Eric Conn
Growing up, I spent the majority of my time studying the natural world and learning how to live simply with the Earth. When I was 9 years old, my parents co-founded the Tennessee RiverKeeper Organization, a water quality and environmental advocacy group. I spent many summers traveling the Tennessee River with them, experiencing directly the industrial and municipal poisoning of the fresh water supply. From my parents, I learned the benefits of organic gardening, resource conservation, re-using and recycling materials into new forms, and renewable energy production. When I graduated from high school, I completed a year-long internship with the Tennessee RiverKeeper Organization. During this time, I resolved to work on issues of sustainability. I attended Huxley College of the Environment, at Western Washington University. I earned a degree in Sustainable Community Design in 2002. While in college, I co-coordinated the Outback OELS (Outdoor Experiential Learning Site), a five-acre organic garden and environmental education site. For four consecutive quarters, I co-facilitated a class titled, Human Ecology: Intro to Sustainable Systems. I designed the curriculum for, and taught the course, Advanced Human Ecology: Hands on Sustainable Living as my Senior Project. During this time, I also co-founded Bellingham Food Not Lawns, a non-profit organization dedicated to converting lawns and other unused urban space into organic gardens. I hosted The Planet Earth, an environmental talk show on the college radio station, KUGS, for 3 ½ years. During this broadcast, I spoke with live callers and interviewed guests on issues of environmental sustainability. For four years, I was an actively contributing member of the Oasis, an urban intentional community in Bellingham. Here I gained valuable experience in working with people toward creating a more sustainable lifestyle. I have continued to teach classes on sustainability. In the spring of 2005, I offered a well-attended, free, three-part series to the Bellingham community entitled, Sustainable Food Systems, while teaching a class at Fairhaven College with the same title. In late summer of 2005, I co-founded the Sustainability Research and Education Project with Katie Nixon, later joined by Britt Walker. Currently, Katie, Britt and I share co-directorial duties of this Washington State non-profit, specializing in our respective areas. My specialty is sustainable food systems and appropriate technology. Much of my work recently has centered on solar cooking research and development.