Faculty

Frédérique Lavoipierre

is a sustainable landscape educator and freelance writer with extensive professional experience in sustainable landscaping for Mediterranean climates and edible and school gardens. She has been published in Pacific Horticulture, Bay Nature, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat and the San Francisco Chronicle. She holds an interdisciplinary bachelor's degree in Garden Ecology and Communication from SSU, where she is completing a master's degree in Biology. Her work encompasses ecological principles of sustainable landscaping, soil food webs, water resources and plant communities. Her special focus is on landscaping to attract beneficial insects. She directs the SSU Sustainable Landscape Program in addition to teaching. Her email is lavoipie@sonoma.edu.

Josiah Cain

is a licensed landscape architect who received his training at both the Harvard School of Design and University of California, Davis. Josiah brings a diverse background in ecological landscape design from his academic training and from his professional practice including his current position with the firm of Rana Creek Living Architecture. Rana Creek is the primary consultant for the sustainability-focused design elements of the new San Francisco Museum of Natural History. His focus for fifteen years has been on flagship outdoor environments dedicated to ecological protocols. Josiah was an early adopter, leader and teacher of "Permaculture" principles. He has received numerous awards for his designs, including an award at the 2004 San Francisco Flower and Garden Show and a Gold award from Sunset Magazine.

Kate Frey

Kate's extensive expertise in sustainable landscaping began with her work at Fetzer Vineyards in Hopland, California, a nationally recognized laboratory and demonstration site for many leading-edge sustainability practices. She worked at Fetzer for 18 years, starting in 1986, where she managed and designed the six acre, profuse and colorful organic gardens, as well as seven acres of sustainable landscaping, combining plants appropriate to a hot inland climate with plants that encouraged biodiversity around the facilities. In May 2003 her garden design at the Chelsea Flower Show in London won a silver medal, and in 2005 and 2007 her gardens illustrating many elements of biodiversity and sustainability won gold medals and were visited by Queen Elizabeth. She currently works as a consultant, designer and teacher of sustainable landscaping, and gardening and speaks and writes extensively about the subject.

Geoff Hall

is licensed Landscape Contractor and has been a major contributor in the design and operation of two primary Permaculture center in California. He is a committed and effective educator in the fields of Permaculture and ecological design. He has extensive professional experience in the design and construction of both residential and commercial landscape designs that reflect his deep commitment to ecological principles. Geoff Hall has been a consultant for the Alameda County Waste Management Agency for 3 years and has made numerous contributions to the widely-recognized "Bay-Friendly Landscape Guidelines". Geoff has extensive teaching experience and his resume include lectures and workshops for the Permaculture Institute of Northern California, the U.S. Green Building Council Redwood Empire Chapter, and the Sonoma State University Green Building Professional Certificate Program.

Rick Taylor

is a licensed landscape contractor and has over ten years of experience in leading edge sustainable land management practices and technologies; including alternative energy systems, organic maintenance programs, and grey/black water systems. He completed a 5 year apprenticeship in sustainable landscape design and construction and has received a Teacher Training Certificate from Ecological Design Training in California. Rick has led numerous workshops and lectures focused on sustainable landscape principles for both residential consumers and professionals. Rick is a member of the City of Sebastopol's Design Review Board. In 2007 Rick received at 1st Place award in Sustainable Landscape Management from the Northern California Chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association.