructor in the Environmental Landscape program at the Indian Valley Organic Farm and Garden project.
Wendy KrupnickWendy’s primary passion for 35 years has been organic farming and gardening, and sharing that passion with others. Her gardening training started in earnest with a 1-year apprenticeship at the UC Santa Cruz Farm and Garden in 1976. For 10 years she managed the variety trials and demonstration gardens for Shepherd’s Garden Seeds and was the lead garden advisor for customers nationwide. She worked with many farming and gardening professionals around California as well as in fine restaurants, where she produced herbs, edible flowers, and vegetables directly for their use. She also managed the Felton farmers market for 10 years.
Wendy is actively involved with organizations working to further a more sustainable agriculture including Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Ecological Farming Assn., and the Sonoma County iGROW and Food System Alliance projects, and the Community Garden Network of Sonoma County. For 7 years she coordinated the 4-acre garden at Santa Rosa Jr.
College’s Shone Farm, which is part of the Sustainable Agriculture program, and teaches as Adjunct Faculty with this program. Wendy also teaches teaches workshops on edible gardening through other venues and assists home garden clients.
Will BakxWill Bakx started composting in 1982 at Sonoma State University as student manager of the Ecological Food Production Garden. In 1985 he launched Bennett Valley Farm Compost, processing various agricultural and fish industry discards. In 1993 he started the Sonoma county-wide yard debris composting program as Sonoma Compost Company (SCC). Today he has diverted over 1,600,000 tons of organics from the landfill, creating high quality mulches and composts allowed for organic food production, including biodynamic® composts.
He is the adjunct compost instructor at the Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) and serves as chair of the SRJC Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Committee.
William Woys WeaversWilliam Woys Weavers is an internationally known food historian. He maintains the Roughwood Seed Collection of approximately 4500 varieties of food plants in Devon, Pennsylvania. He is working with Mill Hollow Farm in Edgemont, Pennsylvania, to establish an organically certified produce and rare seed farm using seeds from the Roughwood Seed Collection.
Will received his Ph.D. from University College, Dublin. He has written hundreds of articles on foods and foodways. He served as Associate Editor of Scribner’s Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. He has served as Contributing Editor to Gourmet, and to Mother Earth News. He has been a regular contributor to The Heirloom Gardener. Dr. Weaver has received many publishing awards, including three International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) cookbook awards. Will has authored 16 books, including:
LIVESTOCK SPEAKERS
Asli MeteAfter graduating from Istanbul University Veterinary Medicine, Dr Mete practiced as a small animal animal and avian vet for 2 years. She then went on to MSC followed by PhD at University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, where her work was focused on hemochromatosis in captive birds. In 2005-2008 Dr Mete completed her Veterinary Anatomic Pathology training at Cornell University, Ithaca. Since 2009 she has served as Assistant Prof. at UC Davis, and pathologist at California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory in Davis, CA. Dr Mete will provide an introduction to the California Animal Health and Food Safety program and the services they provide to chicken owners. She will also address the most common backyard chicken diseases.
Debra MillsDebra Mills is a small micro-farmer who raises rabbits, poultry, goat, and seasonal produce. She’s a California State Licensed meat and poultry inspector, and has worked in a rabbit processing plant. A nurse by profession, her passion is creating an environment where people are able to grow their own food economically, safely, and without reliance on industrial practices. Debra will address the easy sustainability of raising rabbits, from both a farm to and small in-town home perspective.
Deborah NiemannDeborah Niemann is a homesteader, writer, and self-sufficiency expert. In 2002, she relocated her family from the suburbs of Chicago to a 32-acre parcel on a creek “in the middle of nowhere”. Together, they built their own home and began growing the majority of their own food. Sheep, pigs, goats, chickens, and turkeys supply meat, eggs and dairy products, while an organic garden and orchard provides fruit and vegetables. Deborah is an adjunct professor in sustainable agriculture for the University of Massachusetts and is the author of Homegrown and Handmade, Ecothrifty, and Raising Goats Naturally.
Jeanette BerangerJeannette is the Program Manager for The Livestock Conservancy. She brings with her 30+ years of experience working as an animal professional and uses the knowledge to plan and implement endangered breed conservation programs. At home she maintains a heritage breeds farm with a focus on rare breed chickens & horses.
Linnea DueLongtime poultry aficionado Linnea Due writes books and edits articles when not messing about with chickens and turkeys. She thinks chickens should be as common as dogs and cats—when was the last time your cat laid an egg? Linnea will present an interactive session all about chickens, suitable for those new to chickens and experienced people as well. Those interested in turkeys and ducks will also find this session valuable.
Maurice PiteskyMaurice Pitesky is a faculty member at University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) with an appointment in poultry health and food safety epidemiology. Dr. Pitesky earned his BS in biology from UCLA, and his DVM and MPVM from UC Davis. Pitesky is also boarded in Preventative Veterinary Medicine (DACVPM).
Pitesky’s research interests are focused in three major areas: 1) Using “traditional” epidemiological techniques and Global Information Systems (GIS) and spatial statistics to understand how avian diseases move in time and space. 2) Using Next Generation Sequencing technology to gain insights into the virulence and survivability of pathogens including Salmonella and Campylobacter. 3) Gaining a better understanding of small scale poultry production (i.e. small scale poultry production) with respect to environmental sustainability, poultry heath, and food safety.
Vani HariVani Hari started foodbabe.com in April 2011 to spread information about what is really in the American food supply. She teaches people how to make good purchasing decisions at the grocery store, how to live an organic lifestyle, and how to travel healthfully around the world. Success in her writing and investigative work can be seen in the way food companies react to her finding and exposing the truth.
After receiving tremendous attention on her posts about Chick-Fil-A, she was invited by the company’s leadership to meet at its headquarters to consult on specific improvements to ingredients used by the national chain, which they later implemented. 7 months after Vani petitioned Kraft to remove harmful petroleum-based artificial food dyes from Mac & Cheese, Kraft responded by removing the dye from all products aimed at children. Other major food companies that have responded to her writing include Whole Foods, Lean Cuisine, McDonalds, General Mills, Coca-Cola, Chipotle, Yoforia, and Moe’s South West Grill.
Vani’s activism brought national attention at the Democratic National Convention when she used her status as an elected delegate to protest in front of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on the issue of GMO labeling. Vani has been profiled in the New York Times, USA Today, Washington Times, and Chicago Tribune. She appeared on The Dr. Oz Show, Good Morning America, Doctors Show, NBC News, and Fox News. She’s a regular cooking contributor on NBC’s Charlotte Today and a food expert on CNN.
Impassioned by understanding of how food affects health, Vani loves sharing her message with 4 million readers across the globe.
Prof. Dr. Rajiv Kumar SinhaBorn in India (9th academics since 1971 in India and 2000 in Australia. I left Griffith University, Australia as ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR of Environmental Sciences in 2013. Currently, I am VISITING PROFESSOR & ACADEMIC ADVISER at Charotar University of Science & Technology, India. I am also CONSULTANT in VERMIBIOTECH (Australia). VERMICULTURE is area of my RESEARCH interest as EARTHWORMS have great SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL & ECONOMIC values for mankind especially for the ‘FARMERS’ – the ‘feeders of nations’. I have been credited for the development of a NEW & INNOVATIVE VERMIFILTRATION TECHNOLOGY for ‘Wastewater Treatment by Earthworms’ at Griffith University, Australia. It is highly economical with beneficial end-products for REUSE in agriculture. It has been commercialized in several countries now.
I have published 22 books and over 150 scientific papers (42 papers are listed in GOOGLE). My book on ‘VERMICULTURE REVOLUTION: Technological Revival of Charles Darwin’s Unheralded Soldiers of Mankind’ published by NOVA Science Publications, USA, in 2011 has brought global academic recognition for me.
I have visited several institutions in Europe & North America in academic connections. I was recognized among the 100 TOP EDUCATORS of WORLD in 2011 by Cambridge (UK). I was selected by undation for Environmental Conservation, Geneva, Switzerland (1996) ‘WHO IS WHO & DOES WHAT IN ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION’; for US MARQUIS Book for ‘WHO IS WHO IN SCIENCE & ENGINEERING’ 2010 & among ‘Great Minds of the 21st Institute. March 1949), I am now CITIZEN of Australia. I am in Century’ 2011 by American Biographical
Jeffery SmithThe leading consumer advocate promoting healthier non-GMO choices, Jeffrey Smith’s meticulous research documents how biotech companies continue to mislead legislators and safety officials to put
the health of society at risk and the environment in peril. His work expertly summarizes why the safety assessments conducted by the FDA and regulators worldwide teeter on a foundation of outdated science and false assumptions, and why genetically engineered foods must urgently become our nation’s top food safety priority.
Mr. Smith’s feature-length documentary Genetic Roulette, The Gamble of Our Lives was awarded the 2012 Movie of the Year (Solari Report) and the Transformational Film of the Year (AwareGuide). Described as a “life-changer” and seen by millions world-wide, the film links genetically engineered food to toxic and allergic reactions, infertility, digestive disorders, and numerous problems that have been on the rise in the US population since genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were introduced.
His books include: Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You’re Eating, which is the world’s bestseller on GMOs; and Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods, which is the authoritative work on GMO health dangers.
An admired keynote speaker , Mr. Smith has lectured in 37 countries, counseled leaders from every continent, and has been quoted by hundreds of media outlets including: The New York Times, Washington Post, BBC World Service, The Independent, Daily Telegraph, New Scientist, The Times (London), Associated Press, Reuters News Service, LA Times, and Time Magazine. Also a popular guest, he appears on influential radio shows and television programs, such as the BBC, NPR, Fox News, Democracy Now, and the Dr. Oz Show.
He is the founding executive director of The Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT), a leading source of GMO health risk information for consumers, policy makers, and healthcare professionals. IRT’s educational programs are driving the tipping point of consumer rejection against GMOs, which is already starting to push genetically engineered ingredients out of the market in the US. Mr. Smith lives in Iowa, surrounded by genetically modified soybeans and corn.
Ronnie CumminsRonnie Cummins is founder and Director of the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), a U.S. non-profit. He is also editor of OCA’s website and newsletters Organic Bytes and Organic View. He has served as director of US and international efforts such as the Pure Food Campaign, and Global Days of Action Against GMOs.
Percy SchmeiserPercy Schmeiser is a long time farmer and farm equipment dealer from Saskatchewan, Canada. His canola fields were contaminated with Monsanto’s Roundup Ready Canola. Monsanto sued Schmeiser, demanding he pay a technology fee of $15 per acre because he was benefiting from their technology. Percy counter-sued and took the case all the way to the Canadian Supreme Court.
Andrew KimbrellAndrew Kimbrell is Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Food Safety, serving as an internationally recognized voice and leading public interest attorney in the fight to protect the environment and the public from the threats of global industrial agriculture and faulty governmental policies. As Senior Attorney and Policy Director for the Foundation for Economic Trends, Kimbrell successfully challenged federal agencies in several key environmental court cases, including a U.S. Supreme Court victory forcing regulation of motor vehicles carbon dioxide pollution under the Clean Air Act to safeguard the American public from ozone layer depletion and raise global climate change standards.
An author and activist promoting sustainable forms of agriculture and organic policies, Kimbrell has challenged the logic and lawfulness of industrial agriculture in numerous published articles and public forums, including featured speaking engagements at Google Author Talks, Slow Food Nation, and keynoting at top universities and global food conferences. His most recent book Your Right to Know: Genetic Engineering and the Secret Changes in Your Food (2006) tackles the current controversial issues of GE foods and the vital need for a more just and healthy food system.
A noted expert in environmental and food issues, Kimbrell has been called to testify before the U.S. Congress and is a frequent contributor to documentaries, including the recent film The Future of Food. Kimbrell’s accolades include a spot on Utne Reader’s list of the world’s leading 100 visionaries, and The Guardian recognized him in 2008 as one of the 50 people who could save the planet.
PRESENTATION SPEAKERS Albert StrausFounded by Albert Straus in 1994, Straus Family Creamery is a family-owned and operated business, dedicated to making high quality, minimally-processed organic dairy products. The organic milk is supplied by eight family farms in Marin and Sonoma Counties, including the Straus family dairy. Straus Family Creamery sustains collaborative relationships with dairy farmers, offering stable prices and predictability in what is, otherwise, a volatile marketplace.
Albert Straus followed in the footsteps of his parents, who were early environmentalists, and has continued to expand their vision of environmental stewardship. As a result, the Straus dairy is now an evolving combination of traditional land stewardship, sustainable farming practices and cutting-edge technology. The entire dairy and Albert’s car are powered by electricity that is generated from the cows’ manure, through a methane digester.
Always a pioneer, in 1994, Albert Straus transitioned the Straus family dairy to be the first certified organic in the Western United States. During the same year, the creamery became the first 100% certified organic creamery in the country. In 2010, Straus Family Creamery was the first creamery in the nation to receive Non-GMO Project Verification.
Straus Family Creamery bases business decisions upon environmental and ecological considerations, grounded in sustainable, organic family farming. It does this for the health and well-being of the company, farmers, employees and the community it serves.
Alice DoyleAlice Doyle is a co-founder of the innovative Oregon wholesale nursery Log House Plants. The first grower in the United States to offer grafted vegetables to home gardeners, Log House Plants seeks the best of traditional edibles and food crops of tomorrow, distributing annuals, vegetables, perennials and herbs to the fine independent nurseries of the PNW and grafted vegetables nationally through SuperNaturals Grafted Vegetables LLC with Plug Connection and GardenLife.
Andrew GuntherAndrew Gunther joined the Animal Welfare Approved program in April 2008 as program director. Previously, he was the senior global animal compassionate product procurement and development specialist for Whole Foods Market, leading the team that designed and launched the company’s five-step welfare program in the United Kingdom. From a truly agricultural background, Andrew, with his wife and children, pioneered the world’s first organic poultry hatchery for chickens. The Gunther family also managed the production for the largest independent organic chicken producer in the United Kingdom.
As Program Director for Animal Welfare Approved, Andrew has spearheaded the program’s unprecedented growth, increasing the number of approved farms tenfold, promoting farm viability for humane
livestock farmers, and growing market strength. The Animal Welfare Approved standards have been rated “most stringent” in both 2008 and 2009 by the World Society for the Protection of Animals. Andrew also works with restaurants groups and retailers to increase the availability of Animal Welfare Approved meat, dairy and eggs in traditional retail settings. Andrew is currently part of the Texas State Board of Agriculture’s organic advisory board and a member of the American Association of Agricultural scientists.
Anna PeachBoth an urbanist and the product of 6 generations of Wisconsin farmers, Anna Peach developed Squash and Awe- Guerrilla Farm, a one person, no-till 1/4 acre farm model to trial Hawaiian and international heirloom squash, and bring tons of produce through every step of the food system. Fostering mutually beneficial relationships, Anna creates innovative systems for native Hawaiian plants to co-exist with agriculture, while also looking for opportunities to offset the importation food by breeding pure seeds that thrive in Hawaii and beyond.
Bethany ArgisleBethany Argisle has a long career in news media, public relations, and performance. Also known as the “Princess of Argisle” and storyteller extraordinaire, she is a writer of plays and poetry for children of all ages and has produced many shows for families. Her focus is on the Earth, Environment, and Health. Bethany originally worked for the Los Angeles Times and then moved to San Francisco, where she worked in public relations. She wrote, produced, and directed her own shows, which were performed as the San Francisco Museum of Art and other venues. Since that time, she has continued her environmental writing, published in various venues. Bethany met Elson Haas in 1976 and they have been allies and business associates since that time. Their collaboration has evolved into their current partnership, Seasons Studios, based on Dr. Haas’ first book, Staying Healthy with the Seasons. Their mutual concern now is for young people’s awareness about Health and the Earth. Bethany is currently an editor and guides authors in their work. She has collaborated with Dr. Haas’ and they have created many health texts for children and families, as well as edu-wear (anatomy t-shirts and reflexology socks) and animated Apps in their company, Seasons Studios.
Birke BaehrAn Internationally recognized speaker and youth advocate for sustainable food and agriculture, Birke has visited and volunteered at farms around the United States and published his first book in 2012, “Birke on The Farm“. Birke has spent the last five years traveling around the United States and Italy visiting organic farms and learning from the farmers who steward those farms. He has attended numerous organic agriculture seminars and workshops; including one with renowned farmer and author, Joel Salatin who Birke looks up to in his pursuit of new thinking about food and agriculture. Birke continues to educate himself in this genre and intends to be a sustainable organic agriculturist in the future. He has a passion for educating others, especially his peers, about the destructiveness of the industrialized food system and the enlightening alternatives of sustainable and organic farming, food and practices. Birke was the youngest presenter and TEDx Next Generation Asheville (Aug. ’10) where he gave the talk entitled, “What’s Wrong With our Food System” which became an internet sensation with millions of cumulative views. His TEDx talk is also featured of TED.com.
Bob CannardBob Cannard has been farming sustainably for 30 years. His father was a nurseryman and, though he was brought up to accept pesticides as a normal part of gardening, he has since repudiated the use of synthetic chemicals. 1976 began Cannard farm on a heavily eroded hillside plot to study nature and grow nutritionally sound food for people. Primary grower of vegetables and herbs for the restaurant Chez Panisse (Alice Water / Berkeley). Keynote speaker at industry gatherings, Acres USA honoree. He has long been an important member of the sustainable food movement in Northern California.
Bob McFarlandBob McFarland is serving his third term as the elected President of the California State Grange, the oldest agriculture organization in the country, with over 10,000 members serving 185 communities across the state. Under Bob’s leadership, a Grange Renaissance is taking place in California.
For the first time since the 1970’s, Grange membership is growing. Forty-two new Grange chapters have been formed since 2009. The average age of a Granger has dropped from 65 to 45. The Grange’s political circle of influence is expanding. But, most importantly, members are rediscovering and celebrating their Grange roots and purpose.
Bob has forged important alliances with organizations such as LabelGMO, Moms Across America, Center for Food Safety, Hemp USA, Environmental Working Group, Noah’s Wish, Food and Water Watch, Pesticide Action Network, and others. Bob supports a progressive agenda that includes the legalization of industrial hemp, labeling of GMOs, a moratorium on fracking, pesticide restrictions, food sovereignty, and farmers’ rights.
Representing the Grange, Bob has spoken out at rallies, public events, and testified numerous times before the California State legislature. He has marched against Monsanto, picketed with the UFW, paraded with Moms Across America, toured with Pamm Larry and Howard Vlieger, and supported sustainable agriculture at conferences and workshops.
Bob is an activist and populist who believes in the power and positive energy that is generated when many voices speak as one.
Bob QuinnBob Quinn owns and operates a 4th generation small grain certified organic dry land family farm of 4000 acres near Big Sandy in North Central Montana. He earned a PhD in plant biochemistry from the University of California at Davis. His whole farm, 100% organic since 1989, is his laboratory as well as his garden. He experiments with organic cropping systems, dry land vegetables, a small orchard as well as growing high oleic safflower which is crushed and used first for food by local restaurants and then for fuel to run his tractor. In 1986 he introduced Kamut brand khorasan ancient wheat to the natural food market place. Bob is active in his church and community and has served on numerous local and national boards. He is a member of the Alternative Energy Resource Organization (AERO) receiving AERO’s Sustainable Ag Award in 1988. In 1993, he was named one of Montana State University’s 100 outstanding alumni. He served on OCIA (Organic Crop Improvement Association) International board of directors and was named their outstanding member in 1991. He served on the first USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). In 2007 he received a lifetime of service award from the Montana Organic Association. He has been a member of OTA (Organic Trade Association) since 1987 and in 2010 received their National Organic Leadership award. In 2013 he received the national Organic Pioneer Award from the Rodale Institute. He and his wife Ann, (married for 43 years) have five children and 17 grandchildren.
Brad GatesBrad Gates, owner of Wild Boar Farms has been living, breathing, and breeding tomatoes for over two decades.
Carol Grieve’Carol Grieve’ is a health and wellness coach and the host of the widely-acclaimed talk radio show, Food Integrity Now. Food Integrity Now’s mission is to educate the masses about what is happening with our global food supply. She has interviewed some of the most influential people in the world on her show including, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Jeffrey Smith, Dr. Don Huber, Food Babe, Zen Honeycutt, Howard Vleiger, Jim Gerritsen, Prof. Gilles Eric Seralini, Dr. Judy Carmen, Joel Salatin, Dr. Theirry Vrain, Professor Tyrone Hayes, Pamm Larry, Dr. Russell Blaylock, and many more. She has spent the last 4 years researching and educating herself as to what has happened to our food supply. Her 125+ interviews are archived on her website, (www.foodintegritynow) and is a wonderful resource for anyone wanting to learn about any relevant topic regarding food, health and wellness.
Caroline KinsmanCaroline Kinsman works for the Non-GMO Project, the only third-party verification for products produced according to rigorous best practices for GMO avoidance. In her role as Communications Manager, she works with national and international brands to help share the story of their non-GMO commitments. Caroline’s passion for honest food production started at a young age on the family-owned daily farm where she grew up. She traded in her milking shifts for a career in marketing and public relations for important causes. Today, Caroline still feels at home talking about farming and food production. Her current work brings attention to how consumers, retailers, manufacturers and farmers are working together to create remarkable change in the food industry.
Christy WilhelmiChristy Wilhelmi empowers people to grow their own food, to be more self-reliant, and to reduce pollution and waste, one garden at a time. Christy is author of Gardening for Geeks, and founder of Gardenerd (gardenerd.com), the ultimate resource for garden nerds, where she publishes information-packed monthly newsletters, weekly blog posts, and podcasts. She also specializes in small-space, organic vegetable garden design and consulting. She holds regular organic gardening classes in California, and has co-taught organic gardening at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA. Christy has been a board member of Ocean View Farms Organic Community Garden in Mar Vista, California since 1999, and gardens almost entirely with heirloom vegetables. Between 70-80 percent of her family’s produce comes from her garden of less than 200 square feet. Her writing has appeared in From Scratch Magazine, Edible Los Angeles & Edible Westside magazines, LowImpactLiving.com and the Heirloom Gardener Magazine. Christy has appeared on the Emmy nominated Home and Family Show, KCAL 9 News, Rosie on the House radio and Good Food with Evan Kleiman. She lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband, some chickens and two gardens.
Colum RileyColum Riley is co-founder and co-owner of Malibu Compost, a producer of certified Biodynamic® soil products and amendments of the highest organic integrity. As a lifelong activist for social, political and environmental issues, Colum was inspired in part by the inextricable links between healthy soils, healthy foods and healthy people (and pets… and planet).
Colum grew up on a biodynamic farm in PA and attended Waldorf School before moving to Ipswich, MA where his family founded The House of Peace, a home for refugees from war-torn countries. In 2003, his environmental activism prompted him to run for, and get elected to, the City Council of Hudson, NY. After serving a term, Colum moved to Los Angeles for graduate school and in 2008 received his MBA.
Founded in 2009, Malibu Compost has quickly developed a reputation as the “gold standard” of commercially available soils, working closely with certified Organic dairymen to procure manure free from GMO’s, insecticides, herbicides, antibiotics and hormones. By purchasing the manure, Malibu has helped to establish additional revenue streams for organic farmers.
Colum is an outspoken critic of the allowance of sewage sludge, municipal ‘green’ waste and manures from confined animal feeding operations (CAFO’s) in organic standards including the NOP and OMRI, and has worked closely with Demeter USA in creating the most stringent Commercial Compost Standard on the market today. With 300+ national retailers and counting, Malibu Compost is changing the way in which consumers think about soil and food.
Darla EatonDarla Eaton is a co-manager of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, a worker-owned seed business specializing in heirloom, non-GMO, open-pollinated organic seed. There she works to democratize the seed supply, preserve genetic diversity and heritage, and promote more just food systems. She periodically organizes events for Young and Beginning Farmers to access the resources and knowledge they need. She is also an educator about seed saving, consolidation in the seed industry, and organic gardening. She helps to coordinate Plant a Row for the Hungry in her county, which encourages gardeners to grow extra produce for their local food bank and holds gardening workshops and events in their demonstration garden. She currently resides at Acorn Community, which is an income-sharing, feminist, egalitarian, ecologically-conscious commune. Some of her interests include green design and construction, zero-waste systems, strengthened local food networks, cooperative and humane economic systems, horizontal leadership/participatory governmental process, cultural rehabilitation, and any number of projects aimed at creating a more viable and just society, both at the commune and in the larger world. She loves learning about the innovative ways in which people are using less resources, becoming more self/mutually-sufficient, dismantling oppression, uplifting one another, using technology appropriately, sharing knowledge and skills, and transcending class. She also likes to play the accordion in unexpected locations, revel at the intricacy of small organisms, and make strange noises.
Dave MurphyDave is the founder and executive director of Food Democracy Now!, a grassroots movement of Americans dedicated to reforming policies relating to food, agriculture and the environment.
David BronnerDavid Bronner is President of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. He is a grandson of company founder, Emanuel Bronner, and a fifth generation soap maker. Under David’s leadership, Dr. Bronner’s was one of the first brands to certify their soaps, lotions and balms under the USDA National Organic Program in 2003.
Today Dr. Bronner’s is coordinating certified fair trade projects for all major ingredients, including olive oil from the West Bank and Israel, coconut oil from Sri Lanka, and palm oil from Ghana. Alongside the company’s stewardship for fighting for organic standards in body care and the re-commercialization of industrial hemp, another core company initiative is the advocacy for GMO Labeling and waking Americans up to the secret changes the chemical pesticide industry is making to our food. Dr. Bronner’s was a top donor to California’s Prop 37, Washington’s I-522 and is currently supporting Oregon’s Measure 92 as well. All Dr. Bronner’s products are certified under the same National Organic Program that certifies food.
David was born in Los Angeles in 1973, and now lives in Encinitas, California with his wife Kris and daughter Maya. He enjoys playing soccer and dancing late into the night.
Deborah Koons GarciaDeborah Koons Garcia has a Master of Fine Arts from The San Francisco Art Institute. She has made fiction, educational and documentary films. Her film production company, Lily Films, is located in Mill Valley, California. She is the director/producer of two groundbreaking, feature-length documentaries, The Future of Food and Symphony of the Soil, which was designated a New York Times Critics’ Pick in 2013.
Deborah NiemannDeborah Niemann is a homesteader, writer, and self-sufficiency expert. In 2002, she relocated her family from the suburbs of Chicago to a 32-acre parcel on a creek “in the middle of nowhere”. Together, they built their own home and began growing the majority of their own food. Sheep, pigs, goats, chickens, and turkeys supply meat, eggs and dairy products, while an organic garden and orchard provides fruit and vegetables. Deborah is an adjunct professor in sustainable agriculture for the University of Massachusetts and is the author of Homegrown and Handmade, Ecothrifty, and Raising Goats Naturally.
Ed BrownEd Brown grew up in the small town of Altoona, Pennsylvania USA. After graduating, he went on to become a double major at Shippensburg University, neither of which had been in the film world. After graduating, he moved on to work as a highlight writer with CBS Sports in New York City, and he also worked on websites for Michael Moore and HBO. He is married to Lauren Brown, and they have three young children, Brayden, 6, Maia, 4, and Jack, almost 1. Ed Brown’s film, “Unacceptable Levels” opens the door to conversations about the chemical burden our bodies are being exposed to, so we can make informed decisions and make a difference. This film poses particular challenges to our companies, our government, and our society to do something about a nearly unseen threat, and also provides inspiration about what you can do as an individual. He is currently in the process of creating a new film called “A New Resistance” a film about Glyphosate (Roundup).
Elizabeth UElizabeth Ü is a writer, speaker, coach, and consultant who is passionate about helping people achieve their personal and entrepreneurial goals, particularly as they relate to money. She is author of Raising Dough: The Complete Guide to Financing a Socially Responsible Food Business (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2013), a book that demystifies the complex and ever-evolving world of financing options. In 2010 Elizabeth founded the nonprofit Finance for Food. As its executive director, she designed and delivered dozens of keynote addresses, panel presentations, conference tracks, and interactive workshops on the topics of raising capital for — and investing in — socially responsible food businesses, including a talk at the inaugural TEDxManhattan.
Previously, Elizabeth spent three years with RSF Social Finance, a nonprofit financial services organization dedicated to transforming the way the world works with money, where she served on the management team and helped launch the organization’s newest loan fund. On staff at the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), Elizabeth helped local networks of independently-owned businesses share tools and resources related to local food systems and community capital. She also spent two years as project manager of Slow Money, which was then project of Investors’ Circle, a network of angel investors, professional venture capitalists, foundations and family offices using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable economy.
A Food & Community Fellow, Elizabeth graduated with great distinction from McGill University with a BSc in Geography and holds an MBA in Sustainable Management from Presidio Graduate School. She lives in Bolinas, CA.
Elson Haas, MDAuthor of Staying Healthy with the Seasons and many other books, Dr. Elson M. Haas (www.HaasHealthOnline.com) is a long-time integrative family physician with a “barefoot doctor” philosophy of keeping people healthy by connecting to Nature and her cycles. Dr. Elson also founded (1984) and directs Preventive Medical Center of Marin (www.pmcmarin.com) with a great team of staff and practitioners providing family care to the Bay Area community as one of the only integrative clinics that takes insurance for many services. Dr. Haas’ focus there is on health assessments and healing programs for protecting and enhancing patients’ health. Other books include The Detox Diet and Staying Healthy with Nutrition.
Eric Holt-GimenezEric Holt-Giménez is the Executive Director of Food First Institute for Food and Development Policy. The Food First institute is a “peoples’ think-and-do tank” dedicated to eliminating the injustices that cause hunger and environmental degradation.
Previously, Eric worked as Latin American Program Manager at the Bank Information Center in Washington, D.C., where he monitored projects and policies of the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. He has held positions as a lecturer in International Development and Agroecology at the University of California, and Boston University’s Global Ecology program.
Throughout the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, Mr. Holt-Giménez lived and worked in Latin America where he helped organize and train farm leaders in agroecology. He was a consultant to non-governmental organizations, government ministries, and foreign aid agencies. In his path-breaking participatory research Measuring Farmers’ Agroecological Resistance to Hurricane Mitch, two thousand farmers documented the superior sustainability of agroecologically-managed farms to conventional farms in Central America.
His first book Campesino a Campesino chronicles nearly thirty years of work with Latin America’s “Farmer to Farmer Movement” for sustainable agriculture. In his recent book Food Rebellions! Crisis and the Hunger for Justice, co-authored with Raj Patel and Annie Shattuck, Mr. Holt-Giménez proposes equitable, sustainable solutions to the root causes of the global food crisis. He is the editor of Food Movements Unite!: Strategies to Transform our Food Systems a collection of chapters from food movement activists around the world.
Mr. Holt-Giménez holds a Master of Science degree in International Agricultural Development from University of California, Davis, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from University of California, Santa Cruz.
Erik OhlsenErik Ohlsen is a licensed contractor, Founder and owner of Permaculture Artisans (Ecological farm and landscape company). Erik is a renowned Certified Permaculture designer, and Certified Permaculture teacher and has been practicing permaculture and ecological deign since 1998 when he co-founded his first non-profit called Planting Earth Activation, PEA. This charitable organization designed and installed community gardens in northern California for public and private use from 1998-2001. In the field of ecological land development and management Erik has extensive experience with projects that range from small urban lots to 100+ broad acre design and implementation. His many years of experience, observation and listening of landscape patterns, managing installation crews and design teams, and his understanding of ecology make Erik a leader in the field of ecological landscape development. Erik’s design and field experience comprise of a huge variety of skills including, farm design and implementation, water harvesting/storm water management, erosion control, extensive earthwork operations, heavy machine operating, irrigation systems, ponds, food forests/orcharding systems, native plant systems, wildlife habitat enhancement, integrated pest management, microclimate moderation, roof water catchment systems, sustainable forestry, soil building, vermaculture, hardscape design and implementation, client relations specialist, project management, and much, much more.
Errol SchweizerErrol Schweizer is Senior Global Grocery Coordinator for Whole Foods Market. He has dedicated his career to improving the landscape of the natural and organic food industry.
Fred HempelFred Hempel is Co-Owner of Baia Nicchia Farm and Artisan Seeds. He has a Masters in Rangeland Management (UC Berkeley) and Ph.D in Plant Biology (UC Berkeley), and has been breeding tomatoes for the last decade. He has been farming tomatoes since 2006, and produce from Baia Nicchia Farm is used in many Bay Area restaurants. Fred’s breeding work was recently featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, and a number of his lines have been released by Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Baker Creek Seed Company and others.
Frederick SmithFrederick Smith, the host, has been an active member of Slow Money since 2010. He is a private consultant and a Small Business Development Center Advisor in Sonoma and Napa Counties. Fred is in the leadership of the Point Reyes Farmers Market, and two local investment groups in the North Bay.
Grover StockGrover is a long time organic food forest farmer, educator, and consultant. His work with Permaculture Artisans weaves soil health, edible plantings, grafting, orchard care, erosion prevention, water stewardship, earth sculpting, stonework, design and the day to day joys of restorative landscaping. As Soil Food Web Advisor, Grover consults with farmers and gardeners to create and maintain the dynamic living cycles of fertile soils. As chairperson of the International Association of Analog Forestry, he creates curriculum and facilitates AF practices, bridging multiple disciplines in ecology to create sustainable rural economies in communities around the globe. He is a permaculture instructor and member of the Executive Committee of the Biodynamic Association of Northern California.
Guido FrosiniAt TrueGrass Farms they believe that food production and wilderness are symbiotic – the one supports the other. They manage their herd to enhance the biology of the soil, that in turn feeds the plants and the grasses. This is the basis of healthy grass fed and finished beef on land that supports more than just livestock but a whole ecology of plants, insects and animals. When you buy a pound of ground beef from them you are not just feeding yourself, you are making your environment a better place.
Harvindar SinghAs local product forager for Whole Foods Market, Harv cultivates and nourishes relationships with local food suppliers in Northern California & Reno. Harv’s mission is to help develop the next generation of local brands, to drive community awareness about the importance of supporting local sustainable food systems and to support the growth of local food entrepreneurs including local growers and ranchers. One way in which he does this is through Whole Foods Market innovative Local Producer Loan Program, which provides low interest loans to assist small farmers, ranchers and artisan food producers to grow their business. Since joining Whole Foods Market in 2007, Harv has loaned over 900K to 27 local producers including St. Benoit Yogurt, Three Twins Ice Cream, Love & Hummus, Lydia’s Organics, Rustic Bakery, Naia Bars, Ritual Coffee and more.
Heather GordyHeather Gordy has a Master’s of Science in Recreation from San Francisco State University where her focus was on sustainable tourism. She has worked for Global Exchange Reality Tours as a Research Fellow under Malia Everette where she first began to study socially responsible tourism. She created a survey for Reality Tour participants in the summer of 2012 to examine if socially responsible tourism leads to advocacy. She presented her findings in September 2012 at the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference 2012 in Monterey, California. During the summer of 2012 she was awarded a full scholarship for an Outdoor Educator Course through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). She travelled to the Yukon with NOLS where she backpacked and whitewater canoed for a month while learning leadership and wilderness skills. In 2013 she worked as an assistant to the Travel Director of the Commonwealth Travel Club where she created a Sustainability Initiative. She then worked for Bay Area Green Tours, a local tour company that provides educational tours about sustainability around the Bay Area as the program manager. Now she is working with Altruvistas with administration, marketing, and event planning. Her Masters project researched socially responsible tourism on a November 2013 tour with Amazon Watch in the Ecuadorian Amazon which was submitted to The Journal of Sustainable Tourism. She is also a lead author of a textbook on sustainable tourism, tentatively titled, “The Good Company: Tourism, Travel, Hospitality and Wine” to be published next year.
Heidi HerrmannHeidi Herrmann is a farmer, college farm teacher and owner of Strong Arm Farm in Healdsburg. Vegetables, flowers and herbs are grown on the 1.5 acre farm, and you can find her vending at the Healdsburg Farmers’ Market. She has an Ornamental Horticulture degree from Cal Poly and an MA from SSU in Education. She is in her 7th year of teaching Sustainable Agriculture at SRJC, and is an avid seaweed harvester too. Heidi is the only commercial seaweed harvester in Sonoma County and sells a variety of healthful and tasty seaweed products. Nori, Bladderwrack, Sea Palm, Kombu, Wakame and Gomasio will be available for sale in 1 oz. packages.
Heidi will offer seaweed packets for sale at her booth in the Farmers’ Market area for the duration of the Heirloom Expo.
Howard VliegerHoward Vlieger is a third generation family farmer who has been a “student of the soil,” studying why and how the soil works as it does, since 1989. Howard lives on the family farm where he was born and raised in northwest Iowa, and assists his son with some of the farming duties. Since 1992 Howard has been a crop and livestock nutrition adviser. He has founded two companies to help family farmers reduce their dependency on chemical- based farming and transition to biological and/or organic crop production. Howard works and teaches as an independent crop nutrition advisor, helping crop and livestock farmers all across the US. Howard works with scientists and researchers around the world to develop effective solutions, based on the latest science, for the real-
life problems farmers are experiencing because of GMO crops and glyphosate. Howard is a co-author and the primary coordinator of a first of its kind scientific study: the feeding of GMO grain and non-GMO grain to hogs for their lifetime as a meat animal. Howard is an internationally recognized speaker on the topic of GMOs. Howard serves on the board of directors for the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA) and the Council for Healthy Food Systems (CHFS). His greatest accomplishment is that of being a Christian husband to his wonderful wife Pamela of 33 plus years, a father of 3 young adult children and proud grandfather of one.
Irina StoenescuIrina Stoenescu’s career made a dramatic and permanent turn when she met Joseph Simcox. Having studied international relations and history and having an endless curiosity in world cultures she realized that food is the ultimate unifier of humanity. Over the last 7 years she has traveled the globe studying first hand food policies, food culture and food traditions.
Her studies have found her in libraries and archives from Vanuatu to Vienna. Her special interest is in uncovering food secrets. Irina contends that food traditions past allow us to reconnect with our own identities as individuals in society, she also feels that it opens new opportunities for the future. Irina is presently the Manager of Comstock Ferre & Co., and a coordinator of the National Heirloom Expo.
Jared ZystroJared Zystro is OSA’s California research and education specialist. He has a master’s degree in plant breeding and plant genetics from the University of Wisconsin. Jared has worked in the organic seed industry for over 10 years, managing seed production at two farms and conducting research and education projects with OSA. In his work at OSA, he manages OSA’s regional development in California, conducts participatory breeding projects and variety trials, and teaches farmers about seed production and plant breeding at workshops, conferences and field days.
Jeanette BerangerJeannette is the Program Manager for The Livestock Conservancy. She brings with her 30+ years of experience working as an animal professional and uses the knowledge to plan and implement endangered breed conservation programs. At home she maintains a heritage breeds farm with a focus on rare breed chickens & horses.
Dr. Jeffrey Nekola and Linda FeyJeff has a PhD in Ecology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and has a passion for biodiversity in its many forms, whether it be plants, butterflies, and land snails in the wild or crops grown in gardens, orchards and fields, or the use of those foods as expressed by the entire range of humanity’s cuisines. You can learn more about his vocation and avocations at http://sev.lternet.edu/~jnekola.
Linda’s first and finest childhood memories are of helping her mother and grandmother in the garden and then bringing in freshly picked produce to the dinner table. She also learned how to make bread, gather wild foods, and improvise simple but nutritious home-grown meals. As an adult, she has over 20 years of experience in market gardening and teaches middle-school English at the Albuquerque Institute for Math and Science, one of the top 50 middle and high schools in the country. Visit http://lindafey.com/ to view her writing about food and life.
Jeffrey WestmanJeffrey brings over 30 years of entrepreneurial, managerial and philanthropic experience to Marin Organic. Since returning to the US in 2004 Jeffrey has dedicated himself to his true passions: sustainable agriculture, education and evolved management practices; working to understand the relationship between the economic, social and spiritual aspects of organizational structure and efficiencies. Jeffrey is passionate about addressing today’s economic, environmental, social, and cultural challenges in new and creative ways. His many years in Europe, particularly Scandinavia, opened his mind to the power of collaboration, consensus building and long term strategic thinking. With over 15 years in the media and technology world, which included building and launching Yahoo! Sweden, Norway and Denmark as well as founding e-licious, a multi lingual recipe database, Jeffrey returned to his roots in farming and agriculture by reviving a tangled overgrown potato farm in the north of Sweden. After shepherding California FarmLink through a complex restructuring which included building a robust micro lending program, Jeffrey was elected to the post of Board President. Jeffrey also serves as Board President on the board of Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm. Jeffrey is also an advisor and sits on the leadership council of Kitchen
Table Advisors, a non profit organization working to help sustainable farms become sustainable businesses.
Jessica PrenticeJessica Prentice is a professional chef, author, local foods activist, and social entrepreneur. Her first book, Full Moon Feast: Food and the Hunger for Connection, was released by Chelsea Green Publishing in 2006. Prentice is a co-creator of the Local Foods Wheel, and coined the word “locavore.” Jessica is also a co-founder of Three Stone Hearth (www.threestonehearth.com), a Community Supported Kitchen in Berkeley that uses local, sustainable ingredients to prepare nutrient-dense, traditional foods on a community scale. She is on the honorary board of the Weston A. Price Foundation. Jessica lives, works, and writes in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Jill NussinowJill Nussinow, aka The Veggie QueenTM is a Registered Dietitian who has been teaching plant-based, whole foods cooking for more than 25 years. Her focus is on locally grown, sustainably produced, seasonal heirloom produce as the basis for the ideal way to eat. Jill has been adjunct culinary faculty at Santa Rosa Junior College for twenty five years. She is the author of three cookbooks: her most recent is Nutrition CHAMPS: The Veggie Queen’s Guide to Eating and Cooking for Optimum Health, Happiness, Energy and Vitality (2014), The New Fast Food: The Veggie Queen Pressure Cooks Whole Food Meals in Less than 30 Minutes and The Veggie Queen: Vegetables Get the Royal Treatment. Jill stars in the DVD: Pressure Cooking: A Fresh Look, Delicious Dishes in Minutes and Creative Lowfat Vegan Cuisine. Jill is at work on her next book due out Fall 2015, Vegan Under Pressure. You will find her frequenting local farmers markets weekly. She also loves mushroom hunting, teaching fermentation classes, doing yoga and sharing her food philosophy with anyone who will listen. Her website is http://www.theveggiequeen.com
John JeavonsJohn Jeavons is President and Director of Ecology Action, with 42 years of biologically-intensive farming experience, director of global and local education programs. He has authored or edited more than 250 “how-to” publications on biointensive sustainable growing.
John KempfJohn Kempf grew up on a fruit and vegetable farm in northeastern Ohio and experienced first hand the challenges faced by crop producers everywhere. Growing fresh market vegetables since 1994, John witnessed intensifying disease and insect pressure on crops which did not respond to the usual pesticide treatments.
John began seeking to understand the underlying causes of disease and insect pressure on crops. He learned how to prevent pest damage to plants by enhancing natural plant immunity with nutrition. Learning from many leaders in the field of crop consulting and plant health, John began building a comprehensive systems-based approach to plant nutrition, solidly based on the sciences of plant physiology, mineral nutrition, and soil microbiology.
John is an internationally-recognized teacher on the topic of biological agriculture and plant immunity. He has a unique ability to simplify and clearly explain very complex concepts in the areas of soil and plant health. He skillfuly discusses the larger social and environmental impacts of food, agriculture and ecology.
Since 2006, Advancing Eco Agriculture has been an leader in the area of soil and plant nutrition. AEA is an agricultural consulting and manufacturing company that works with farmers internationally.
John is a member of the Amish community and lives in Middlefield Ohio.
John KohlerJohn starting growing food to enable him to become healthier. After almost losing his life in his 20′s he realized that you are what you eat, and he wanted to put the best foods into his body. He first started doing this by making dietary changes to include minimally processed, whole plant foods into his diet. Later he realized to have the best food he needed to grow it himself, the problem was he didn’t live on a farm, but in a standard suburban tract home. So he figured out how to grow the majority of his vegetables on his small suburban tract home, shares this with you how at www.growingyourgreens.com
John RoulacJohn Roulac is the CEO & Founder of Nutiva, and co-founder of GMO Inside. Considered one of the top entrepreneurs in the organic food movement, his life’s mission is to revolutionize the way the world eats. Nutiva brought organic coconut, hemp, chia, and red palm superfoods into the country’s consciousness. More importantly, John is a philanthropic entrepreneur. He founded four nonprofit ecological groups in addition to the Nutiva Nourish Foundation, which donates 1% of Nutiva’s sales to support sustainable agriculture and environmental programs. To date, $2 million has been donated with a goal of $10 million by 2020.
John ValenzuelaJohn Valenzuela is a horticulturist, consultant, educators, and rare fruit enthusiast based in the northern San Francisco Bay area. With decades of hands-on field experience, he specializes in productive perennial polycultures known as ‘edible forest gardens’ and is the founder/owner of ‘Cornucopia Food Forest Gardens‘. He has studied and practiced permaculture design for 25 years, teaching courses throughout Hawai’i, Costa Rica, California, and Washington state. John currently enjoys serving his 5th year as chairperson of the California Rare Fruit Growers, Golden Gate Chapter, and volunteers his expertise at Indian Valley Organic Farm and Garden at the College of Marin in Novato, CA.
Joseph SimcoxJoseph Simcox is “ The Botanical Explorer”. His childlike wonderment of the marvels of plant diversity drives him to share his discoveries with humanity. He has faith that humankind will progress to the point that the majority of the world’s population will one day live in harmony with nature. “By preserving biodiversity we are not only being respectful to other living things we are ultimately being conscientious of our own needs.” he says. Joseph has led more than 300 expeditions to all corners of the globe studying food plant diversity. It is reputed that he has eaten more different plant species and varieties than anyone on earth. Joseph does not concur that the world is over populated nor does he doubt the potential to feed the world’s population many times over. His perspective for the future of agriculture is that we will realize that we should examine and domesticate plants that are already adapted to their respective environments. He calls this approach “ecological adaption strategy”. Simply put; don’t try to grow corn in a desert or a cactus in a swamp! Joseph’s fiancé Irina Stoenescu a Food Historian tries to temper his craziness and ground him in the real world. Joseph travels much of the year, he calls anyplace he and his loved ones are… home.
Julia ValentineJulia Valentine teaches gardening in the Sonoma County public schools to children K-8th grade, where her passion for education and gardening are best realized. She is a trained Waldorf kindergarten teacher with over a decade of experience, as well as a permaculture designer and teacher. Julia currently serves as the President of the Board of the School Garden Network.
Kami McBrideKami McBride is the author of the Herbal Kitchen. She has developed and taught herbal curriculum for the Masters program at the California Institute of Integral Studies and at UCSF School of Nursing. Since 1988 Kami has taught hands-on herbal programs focused on sustainable wellness practices and revitalizing our relationship with the plant world. Her popular course, Cultivating the Herbal Medicine Woman Within is an experiential herbal studies program that empowers people to use herbal medicine in their daily lives for prevention and wellness care.
www.livingawareness.com
Kate FreyKate designed and managed the famous edible and biodiverse gardens at Fetzer Vineyards in California for twenty years. In May 2003 her garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in London won a silver/gilt medal, and in 2005 and 2007 her gardens illustrating many elements of biodiversity and sustainability, won gold medals and were visited by the Queen. In 2009 she competed in the World Garden Competition in Hamamatsu, Japan and in 2011 participated in the Floria Garden Show in Putrajaya, Malaysia. She consulted for two years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on a Prince’s organic farm. She currently works as a consultant, designer and a freelance writer, specializing in sustainable gardens that encourage biodiversity. In July, 2009 Kate became the coordinator of the Sonoma State University Sustainable Dept. of Extended Education Landscape Program. Kate earned a B.A. Summa Cum Laude with Distinction in English at Sonoma State University in 2006.
Ken GreeneKen Greene is a seedsman, seed farmer, and founder of the Hudson Valley Seed Library. Greene has spent the last decade collecting, protecting, and producing heirloom and open-pollinated seed, fostering a regional seed-saving community, and celebrating seeds through art. Greene is on the board of directors for the Organic Seed Alliance and has given presentations at Seed Savers Exchange, Young Farmers Conference, NOFA, Organic Seed Conference, National Heirloom Expo, Culinary Institute of America, Cornell and many other organizations.
Ken RoseboroKen Roseboro has been called “the nation’s reporter on all issues surrounding genetically modified foods” by Acres USA magazine. Ken is editor and publisher of The Organic & Non-GMO Report, a monthly news magazine that focuses on threats posed by GM foods and the growing non-GMO food trend. He is also editor and publisher of The Non-GMO Sourcebook, a directory of suppliers of non-GMO seeds, grains, and ingredients. Ken is author of Genetically Altered Foods and Your Health and The Organic Food Handbook both published by Basic Health Publications. He is a member of the board of directors of the Iowa Organic Association. Ken appears in the new documentary film, GMO OMG.
Kenneth “Chip” MorrisKenneth “Chip” Morris graduated with a B.S. degree from California State University, Chico in Agricultural Business and Management. His family homesteaded in Yolo County just north of Woodland, California over 125 years ago. Chip has been involved in farming all of his life and had grown commodity crops for many years. About 20 years ago, while doing some consulting work he stumbled upon some unusual beans. After doing some serious research, test plots, consulting with several universities and developing some special equipment for the task, he decided to try farming some of these beans. He started out with 54 varieties on 180 acres and has been successfully growing them ever since. Today he farms several hundred acres of the very best and most popular heirloom bean varieties with his first cousin Jerry Fry, on a 2500-acre sixth-generation family-owned and operated ranch. Chip has also worked on dry bean research at University of California, Davis for the past 11 years.
Lars CharasLars Charas worked in gastronomic sustainability and food security for 14 years as a chefs, farmer and researcher. Currently Lars Charas is Project manager Feed the planet at Worldchefs, the global chefs association representing 10 million chefs in 100 countries. Our mission is to make sure current and next generations of chefs have access to sufficient, healthy, tasteful and divers food. The goal is to inspire, educate and activate 1 million chefs in 50 countries in the 6 years to come. How to feed the planet is about efficiency and diversity; it has a technical and social component and an industrial and artisan. Global food cultures have never been as rich and poor at the same time. Rich in combining insights from a broad range of food cultures but only 20 crops produce over 90% of the food in the world. Under utilized species help gastronomy to continue in the creation of new dishes, tastes and textures, but also help to introduce new crops to society. There are hundreds of crops waiting and screaming to be used. That is my task and mission to feed the planet by gastronomic innovation.
Leslie GoldmanLeslie Goldman, Your Enchanted Gardener/ Plant Your Dream Blogger from San Diego shares inspirations from the Campaign to Grow A Healthier Pizza. Will you help build our grassroots movement so that Uncle Sam gives up his unholy relationship with Biotech GMO in the farm bed and gets married to “Anti” (Auntie) GMO? Being a matchmaker for this wedding is a job that belongs to all gardeners who want to fulfill the vision of the Founding Gardener Presidents of America the Beautiful. Thousands of new Plant Parents are needed! The wedding date is in your hands. The invitation to the wedding goes out to all who grow food with heirloom seeds and ancient grains. His favorites are Kamut® ancient wheat and heirloom seeds from the Baker Creek collection. Read more here about his workshop, Helping Uncle Sam Marry “Anti” GMO. The Ultimate Gardener: The Best Experts’ Advice for Cultivating a Magnificent Garden with Photos and Stories (HCI, 2009) credits Leslie for photographs and inspiration. The book’s dedication reads: “To Leslie Goldman, The Enchanted Gardener, for planting dreams and seeds of inspiration. To all those who garden and for those who dream to have a garden one day.”Robert Muller, then U.N. Assistant Secretary General, gave Leslie a U.N. Peace Medal in 1983 for the work he would do in his lifetime. That work continues helping us to win back our sacred seeds.
Lynette Marie (Pate)Organic Guru Lynnette Marie: a sought after inspiring speaker and Author of one of the best internationally selling books: ‘Fuel for the Body’ in which has been endorsed by many health activist, nutritionist and holistic doctors. Lynnette is the founder / creator of grass roots efforts, Fuel for the Body bike T.O.U.R.s. (Total Organic Understanding Ride) in which she began her tour journeys in April of 2011. She and her team empower the world of the importance of organic and sustainable farming and how to take back their health. Organic Guru has her certification for Medicine Woman and Minister for the Environment. A ‘Patient Expert’, named by national speaker and chiropractor, Dr. Ramah Wagner. Lynnette is also the founder/ creator of one of the most prestigious seals in the world that has recently launched. The Pure Integrity VerifiedTM seal of approval.
Organic Guru Lynnette Marie has recently been honored to serve as the regional Ambassador for the American Anti-Cancer Institute as well as selected as Ambassador of America’s Outstanding Mom. Follow Lynnette on her many journeys around the world to help make the environment a healthier planet as she takes each of your voices with her! Being a PURE health advocate, Lynnette was also selected to be one of the PHresh Super stars / spokes persons for an amazing company: PHresh Products. More at www.phreshproducts.com She is also a brand Ambassador for an amazing skin care and make-up company, Ecco Bella. More at www.eccobella.com She proudly supports companies who have true integrity! More information on Organic Guru Lynnette Marie missions at: www.fuelforthebody.org LIVE HAPPY. BE PURE!
Lucas OshunBorn and raised in Sebastopol California, Lucas Oshun graduated from University of California Santa Cruz in 2007 with degrees in Community Studies and Politics with a focus on International Relations. During his studies he interned at Global Kids in NYC, where he learned about the importance of discussion based workshop education, and international relations education for high school students. He has traveled extensively in South East Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Central and South America. Grateful for having had the opportunity to experience different cultures, and to travel internationally, Lucas believes strongly in providing travel, cultural immersion and grassroots organizing opportunities to young people.
Mac CondillMac Condill is a famed cucurbit farmer from Arthur, Illinois. Growing over 300 varieties, he searches the world for heirloom seeds to save. Growing the finest pumpkins, squash and gourds has been the legacy of the Condill family for more than two decades now. The farm has been in the McDonald-Condill family for five generations (since being homesteaded in 1859) and is now famous for bringing visitors “The Great Pumpkin Patch,” with cucurbits from over 30 countries around the world. The Great Pumpkin Patch has had the distinction of creating the world’s largest pumpkin display on the White House lawn and each year at the National Heirloom Expo in Santa Rosa, California. In keeping with their passion to preserve genetic diversity, Mac Condill launched The Homestead Seeds in 2008. He and his crew take great care to ensure not only the purity, but also the continuity of both the common and the rare cucurbit varieties. They sell nearly 200 varieties
of pumpkins, squash and gourd seeds in bottles of 15 seeds each.
Marissa ThortonMarissa is the sixth generation of the family to steward this land. Marissa dreamed of bringing the shuttered dairy back to life, so with a business plan in her pocket she launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2013 to buy a herd of Jersey cows. Her plan resonated so strongly with donors that she exceeded her goal by nearly $15,000.
Gary helped Marissa select her cows and taught her how to milk them. “When my dad had the cow dairy I would watch him and help out when I could, but I had never actually milked a cow before. So he showed me step-by-step how he would clean the teats and attach the machines, post dip them, etc. He said it brought back a lot of memories.” Just a few months later, Marissa is milking 10 friendly cows and more than 100 sheep purchased with an FSA loan, and piping the milk directly to the cheese vat next door at Bleating Heart. Ten more cows are on the way come fall. Her milk goes on to become coveted artisan cheese in the hands of Bleating Heart’s Seana Doughty and Dave Dalton.
Organically, one woman’s agricultural passion has stirred up a lot of memories and promise in the North Bay. “A lot of people have said they want to help make my dreams come true because they could tell I was passionate about agriculture and would hold up my end of the deal, which was really reassuring,” said Marissa. “They want to feel like they have a part in this project since it is for the good of agriculture.”
Mark KastelMark Kastel is co-founder of The Cornucopia Institute, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2014, is a populist farm policy research group based in Wisconsin. Kastel acts as its Senior Farm Policy Analyst and directs its Organic Integrity Project — the nation’s preeminent organic industry watchdog.
For almost 20 years prior to Cornucopia’s launch he was president of M. A. Kastel and Associates, Inc. His professional practice included political consulting/lobbying on behalf of family farm groups, and business development work benefiting family-scale farmers. Kastel played a key role in a number of cooperative ventures designed to empower farmers in the marketplace.
Kastel played a key role in the farm community’s response to the introduction of rBGH (the first commercialized GMO). His watershed research, published while doing policy work for the Farmers Union, brought great media scrutiny when he revealed that cows were dying and whole herds were suffering from serious illnesses soon after they were injected. He was intimately involved during development of the bill to regulate organic farming in Congress, as part of the 1990 farm bill, and the subsequent rule making process at the USDA. He continues to be closely involved in monitoring the seriously flawed management of the National Organic Program at the USDA.
Kastel, who worked for agribusiness giants International Harvester, J.I. Case and FMC before making the paradigm shift to sustainable farming, lives on a 160-acre organic farm in the rugged hills of southwestern Wisconsin, near the tiny burg of Rockton.
M.E.A. McNeilM.E.A. McNeil is a journalist and Master Beekeeper who lives on an small organic farm in San Anselmo, California. She is on the board of the UC Davis Mondavi Center Honey and Pollination Board as well as SuperOrganism, a non-profit dedicated to sustainable agriculture.
Melanie ChengMelanie is the founder of FarmsReach, an online and offline platform for farmers to access inputs and services, increase sales, and connect for accelerated learning, success and camaraderie. She operated the first farmers market-to-restaurant co-op in San Francisco in 2002, and developed the OmOrganics.org website – a resource for consumers to learn about organic agriculture and find sustainably grown foods in the SF Bay Area. In 2010, Melanie was curator of the Food Systems track at the international Social Capital Markets conference, and authored the Building Regional Produce Supply Chains white paper.
She and her FarmsReach team will be sharing practical info and details of new services to help small and medium scale farms improve their operations: Farmers Market Deliveries in partnership with Instacart, Route Optimization Tools in partnership with Heifer Int’l, and Learning Tools in partnership with many regional agriculture organizations.
Pamm LarryPamm Larry is the Director of Labelgmos.org, the grassroots group that sparked California’s Prop. 37 in 2012. She works locally, statewide and nationally with grassroots groups and other nonprofits to continue the fight for GMO labeling and other food sovereignty issues.
Pamela LanierMs. Lanier would like to volunteer at the World Parks Conference to introduce speakers, moderate panels, interview speakers, (she conducted several interviews of speakers at Wild 10 last year), Ms. Lanier is an Eco Ambassador at National Geographic and a regular contributor to numerous news wire services including ETN and examiner.com, so interviews that she participates in may receive additional media from her.
Pamela Lanier is the author of 15 travel titles in over 120 editions. She is the founder of Bed and Breakfasts Inns and Guest Houses International and established the TravelGuides.com network (www.familytravelguides.com, and www.elegantsmallhotel.com).
Pamela is a keen advocate of small and independent lodgings and, in the recent past, has increased her involvement in ecotourism and sustainable travel. Most notably, in September 2012, she led two presentations at the World Conservation Congress in Jeju, South Korea, and in October 2013, she gave a presentation and participated in a panel at the World Wilderness Congress in Salamanca, Spain. She was also a participant in the roundtable meeting on Accessible and Responsible Tourism held by World Travel Market in London. She is a National Geographic Geo Ambassador and the founder of Friends of Sustainable Tourism International, a non-profit organization to provide ecolodges, tours, and destinations with the knowledge and tools for success. Her most recent title is Sustainable Tourism: A Small Business Handbook for Success, released in 2013. Pamela has spoken at over 130 conferences worldwide and in many occasions has presented on panels and roundtables, etc. Her work has been a collaborative and she enjoys moderating presentations to present a fair overview of all viewpoints being presented.
For more information on Pamela Lanier and her work, visit pamelalanier.com and visit our website at ecogo.org
Paul KaiserPaul Kaiser is a leader in ecological agriculture who was recently recognized with a local Leadership in Sustainability Award as well as an international Farmer/Rancher Award for his work in biodiversity and pollinator conservation on his farm, Singing Frogs Farm. Besides being one of the first certified Bee Friendly Farms, Paul continues to be a practitioner and advocate for his unique, non-mechanized no-till and ecological farming practices that benefit and support pollinators, enhance the soil biology and ecology of his farm landscape and create year-round job security for his employees. Paul began his career in agroforestry in the tropics working to convert degraded lands into economically viable and biologically diverse and resilient farmland. Since then Paul has received dual Masters Degrees in Natural Resources Management and Sustainable Development from American University and the United Nations University for Peace. In the last eight years, Paul and his wife Elizabeth, have married sustainable land management with local food production at their biodiverse, no-till, and family friendly Singing Frogs Farm in Sebastopol, California.
Peg SchaferPeg Schafer is the owner/operator of the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm outside Petaluma. This primarily educational and research farm has grown out more than 250 different Chinese herb crops over the past 17 years. She is the author of The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm A Cultivator’s Guide to Small-Scale Organic Herb Production recently published by Chelsea Green. Peg’s focus in all endeavors is on growing the highest quality and most efficacious Chinese herbs possible.
Penny Livingston-StarkPenny Livingston-Stark is internationally recognized as a prominent permaculture teacher, designer, and speaker. She holds a MS in Eco-Social Regeneration and a Diploma in Permaculture Design. Penny has been studying the Hermetic Tradtion of alchemy and herbal medicine making in Europe and the United States for 4 years.
Penny has been teaching internationally and working professionally in the land management, regenerative design, and permaculture development field for 25 years and has extensive experience in all phases of ecologically sound design and construction as well as the use of natural non-toxic building materials. She specializes in site planning and the design of resource-rich landscapes integrating, rainwater collection, edible and medicinal planting, spring development, pond and water systems, habitat development and watershed restoration for homes, co-housing communities, businesses, and diverse yield perennial farms.
With herhusband James Stark, and in collaboration with Commonweal — a cancer health research and retreat center — Penny co-manages Commonweal Garden, a 17-acre organic and certified salmon-safe farm in Bolinas, California. In addition, Penny and James are stewarding and working to restore 200 acres of land in Trinity County, California.
Penny co-created the Ecological Design Program and its curriculum at the San Francisco Institute of Architecture, and she co-founded the West Marin Grower’s Group, the West Marin Farmer’s Market, and the Community Land Trust Association of Marin. Penny has also worked with the Marin County Community Development Agency and Planning Department to develop recommendations on sustainability for updating the Community Plan.
Penny is a founding member of the Natural Building Colloquium, a national consortium of professional natural builders, creating innovations in straw bale, cob, timberframe, light clay, natural non-toxic interior finishes and other methods using natural and bio-regionally appropriate materials for construction.
Peter MartinelliPeter’s beets, kale, collards, and chard grow alongside flowers, strawberries and potatoes on two bowl-shaped plots ringed by wild blackberry bushes. These bushes are heavy with fruit by midsummer and become just another of the many products that Peter purveys. There are also chickens, goats, plenty of dogs and even a few alpacas on the farm. In addition to growing over 40 kinds of fruit, vegetables and flowers, Peter also collects nettles, mushrooms, watercress and other treats from the wild.
Peter RuddockI have been active with Slow Food in various locations throughout California, working on education and organization. Later, I started working with Slow Money, finding its focus on re-building local food economies to be a great complement to the work that I was doing. About the same time, I joined the San Mateo County Food System Alliance, then through it the California Food Policy Council, where I am a founding steering committee member, adding policy to my roster of food system change tactics. I’ve recently joined the planning committee for the EcoFarm Conference. And occasionally, I lead tours for Bay Area Green Tours. Together, all of these things give me great opportunities to improve our food and our local economy.
Qachuu Aloom Farmers & The Garden’s EdgeFour members of the Qachuu Aloom Association, and Sarah Montgomery from The Garden’s Edge will present. Qachuu Aloom is a network of 400 Guatemalan farmers who have started a Maya run farmers association to preserve the seeds and agricultural practices of their ancestors. The Garden’s Edge is a non-profit from New Mexico who helped start Qachuu Aloom. In Guatemala we work with 24 villages. The majority of our members are women working to rebuild their lives after decades of civil war and genocide against the Maya.
Rachel KaplanRachel Kaplan is the co-author of Urban Homesteading: Heirloom Skills for Sustainable Living (with K. Ruby Blume.) She works alternately as a somatic psychotherapist, farmer, activist and educator. Other written works include The Probable Site of the Garden of Eden, and a forthcoming book called Circle the Earth, The Story of A Dance Ritual, co-written with dance luminary Anna Halprin. She lives with her family on a small urban homestead called Tiny Town Farm, on the southern edge of Petaluma.
Rebecca SpectorRebecca Spector is Center for Food Safety’s West Coast Director, where she champions policy initiatives at the state and federal level and coordinates public outreach campaigns to promote healthy, safe and sustainable food systems. She has been working in the environmental and agricultural sector for more than 20 years, and her experience includes establishing regulations to limit the production of genetically engineered (GE) fish in California, and writing and sponsoring numerous legislative initiatives including state bills to require labeling of GE foods, labeling of GE fish, labeling of food from cloned animals, and farmer protections from GMO contamination. Previously, she served as director of development at Green Seal, the first U.S. product eco-labeling organization, and at Mothers & Others for a Livable Planet she spearheaded its organic cotton marketing campaign. Rebecca is associate editor of Fatal Harvest: The Tragedy of Industrial Agriculture and Your Right to Know: Genetic Engineering and the Secret Changes in Your Food. She has authored numerous articles and reports including “Livestock Cloning and the Quest for Industrial Perfection” in CAFO: The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories and “Fully Integrated Food Systems: Regaining Connections between Farmers and Consumers” in Fatal Harvest. For ten years, Rebecca was co-owner of the first certified organic farm in Half Moon Bay, California, and created its community supported agriculture (CSA) and farmers’ market programs that served hundreds of families in the Bay Area. She holds an M.S. in Environmental Policy from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment.
Richard Stephen FelgerRichard Felger is a researcher with the University of Arizona Herbarium and Sky Island Alliance in Tucson. He resides in Silver City with his wife, Silke Schneider, and their animals and plants. Dr. Felger has conducted research in deserts worldwide and written or co-authored more than 100 peer-review publications in addition to books and writings in botany, ethnobiology, new food crops. One of his strong interests is addressing world hunger through agricultural independence for arid regions. (see University of Arizona Herbarium for publications)
Rishi KumarRishi and Pearl Kumar are the founders of The Growing Home, Los Angeles’ premier model of suburban sustainable living and educational center. Since 2011, they have been converting their family’s suburban tract home into a sustainability research station that grows food for their family, grows connection and interdependence among their community, and grows knowledge to be shared and spread worldwide. Their work and story was recently chronicled in the documentary Urban Fruit.
Rob KellerRob Keller came interested in incorporating bees into his art practice while working on his MFA from UC Davis in 1999. Now, as the owner of a small bee business, The Napa Valley Bee Company, his
goal is to build a community of beekeepers in his area that practice responsible, sustainable hive management with the bees’ best interest in mind. These days the bees are working less for Rob’s art, and he’s working more for the bees – becoming one of the leading advocates for bees in his area. Rob currently runs three large scale apiaries in the Valley, manages numerous private hives, and teaches the vocation of beekeeping at The St.Helena Montessori School in the Napa Valley. He lives in downtown Napa with his yogini wife and ten-year-old beekeeping-son Davis.
Robert KourikRobert Kourik is the author of 6 books, wrote and self-published 8 books. Organic landscape maintenance Marin County, CA 1974-1979. Director of the Edible Landscape Program of the Farallones Institute Rural Center, Occidental, CA; 1979-1982. Graywater systems installer, educator, consultant and writer; 1977-present. Member of the Santa Barbara County Graywater task force, drafted the first legal gray water ordinance in America, 1990. Wrote the Graywater Ordinance for the City of Malibu, CA; 1992-1994. Member of the Graywater Advisory Committee for East Bay Municipal Utility District, 1995. Drip irrigation installation, design, consulting and writing; 1977-present. Ornamental and edible landscape construction and installation, 1975-1989. Environmental and edible landscape design and consultation, 1978-present. Environmental communications and freelance writing, 1986-present. West Coast Contributing editor to Garbage magazine, 1989-1994.
Rowen WhiteRowen White is a Seed Keeper from the Mohawk community of Akwesasne and a passionate activist around food and seed sovereignty. She is the director and founder of the Sierra Seeds, an innovative organic seed cooperative focusing on local seed production and education, based in Nevada City CA. She teaches creative seed training immersions around the country and small farming communities.
School Garden NetworkThe School Garden Network is a decade-old, non-profit organization dedicated to the creation and support of sustainable garden and nutrition-based learning programs in K-12 schools throughout Sonoma County. School gardens are a powerful means of instilling lifelong nutritional and environmental literacy among students. The School Garden Network works to address the most significant obstacles school gardens face by providing direct financial and mentoring support to school garden programs.
Scott ChaskeyScott Chaskey is a farmer, poet and an educator. Since 1990 he has farmed garlic, potatoes, greens (and seventy other crops) for the Peconic Land Trust at Quail Hill Farm, one of the original Community Supported Agriculture farms in the country. He is a founding Board member of the Center for Whole Communities (Vt.) and of Sylvester Manor Educational Farm (NY), and is past president of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York. In 2005 Viking/Penguin published his memoir, “This Common Ground, Seasons on an Organic Farm.”. His newest book, “Seedtime: On the History, Husbandry, Politics, and Promise of Seeds,” was published by Rodale, in January 2014.
Sean KaminskySean Kaminsky is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and writer. The body of Sean’s work has tackled a range of urgent topics – from social to political – while telling stories that engage and entertain. Sean has worked for TV networks such as HBO, PBS, Sundance Channel and MTV’s logo. Open Sesame – The Story of Seeds is his debut feature as a director.
Sharon Palmer, RDNSHARON PALMER, RDN is a registered dietitian, editor of the award-winning health newsletter Environmental Nutrition, and a nationally recognized nutrition expert who has impacted thousands of lives through her writing and clinical work. She is also the author of The Plant-Powered Diet. She lives outside of Los Angeles with her husband and two sons. For more information see www.sharonpalmer.com.
Shoshanna EaslingOwner of The Bulk Herb Store, Shoshanna Easling grew up gardening with her family and has always grown medicinal and culinary herbs. In addition to having written and published many articles and booklets on herbs, natural remedies, tinctures, and cooking with herbs, she has also produced educational videos, DVDs and books, including Making Babies—a 480-page book and DVD series.
Stefanie BourcierStefanie is the CEO and research director at Farm Fuel, located in Watsonville, CA. Stefanie came to FFI in 2007 after graduate school to help the FFI farmer board to better understand how brassica seed meal could be used as a soil amendment. Since coming to FFI, the company has taken on farming, manufacturing, sales, distribution, research, and field consultation. In the past three years, FFI has created a fumigant replacement program for conventional strawberry growers and new tools for organic farmers to treat soil borne pathogens. FFI also makes biodiesel in-house from home-grown mustard seed.
Steve PetersA gardener since childhood, Steve harvests not just food, but knowledge and inspiration from his efforts. He received a Masters degree in vegetable crops and soil science at Cornell University in 1986. He then worked as a research agronomist for the Rodale Research Center in Pennsylvania for 9 years and, among many projects, managed a long term farming systems trial comparing organic and conventional agricultural practices. From 1995 until 2010 he was seed production manager and garden product development manager for Seeds of Change. He then helped launch the Family Farmers Seed Cooperative, and In 2012 was farm research manager for the Native Seeds/SEARCH farm in southern AZ. He now resides in San Mateo, CA where he is involved in plant breeding and running vegetable field trials for Organic Seed Alliance. His independent seed consulting business, ‘Seed rEvolution Now’, promotes and distributes high quality, open source, organic vegetable seed. He is passionate about working to create a bioregional farmer-driven seed cooperative centered on the San Francisco Bay Region, a project which has gained the support of the Ecological Farming Association and the Organic Seed Alliance.
Steve SchwartzSteve Schwartz, Executive Director, Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative is an experienced food systems advocate with over 20 years of professional leadership working with farmers and farm policy to advance sustainable agriculture. Schwartz has worked with representatives of dozens of faith-based groups on projects to advance sustainable food systems including “CSA- Congregation Supported Agriculture”; community gardens; and programs to facilitate healthy food access for low-income individuals. He served as a consultant to the California Caucus of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition during the 2014 farm bill. He served as founding Executive Director of California FarmLink from Fall of 1998 until August, 2011. Schwartz has organized and presented at over 100 workshops on farm finance, management and food security. Before that Schwartz worked for the Community Alliance with Family Farmers and two California Legislators. He has worked with Buddhist and Jewish communities at several points in his career to facilitate projects connecting congregants to the food system and environment. Schwartz served on the Boards of the International Farm Transition Network, Sonoma County Farm Trails, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers and the Community Reinvestment Coalition. He currently serves on the Marin Food Policy Council and Sonoma County Action Nutrition Network. He is conversant in Spanish, Thai and Laotian.
Suzanne MackeySuzanne Mackey works with children and their families in her backyard and school gardens. Her programs introduce kids and grown-ups alike to the principles of Permaculture with hands-on experience in an ever evolving urban food forest. In her backyard on a 6000 square foot lot near downtown Petaluma she and her husband Paul keep chickens, ducks, rabbits, and honeybees. They raise much of their own food, have 3000 gallons of rainwater catchment, produce all of their own compost on site, and start seeds in their recycled/reclaimed greenhouse. From her gardens Suzanne teaches classes on Natural Dyes, Herbal Medicine, Art and Nature, and Cooking from the Garden. She uses the Permaculture garden to facilitate deep nature connection in children and adults. Her website is www.chickweedpatch.com
Terry d’SelkieTerry d’Selkie has been harvesting sea vegetables from the Mendocino Coast of California since 1997. The ocean is her office and she is dedicated to bringing the best gourmet quality seaweeds to your table. Seaweed harvesting is an artisanal venture. Harvesting, drying and packaging can be very labor intensive, like other types of “farming” or “wildcrafting” and making sure you get the most nutritious and delicious seaweeds is important to Ocean Harvest Sea Vegetable Company. We are the only local company who has been independently testing for radiation since May 2011. Your health is important to us! It offers us peace of mind when we are working in our ocean office, to know that the seaweed we harvest for you has had no radiation detected! Come get your daily dose of trace minerals and try some local seaweeds today! www.seaweedmermaid.com
Toby HemenwayToby Hemenway is the author of Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, which was awarded the Nautilus Gold Medal in 2011, was named by the Washington Post as one of the ten best
gardening books of 2010, and for the last eight years has been the best-selling permaculture book in the world. Toby has been an adjunct professor at Portland State University, Scholar-in-Residence at Pacific University, and has taught over sixty 72-hour permaculture design courses. He has presented lectures and workshops at major sustainability conferences such as Bioneers, SolFest, and EcoFarm, and at Duke University, Tufts University, University of Minnesota, University of Delaware and many other educational venues. His writing has appeared in magazines such as Natural Home, Whole Earth Review, and American Gardener. He has contributed book chapters for WorldWatch Institute and to several publications on ecological design.
Tony LinegarI have a Bachelors Degree in Biological Science and have worked in three Ag Commissioner’s Offices in Shasta, Mendocino and now Sonoma. I was the Agricultural Commissioner in Mendocino before taking the same position with Sonoma County in 2012.
Trathen Heckman and Ryan JohnstonTrathen Heckman is the founder and Executive Director of Daily Acts Organization and Board Chair of Transition US.
Ryan Johnston is a Senior Programs Coordinator at Daily Acts Organization.
Daily Acts is a Sonoma County-based non-profit organization that was established in 2002. Daily Acts’ mission is to transform our communities through inspired action and education, which builds leadership and local self-reliance.
Wendy JohnsonWendy Johnson lived and trained at Green Gulch Farm from 1975-2000. She is one of the founders of the Organic Farm and Garden Program at Green Gulch, a lay dharma teacher, and the author of Gardening at the Dragon’s Gate (Bantam, 2008). Wendy is a garden mentor to the Edible Schoolyard program and a College of Marin instructor in the Environmental Landscape program at the Indian Valley Organic Farm and Garden project.
Wendy KrupnickWendy’s primary passion for 35 years has been organic farming and gardening, and sharing that passion with others. Her gardening training started in earnest with a 1-year apprenticeship at the UC Santa Cruz Farm and Garden in 1976. For 10 years she managed the variety trials and demonstration gardens for Shepherd’s Garden Seeds and was the lead garden advisor for customers nationwide. She worked with many farming and gardening professionals around California as well as in fine restaurants, where she produced herbs, edible flowers, and vegetables directly for their use. She also managed the Felton farmers market for 10 years.
Wendy is actively involved with organizations working to further a more sustainable agriculture including Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Ecological Farming Assn., and the Sonoma County iGROW and Food System Alliance projects, and the Community Garden Network of Sonoma County. For 7 years she coordinated the 4-acre garden at Santa Rosa Jr.
College’s Shone Farm, which is part of the Sustainable Agriculture program, and teaches as Adjunct Faculty with this program. Wendy also teaches teaches workshops on edible gardening through other venues and assists home garden clients.
Will BakxWill Bakx started composting in 1982 at Sonoma State University as student manager of the Ecological Food Production Garden. In 1985 he launched Bennett Valley Farm Compost, processing various agricultural and fish industry discards. In 1993 he started the Sonoma county-wide yard debris composting program as Sonoma Compost Company (SCC). Today he has diverted over 1,600,000 tons of organics from the landfill, creating high quality mulches and composts allowed for organic food production, including biodynamic® composts.
He is the adjunct compost instructor at the Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) and serves as chair of the SRJC Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Committee.
William Woys WeaversWilliam Woys Weavers is an internationally known food historian. He maintains the Roughwood Seed Collection of approximately 4500 varieties of food plants in Devon, Pennsylvania. He is working with Mill Hollow Farm in Edgemont, Pennsylvania, to establish an organically certified produce and rare seed farm using seeds from the Roughwood Seed Collection.
Will received his Ph.D. from University College, Dublin. He has written hundreds of articles on foods and foodways. He served as Associate Editor of Scribner’s Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. He has served as Contributing Editor to Gourmet, and to Mother Earth News. He has been a regular contributor to The Heirloom Gardener. Dr. Weaver has received many publishing awards, including three International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) cookbook awards. Will has authored 16 books, including:
- Heirloom Vegetable Gardening: A Master Gardener’s Guide to Planting, Seed Saving, and Cultural History
- Culinary Ephemera: An Illustrated History (California Studies in Food and Culture)
- Sauer’s Herbal Cures
- 100 Vegetables and Where They Came From
- Pennsylvania Dutch Country Cooking
- Sauerkraut Yankees: Pennsylvania-German Foods and Foodway
LIVESTOCK SPEAKERS
Asli MeteAfter graduating from Istanbul University Veterinary Medicine, Dr Mete practiced as a small animal animal and avian vet for 2 years. She then went on to MSC followed by PhD at University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, where her work was focused on hemochromatosis in captive birds. In 2005-2008 Dr Mete completed her Veterinary Anatomic Pathology training at Cornell University, Ithaca. Since 2009 she has served as Assistant Prof. at UC Davis, and pathologist at California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory in Davis, CA. Dr Mete will provide an introduction to the California Animal Health and Food Safety program and the services they provide to chicken owners. She will also address the most common backyard chicken diseases.
Debra MillsDebra Mills is a small micro-farmer who raises rabbits, poultry, goat, and seasonal produce. She’s a California State Licensed meat and poultry inspector, and has worked in a rabbit processing plant. A nurse by profession, her passion is creating an environment where people are able to grow their own food economically, safely, and without reliance on industrial practices. Debra will address the easy sustainability of raising rabbits, from both a farm to and small in-town home perspective.
Deborah NiemannDeborah Niemann is a homesteader, writer, and self-sufficiency expert. In 2002, she relocated her family from the suburbs of Chicago to a 32-acre parcel on a creek “in the middle of nowhere”. Together, they built their own home and began growing the majority of their own food. Sheep, pigs, goats, chickens, and turkeys supply meat, eggs and dairy products, while an organic garden and orchard provides fruit and vegetables. Deborah is an adjunct professor in sustainable agriculture for the University of Massachusetts and is the author of Homegrown and Handmade, Ecothrifty, and Raising Goats Naturally.
Jeanette BerangerJeannette is the Program Manager for The Livestock Conservancy. She brings with her 30+ years of experience working as an animal professional and uses the knowledge to plan and implement endangered breed conservation programs. At home she maintains a heritage breeds farm with a focus on rare breed chickens & horses.
Linnea DueLongtime poultry aficionado Linnea Due writes books and edits articles when not messing about with chickens and turkeys. She thinks chickens should be as common as dogs and cats—when was the last time your cat laid an egg? Linnea will present an interactive session all about chickens, suitable for those new to chickens and experienced people as well. Those interested in turkeys and ducks will also find this session valuable.
Maurice PiteskyMaurice Pitesky is a faculty member at University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) with an appointment in poultry health and food safety epidemiology. Dr. Pitesky earned his BS in biology from UCLA, and his DVM and MPVM from UC Davis. Pitesky is also boarded in Preventative Veterinary Medicine (DACVPM).
Pitesky’s research interests are focused in three major areas: 1) Using “traditional” epidemiological techniques and Global Information Systems (GIS) and spatial statistics to understand how avian diseases move in time and space. 2) Using Next Generation Sequencing technology to gain insights into the virulence and survivability of pathogens including Salmonella and Campylobacter. 3) Gaining a better understanding of small scale poultry production (i.e. small scale poultry production) with respect to environmental sustainability, poultry heath, and food safety.