I began studying sustainable development and permaculture in 2000 when I joined the Peace Corps in El Salvador. A beautiful country rebounding from civil war, environmental degradation, and social and economic inequality. In graduate school at Northern Arizona University, I studied Sustainable Communities and Bilingual/Multicultural Education, and volunteered at the urban permaculture farm called Mountain Meadows for four years.

We relocated to Telluride in 2008 and I became the executive director of the University Centers of the San Miguel where we offered adult education. In 2010, I created a permaculture instructor team to offer our first design certificate. Since then, 54 people have graduated with the Permaculture Design Certificate in our four years of offering the course.

In March, 2013, my husband and I moved to Rangely to work at Colorado Northwestern Community College where I will continue to educate others about the permaculture principles and land use strategies. It has been a great adventure so far with wonderful, caring people.