Formal Education
- An Introduction to Regenerative Soil, Matt Powers, 2021.
- Advanced Permaculture Student Online, Matt Powers, 2020-2021.
- Compost Bootcamp: Biostimulant Strategies for Regenerative Agriculture, Dr. Christine Jones, June 2019.
- Restoration Agriculture, Mark Shepard, August 2014.
- Permaculture Design Certification, Sustainable Living Coalition, June 2010. Lead instructor: Dave Boehnlein.
- Energy Auditor Certification, Energy and Environmental Training Center of Kansas City, August 2009.
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, interdisciplinary concentration in Technology Studies, Grinnell College, May 1998.
Areas of Competence and Expertise
- broad scale site design: zone and sector analysis.
- whole-house building analysis for energy efficiency improvements.
- guild design based on needs and products analysis.
- sheet mulch, compost, hügelkultur, and vermicompost construction.
- teaching and mentoring on these topics.
- small-scale aquaponic system design and construction.
- passive solar building design.
Publications and Presentations
- "La Biología del Suelo en el Jardín" (public course), Omaha, Nebraska, February 2021
- "Understanding the Soil Ecosystem" (certification course), Lawrence, Kansas, September 2021
- "Understanding the Soil Ecosystem" (public course), Omaha, Nebraska, November 2019
- "Using Water," Lawrence, Kansas, August 2019
- "Ecological Principles," Lawrence, Kansas, August 2019
- "Modular Raised Beds with Dimensional Lumber," self published, November 2018
- "I'm Not a Rancher," self published, September 2017
- "Illustrated Audio Tour of Interdependent Web Urban Farm," June 2016
- "Edible Ecosystems" (6-hour intensive), Flint Hills Technical College, Emporia, Kansas, March 2016
- "Rethinking Greenhouses," self published, January 2016
- "Water-Wise Landscaping," Flint Hills Technical College, Emporia, Kansas, September 2012 and April 2013
- "Proposal: Earth-Integrated, Passive Solar House," self published, March 2013
- "Twice the Garden, Half the Work," Butler Community College, El Dorado, Kansas, January 2013
- "Introduction to Permaculture Design," (6-hour workshop), Camp StarTrail of Prairie Star District Unitarian Universalist Association, August 2011
- "Boundary Optimization and Other Lessons for Art Therapy," American Art Therapy Association Annual Conference, Washington, DC, July 2011
- "Engaging our Interdependent Web," Prairie Star District Unitarian Universalist Association Annual Conference, Des Moines, Iowa, April 2011
- "A Brief Introduction to Permaculture Design," Bartlesville (Oklahoma) Area Master Gardeners, March 2011
- "Non-Obvious Weatherization," Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Topeka, Kansas, November 2010
- "Second Wind: How Bicycling Around North America Changed my Life," self-published, May 2010
Works in Progress
- co-owner, Interdependent Web LLC, Omaha, Nebraska: permaculture demonstration site on 1/10 acre.
Community Involvement
- Benson Neighborhood Association board, 2021-present
- Green Omaha Coalition treasurer, 2020-present
- Kansas Permaculture Institute treasurer, 2015-2017
- Emporia Garden Club president, 2016-2017
- City of Emporia Natural Resources Advisory Board, 2012-2017
- Emporia Farmers Market board, 2012-2016
- Emporia Area Local Food Network, 2009-2014
- Sustainable Living Coalition board, 2006-2008
Languages
- English
- Spanish
References
- Cian Brun, education manager, City Sprouts: cian@omahasprouts.org
supervisor for Growing Gardener classes - Addie Gengenbach, executive director, Green Omaha Coalition: agengenbach@greenomahacoalition.org
supervisor and former client - Amber Lehrman, owner, Windstone Farms: windstonefarmskansas@gmail.com
lead instructor of KPI's permaculture certification classes - Dave Boehnlein, Principal & Co-Founder, Terra Phoenix Design: DaveB@TerraPhoenixDesign.com
lead instructor of the 2010 permaculture certification course I graduated from
