The Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Living

Who: Melanie Giangreco

Day Job: Student, Environmental Studies Major, Spanish & Landscape Architecture Minors, University of Oregon

Why CASL: Melanie’s interests include the relationship between people and plants, increasing food security within cities, medicinal plants, and land use practices.

These interests led her to become involved with the program first as the Fundraising and Grants Coordinator in 2006 , and then a Co-Director in 2007.

Advisory Role: Melanie continues to support CASL by offering valuable insight into programming and organizational matters.

Day Job: Jude is a landscape designer and an instructor. In 1982, she established Cascadia Landscape Design, a business specializing in whole system environmental design solutions for urban and rural settings.
Jude also works with farmers through Agro-Ecology Northwest, offering consulting and site assessments that emphasize efficiency and productivity.

Why CASL: As a community activist Jude supports CASL’s work to encourage people of all ages to apply more sustainable life practices.

Advisory Role: Jude shares with CASL a Whole Systems Designs approach through the strategies of Permaculture. Recommending design tools that integrate all components and close the loops within any given system. Her main focus is water catchment and edible landscape design.

Who: Bob Jones

Day Job: Senior Systems Analyst, Information Services, University of Oregon

Why CASL: CASL approached the UO’s Environmental Issues Committee and asked for the EIC’s endorsement. Bob, as chairperson of the committee, was extremely interested in the project. The EIC endorsed the project, and Bob was inspired to go beyond that endorsement and to help make it a reality.

Advisory Role: Bob provides general technical support including the management of three listserves for the program. His background in consensus building and group dynamics assists CASL during discussion and planning sessions. With a personal interest in alternative approaches and sustainable technologies, Bob brings a wealth of knowledge to the board. As an employee of the University of Oregon Bob has a number of contacts in the University community that have proven to be invaluable.

Who: Karyn Kaplan

Day Job: Operations Sustainability, Recycling Manager, Facilities Services, University of Oregon

Why CASL: Karyn has worked with CASL since it’s inception and has been an advocate for integrating campus sustainability into hands-on curriculm opprotunities for students. She applauds the tenacity, determination, and professionalism of the students who have worked for years to institutionalize this legacy program.

Advisory Role: Karyn’s position as manager of Campus Recycling makes her a wealth of information relating to resource conservation and recycling. She also enables student group members to obtain course credit through her course PPPM 401.

Who:

Day Job: Intern Architect, Boston Massachusetts

Why CASL: Susan’s interests in green architecture led to her volunteering with CASL as Co-Director from 2005 to 2007 where she was instrumental in making the program a part of the ASUO and the department of Architecture and Allied Arts.

Advisory Role: A Bachelor’s of Architecture and a familiar knowledge of CASL history make Susan an asset to the program in a myriad of ways.

Who: Jan Spencer

Day Job: Writer, activist, film producer, Suburban Permaculture Project

Why CASL: Given the declining condition of the human made world and its many damaging impacts on the natural world, there is urgent need to create models for eco-logical living. Transforming a nothing-special house into a center for eco-logical education covers a lot of bases.

Advisory Role: Jan has first hand experience with property conversion. He has been working for nearly 9 years on his own suburban permaculture project in Eugene. Property redesign, rain water catchment, passive solar design, concrete removal, reclaiming automobile space, food plants and gardening, chickens, home economics are all areas where Jan has considerable experience to share with the CASL project. He also enjoys sharing time and enthusiasm with CASL volunteers. www.suburbanpermaculture.org