The CSA Aquaponics Team gathers at the first site
Gerasimos Christoforatos
As a Permaculture Designer and Aquaneer, Gerasimos specializes in water filtration systems: constructed wetlands, rainwater harvesting and irrigation. Additionally he designs and builds edible food forests in Urban, Suburban and Rural settings. As an aquaponics designer, he has built systems worldwide and greatly enjoys educating the public about this revolutionary technology.
Gabe Clark
Gabe earned a PhD in Environmental Economics and Policy from the University of California Berkeley. He has worked on natural resource conservation and preservation issues in the Klamath Basin region of Northern California, with an emphasis on salmon and water issues. He brokered cooperative efforts between agricultural land owners and conservation organizations to find mutually beneficial ways to enhance and protect natural resources. Gabe has worked on projects related to improving cropping systems to provide enhanced environmental and economic sustainability in the dairy industry. During graduate school he conducted an economic analysis of organic dairy cropping and feeding systems focused on improving economic returns and minimizing environmental impacts. He is the Executive Director of the nonprofit Santa Madre Centre and proud father to five daughters.
Indigo Donaldson
Indigo Donaldson believes that clean organic food is the basis of good health and that everyone should have access to it. She is committed to teaching people how to grow their own food and medicine. She has studied Permaculture and many styles of Organic Gardening, and has completed her Permaculture Teacher Training and Teacher Apprentice programs. In 2010 she completed an Aquaponics Course with Max Meyers in Nicaragua and helped finish an Aquaponics system there. She has also co-created larger Permaculture Garden Projects and urban community garden/art spaces in San Francisco. In line with her passion for clean organic food, she worked full-time on the GMO-Free Campaign in Mendocino County, CA, the first county in the US to take a take a stand and become GMO-Free. She currently lives and gardens in the Santa Cruz mountains and is teaching Yoga/Permaculture workshops titled “Sustainability from the Inside-Out”.
Kristen Manyrivers
Kristen Manyrivers brings 20 years of experience in education and community activism to ECC. At 27 with a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science, a teaching credential, and a 4 year old she started Fall Creek School; one of the first and only watershed ecology and environmental science based Charter Schools in California, which she ran for the San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District for 14 years. Currently, she works both as a private education consultant at Inspired Education Services and as a Permaculture Designer specializing in rainwater harvesting and water education at Manyrivers Collective, serving the central coast and greater Bay Area. She is currently the Executive Director of the nonprofit Zone Zero: Collaboration for Green Schools, a Green Visioning and Project management service for educational institutions. She brings added value to the CSA Aquaponics project as Co-Director; sharing her articulate and clear communication skills, ability to vision, a vast network of contacts and resources, and a determined dedication to her work, all fueled by love. She has three beautiful children and is a joyful participant in the conscious dance community.
Max Meyers
Maximillian Meyers is an Ecological Designer, Permaculture Teacher, Commercial Aquaponic System Designer/Installer, Rainwater and Greywater System Specialist and Farmer. He is also the Executive Director of the Mendocino Ecological Learning Center(MELC) – a nonprofit educational organization and ecological reserve offering green job training and sustainable living skills to the public free of charge. In addition to the work at MELC, Mr. Meyers provides Ecological Design Services to the public, organizations and schools through his businesses, Osiris Designs and NorCal Aquaponics. He is passionate about all things related to a more just and sustainable world. He has been studying, practicing and teaching Permaculture and Ecological Design for more than a dozen years, since graduating from College with a B.A. degree in Culture, Ecology and Sustainable Communities. He has been fortunate enough to study with people like Bill Mollison, Geoff Lawton, Sepp Holzer, Tom Ward, Jude Hobbs, John Valenzuela, Penny Livingston, Tim Mann and many others. His work has been featured in the best selling book, Gaia’s Garden, as well as radio and television programs.
Richard Sundance Owen
Richard founded the Environmental Cleanup Coalition (ECC) in 2008, when he dedicated himself to solving the plastic pollution issues affecting our oceans. An overwhelming and complex set of problems to address to some, impossible to conceive of to others, he found the determination to confront and accept the challenge and simply acted. Empowering people and communities to become food self-reliant is ECC’s current focus and the impetus behind the CSA Aquaponics project. Teaching individuals and communities how to build and maintain Aquaponics systems has exponential possibilities: new jobs in small businesses, increased local, organic food sources, teaching applied technologies to the disenfranchised and youth, and so much more. Richard envisions the natural fruits of this project are a reconnection with food, nature, self and community. CSA Aquaponics is a solution that has the potential to heal our oceans and our society’s aliments. “With our advanced technology, I feel we have lost touch with the basics: food and water. CSA Aquaponics is more than just teaching self-reliance, it’s a way to bring people together. It serves as a vehicle to share a solution and educate communities about water stewardship.”
Pierre Riche
Pierre Riche is an American born visionary artist celebrated for his magical metal sculptures. He has explored the different traditional uses of metal as an artistic medium. One-of-a-kind furniture pieces, functional art forms and artistic environments are common commission themes. Between commissions he creates drawings, paintings and sculptures to exhibit at art galleries, museums, festivals, concerts and shows. In 2011 he completed a certification program in Commercial Aquaponics with Applied Permaculture and has since participated in building projects on multiple scales including the projects Max Designed for the Ukiah High School Aquaponics System, as well as systems in both Nicaragua and Costa Rica.