Quail Springs Team

Sarah Brooks
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Inspired by permaculture and concerned about the imminent crises of the planet, Sarah left Seattle and a ten-year career in business consulting … Read More

Jan Smith
Outreach & Food Sourcing Director
Jan Smith was born in 1961 in New Orleans, Louisiana with an upbringing steeped in social activism, art, music, and culture. Jan’s … Read More

Brenton Kelly
Watershed Stewardship & Advocacy Director
Brenton Kelly was born in Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia. By his first birthday he saw the peaceful liberation and birth of the nation of Zambia … Read More

Sasha Rabin
Natural Building & Advocacy Director
Sasha Rabin has been practicing natural building as well as teaching it since 2002, when she began her building career with an … Read More

John Orcutt
NATURAL BUILDING INSTRUCTOR
In 2013 John left his job as a coral farmer seeking a more fulfilling life helping people build shelter for themselves He spent the … Read More

Molly Ancel
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Growing up in the Bay Area on the traditional homelands of the Chochenyo Ohlone people, Molly was immersed in the art, politics, and … Read More

Natalie Bartlett
WILD SERIES DIRECTOR
Natalie Bartlett has spent the last 15 years of her life deeply immersed in land-based culture and has a passion for learning the music … Read More

Brendan MacCorgarry
WILD SERIES INSTRUCTOR
Brendan is an outdoorsman who has spent his life fishing, hunting, making, and turning over rocks all over California’s wild lands … Read More

Marta Gaunt
Farm Director
Marta grew up with a love of trees and wild places, and a fascination with the dark fecundity and mysterious denizens of peat bogs and … Read More

Carson Zakarian Cash
Farm Director
Carson Zakarian Cash is a young person and farmer who is trying to make sense of the world. She grew up in the Santa Cruz mountains … Read More

Alex Valleau
Hosting Director
As a millennial coming of age in a troubling social and ecological landscape, Alex became a seeker of meaning and alternative paradigms … Read More

Jack Thrift
Rangeland Management Director
Jack Thrift is dedicated to building mutually beneficial relationships with our environment and he strives to nurture and restore … Read More

Jenya Schneider
Rangeland Management Director
Jenya has focused on regenerating ecologies for a decade. In college she studied theories of religion, decolonialism, and … Read More

Ryan Spaulding
DIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
Ryan grew up in south eastern Minnesota and for twenty-some years managed to put up with the humidity, mosquitoes, and six … Read More

Sue Blackshear
COMMUNITY MEMBER
Sue Blackshear has spent her life as an artist, educator and political activist, largely in New Orleans, Alabama and Iowa, with time in … Read More

Steve Pearson
COMMUNITY MEMBER
Steve became involved with Quail Springs before it was even Quail Springs, coming to the neighboring canyon as a counselor for … Read More
Board of Directors

Lexi Spaulding
BOARD VICE CHAIR
Lexi is led in her work by her belief that communities should direct their own futures, her love of this natural world, and the power of … Read More

Laine MacTague
BOARD TREASURER
Laine holds degrees in wildlife biology and literature, & is published in both fields. Relishing the insights gained from the interplay of such … Read More

Jen Schlaich
BOARD SECRETARY
Jen Schlaich has a degree in Environmental Studies from UCSB, earned a Community Herbalist Certification from … Read More

Sasha Rabin
BOARD DIRECTOR
Sasha Rabin has been practicing natural building as well as teaching it since 2002, when she began her building career with an … Read More

Susan Cousineau
BOARD DIRECTOR
Growing up farming in a remote mountain valley in British Columbia, Canada, Susan’s early years were steeped in discussions … Read More
Founding Members

Warren Brush
CO-FOUNDER
Warren Brush is a mentor, storyteller, a certified Permaculture designer and teacher, as well as a husband, a father and a grandfather … Read More

Cyndi Harvan
CO-FOUNDER
Cyndi is the nurturing wife and life partner of Warren Brush and is a mother, grandmother, and lover of the quiet voice of nature. She … Read More

Kolmi Majumdar
CO-FOUNDER
Kolmi was born and was raised as a young child in the wild beauty and rich culture of Calcutta, with Bengali as her first … Read More

Paul Swenson
CO-FOUNDER
Paul Swenson is a founding steward of Quail Springs Permaculture where he helped develop the site, community and its offerings for … Read More