The Sustainable Vocations Team

Warren Brush, Co-Director and Lead Teacher

Warren is a certified Permaculture designer and teacher, as well as a mentor and storyteller. He has worked for over 25 years in inspiring people of all ages to discover, nurture and express their inherent gifts while living in a sustainable manner.  He is co-founder of Quail Springs Learning Oasis & Permaculture Farm, Sustainable Vocations, Wilderness Youth Project, Trees for Children and his Permaculture design company, True Nature Design.  He works extensively in Permaculture education and sustainable systems design in North America and Africa, as well as in other countries worldwide.

Warren has devoted many years to mentoring youth to inspire and equip them to live in a sustainable manner with integrity and a hopeful perspective.  His mentoring includes working with those who are former child soldiers, orphans, youth from troubled families and situations, as well as those from other varied and privileged backgrounds. He teaches courses including: Permaculture Design Certification, Rainwater Harvesting Systems, Ferro-Cement Tank Building, Compost Toilet Systems, Greywater Solutions, Water for Every Farm, Drought Proofing, Cultural Mentoring, Introduction to Permaculture Systems, Corporation Sole Formation, Food Forestry, and origins skills among other offerings.

Tynes Viar, Co-Director and Teacher

Tynes Viar holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz and received a M.S. in Conservation Science and Policy from Duke University.  He has taught a diversity of college courses that includes Environmental Literature, Social Ecology, Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Ethics.  More recently, Tynes completed a post-doctoral fellowship researching and providing a case-study analysis of  sustainability-based projects throughout the United States.  He has complemented these traditionally academic pursuits by continuing his studies at various educational centers that promote practical, integrative solutions to ecological issues.  This includes earning a Permaculture Design Certificate in 1996, and Tynes has integrated its timely wisdom into his life path ever since.

In addition to being Co-Director of Sustainable Vocations, Tynes has also served as Director of Community Development at Quail Springs Permaculture.  He has previously held director-level positions within several prominent organizations and is currently a core staff member at The Occidental Arts and Ecology Center.  In addition to a diversified experience within the non-profit realm, his previous work path includes being an organic farmer, professor, wildlife ecologist, editor and environmental consultant. 

Kolmi Majumdar, Administrative Manager

Kolmi Majumdar co-founded Sustainable Vocations and has been involved with nonprofit organizations and environmental education programs for over 10 years. She is a founding member of Quail Springs and currently serves as its Programs Manager. Previously, Kolmi served as a youth mentor, fund development coordinator and mentor-trainer for Wilderness Youth Project, a renowned nature-based program for youth.  Additionally, Kolmi worked in public outreach for the Community Environmental Council and graduated with honors from the Environmental Studies program at UC Santa Barbara.  As an advocate for family and community wellness, she served on the Founding Boards of both The Central Coast Doula Association and The Birth Action Coalition, and is currently a student of midwifery.

Daniel Parra Hensel, Program Mentor, Assistant Teacher

Daniel has served as Sustainable Vocations’ mentor and assistant teacher for the past two years.  His relationship with Quail Springs Permaculture extends well beyond these roles as Daniel has been a teaching assistant for several of the organization’s Permaculture Design Certification courses.  Currently, he also helps facilitate and teach Quail Springs’ 3-month Apprenticeship Program.

A graduate of the world-renowned internship program offered by Permaculture Research Institute of Australia, Daniel is an international consultant, designer and teacher.  He recently assisted with international development and education projects in both Kenya and Uganda.  Due to his multi-cultural background and extensive travels, Daniel is grateful to be an active participant in the global Permaculture movement and fully embraces the opportunity to work with a diversity of people around the world.

Alexis Slutzky, Mentor and Council Facilitator 

Alexis holds an M.A. in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. For over ten years, she has worked with youth and adults, individually and in groups, supporting their endeavor to lead an authentic life by connecting to themselves and the earth. Specifically, Alexis is guided by the understanding that the way we relate to our inner landscape and the outer landscape - our interpersonal relationships and the natural living world - are interconnected and reflect one another.

The group practice and process of Council, sitting together to listen and speak from the heart, has deeply informed Alexis’ work. She has also facilitated numerous Councils in a variety of settings that includes working with The Ojai Foundation’s Youth Program for the past 12 years. Alexis has also trained with the School of Lost Borders in mirroring and holding space for vision quests and has been certified as a Wilderness First Responder.  In addition to being a former community member of Quail Springs Learning Oasis and Permaculture Farm, Alexis has previously worked as a yoga instructor, natural builder, truck driver and ceremonialist.

In addition to our core staff, Sustainable Vocations students receive inspiration from leaders in the local sustainability community via guest teachings.  We also take field trips to observe and experience Green projects, businesses and individuals.