Melissa holds her degree in Landscape Architecture from Virginia Tech. She is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, a certified permaculture designer and certified master gardener. She has designed many high profile residential and institutional landscapes since 1991. She worked closely with the New Mexico legislature and state officials to pass our state's new grey water law and has worked on the development of educational brochure about grey water for the public. She also serves as the Vice Chair to the City of Santa Fe's Water Conservation Committee and is on the board of the Santa Fe Alliance, a nonprofit that supports independent business. She has taught landscape design at the Santa Fe Community College, EcoVersity and SEED (Source for Educational Empowerment and Community Development).

A graduate of St. John's College in Santa Fe, Nate started Santa Fe Permaculture in 1992. He began teaching design certification courses with the Permaculture Drylands Institute in 1995. Over the years he has taught many permaculture and water-oriented workshops through various institutions including UNM, the Santa Fe Community College, SEED Institute, and EcoVersity. Nate has been an active member of the International Erosion Control Association, Chairman of the Board of the Permaculture Credit Union and is currently a member of the board of Camino de Paz Montessori Farm School. He is a licensed irrigator and drainage control specialist. Nate's monthly column, "Permaculture in Practice" is published regularly in the Santa Fe New Mexican's "Real Estate Guide." His book, Harvest the Rain, will be published next year.

Charlene has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Her many years in Canada encompassed living on two permaculture-oriented farms which included market gardening, raising goats, woolen sock manufacturing and a soap production company. Her small business administration and management skills contribute to the smooth operation of our company.