Team

Ben Kotnik, President and Founder

 

Ben has been playing in the dirt for a long time.  He grew up in San Diego and credits his mentors and parents for instilling in him a love of nature.  Ben earned a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Computing from UCLA, Teaching Credentials from SDSU, and has 10+ years of consulting experience in IT and business processes.  Since 2008, he has focused on Suburban Food Farm and other related projects that aim to strengthen local food production, restore habitat and fertility, and train the next generation of citizens to solve the world’s most challenging problems.

 

Work Experience

  • Suburban Food Farm, President
  • California Rare Fruit Growers-San Diego, Chairman
  • Cuyamaca College, Instructor – Ornamental Horticulture
  • San Diego City College – Instructor, Sustainable Urban Agriculture
  • Foothills School, Instructor – Ecologic Design
  • San Diego (SD) Movement Therapy, Founder
  • MIND Research Institute, Math Consultant and Implementations
  • University of California South Coast Field Station, Volunteer Orchardist
  • Morse High School, Math Teacher
  • KPMG, IT and Business Consultant
  • Sony, IT and Management
  • Arthur Andersen, IT and Risk Consultant

 

Certifications and Awards

  • Permaculture Design
  • Fruit Tree Pruning
  • Hanna Somatic Education
  • California Teaching Credentials: Mathematics, Agriculture, Fine Arts, Health and Fitness, Computer Technology ESL
  • Morse HS Teacher of the Year
  • Discraft One Disc Ace Race Winner

 

Sarah Madsen, Chief Health Officer

 

Sarah’s love of essential oils inspired her interest in the plants the oils can be extracted from, which led her to study herbal medicine.  She advocates living a non-toxic life as much as possible, especially with respect to: food, medicine, cleaning products, beauty supplies, and the like—things we are exposed to every day. I’d like to see everyone in my community growing something edible and medicinal.  Growing our own food and medicine is healthy, practical, economical, and environmental, on individual, community, and global levels. Sarah has a passion for delicious food that supports the body…growing it, cooking it, and eating it!

Sarah is a has worked in the health field since 2000 and walks the talk.  Her varied experiences and knowledge of plants and food as medicines set her apart.

 

  • Holistic Health Practitioner
  • CA State Licensed & Insured Massage Therapist (CMTC #5719)
  • Certified Clinical Master Aromatherapist
  • Certified Kundalini Yoga Teacher
  • Floracopeia Certified Teacher
  • Clinical Herbalist
  • Nutriotional Consultant
  • Master Composter
  • Ayurveda Enthusiast & Student
  • Former County Food Health & Safety Inspector
  • S. Biology, UCSD

 

Sarah would like to share this excerpt taken from
The Medicine Woman Inner Guidebook, by Carol Bridges.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sun is the first food.
Fresh air and Water the second.
Rest, Exercise, and Laughter nourish you third.
Fourth, the Seed of Earth brings Life.
Fifth, the Herb, Vegetable, and Fruit give Health.
And Sixth, if these be lacking,
the Animals will provide.

Cast aside as little as you can from these,
the gifts that nourish.
This, in Thanksgiving for their being.
Be positive and kind in preparation,
friendly and serene in consuming,
joyful and active in digestion,
and health will be your inner light.

Eat from Nature, if you can,
the herbs and wild foods provided.
Garden by organic means or purchase the least affected, neglected, processed and imperfected.
Locally grown helps you be tuned to home.

Above all, Envision radiant vitality to be your own.

 

Advisors – We have a network of talented folks that plug in when needed.  We are grateful for their support of our mission.

 

Jim Neitzel, Fruit Trees and Propagation

 

Tom Del Hotal, Fruit Trees and Cultural Practices

 

Tammy Kotnik, Education and Kids

B.S. Business, San Jose State University

M.A. Educational Leadership, University of San Diego

M.B.A., The Citadel

 

Tammy is a former school administrator and international educational policy consultant.

 

Dan Kotnik, Finance and Accounting

B.S. Accounting, UCSB

C.P.A.

 

Dan is an Accountant, climber, dad, and husband.  He has worked in accounting since 1995 at Arthur Andersen and KPMG.

 

Kim Kotnik, Business Strategy

B.S. International Relations, UCSB

M.B.A., Georgetown University

 

Kim is a small-business owner and former consultant with Booz-Allen Hamilton.  She led international development projects creating industries in developing countries to help eliminate poverty.

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