Sustainable Table: A Celebration of Local Food, Farms, and School Gardens
Over 100 community members gathered at Tres Vientos Ranch on Saturday, May 25th for Sustainable Table, a celebration of local farms, organic food, school gardens, and Explore Ecology programs.
Tres Vientos is the beautiful home of Alan and Lisa Parsons. The evening began with a Parsonics Studio Tour and Demo led by legendary audio engineer and musician Alan Parsons and singer songwriter Glen Phillips. Founder of the Alan Parsons Project, Alan is a musician, songwriter, record producer, and sound engineer whose work spans decades.
While Alan engineered, Glen Phillips sang and played acoustic garden with fellow musician Sean McCue. Best known as the singer songwriter for the band Toad the Wet Sprocket, Glen Phillips is also an acclaimed solo performer.
(Alan Parsons and Glen Phillips)Guests on the Studio Tour also enjoyed a special wine tasting with Sanguis Winery and appetizers by Chef Clark Staub.
Guests not attending the Parsonics Demo enjoyed a Poolside Cocktail Hour with appetizers provided by Chef Nancy Weiss of the Santa Barbara Unified School District Food Services. Nancy’s secret ingredient? Produce grown by little green thumbs in Explore Ecology’s School Gardens program. Nancy Weiss is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and the former chef and owner of SOhO Restaurant and Music Club. In 2008, Nancy took over as Director of Food Services for the Santa Barbara School District where she revolutionized food service for students.
Costa Rican singer songwriter MishCatt played music as guests took in the dramatic views of the breathtaking coast.
As the sun set, guests enjoyed a family style farm to table dinner. Sustainable Table’s innovative, zero waste menu, created by Clark Staub of Full of Life Foods, highlighted fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from local organic farms.
The executive chef and owner of Full of Life Flatbread restaurant in Los Alamos, Chef Staub has been creating healthy and delicious food in his gorgeous wood fired stone and clay oven since 2004. Renowned for his restaurant and for sourcing his ingredients from farms within a 60-mile radius, Chef Staub provided a beautiful and delicious dinner for Sustainable Table guests.
After dinner, Glen Phillips entertained guests with a musical performance under the stars.
Sustainable Table 2019 raised awareness about Explore Ecology programs and ensured that students in EE Programs continue to have access to a garden, spend time outdoors during the school day, continue to learn about science and the environment, and benefit from Art From Scrap Art Programs.
(Explore Ecology Field Trip)The Sustainable Table live auction this year was filled with experiences, not things! Auction items included a handcrafted Garden Bed, a Vermi (Worm) Composting Bin, and a Wood Fired Pizza Oven Party!
(Guests Bidding at Sustainable Table)Special thanks to Sustainable Table Sponsors: Sea Forward, Sunrise 805 Solar, Marborg Industries, Village Properties, Montecito Bank and Trust, Boathouse Restaurant, James Cunningham, American Riviera Bank, Mission Wealth, Glass House Farms, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and the Squire Foundation. 2019 In -Kind Donors include: Margerum Wine Company, Night Lizard Brewing Company, Leitmotif Wines, Sanguis Wines, Veggie Rescue, Frinj Coffee, Sea to Sierra, Goodland Organics, Cutler’s Artisan Spirits, Dock to Dish, Amazing Days Events, and T.W. Hollister and Co.
Eva grew up in Berkeley, CA and is a recent graduate of UCSB, where she studied Aquatic Biology and German Language. During her undergrad, Eva worked as an aquarist at UCSB’s Research Experience and Education Facility (the REEF), where she managed the aquarium facility and found a love for science communication and conservation.
Phillip is a recent Westmont College graduate and a proud member of the inaugural class of Environmental Studies students from Westmont. Phillip is excited to be on the Explore Ecology teaching team because he loves to inspire others about nature as his mentors have done for him. 
Ellie Cotter is a recent graduate of UCSB who studied Environmental Studies with a minor in Philosophy. Ellie learned the importance of community based action, spending her years interning and volunteering for local groups, such as Coal Oil Point Reserve and North Campus Open Space. 
Joey is grateful to have grown up with an abundance of nature around him and is happiest in the water or in the sun. From a young age, Joey felt a responsibility to take care of the Earth in return for all the ways she has taken care of him. This led Joey to pursue a degree in Environmental Studies at UCSB where he furthered his knowledge of how different human societies have conceptualized and interacted with the natural world throughout history.
Rachel Palmer
Alyssa grew up on Long Island, New York and spent a lot of her childhood and early adulthood exploring the mountains, meadows, and beaches throughout the East Coast. These formative experiences in nature, along with impactful mentors and coursework in undergraduate and graduate school, inspired her to pursue a career connecting youth with the natural world. From the deciduous forests of New England to the shores of the Big Island of Hawaii, Alyssa has spent over 10 years working with youth of all ages on urban and rural farms, in school gardens, and in beautiful, wild places. Alyssa is passionate about facilitating meaningful experiences for youth that deepen their connections to self, community, and the land and she believes that school gardens are the perfect place to do this. 
Nicole is a mixed media artist and vintage goods specialist who has been managing Art from Scrap since 2020.
Veronica grew up in San Diego and spent four years in San Luis Obispo studying Animal Science at Cal Poly. As an undergrad she learned lots about livestock, agriculture, and wildlife.
I love coming to work and getting pets from everyone.
Ian Docktor
Emma Serr is an artist and student studying Studio Art at SBCC.
Lydia
Iliana Jacobo is a Garden Educator at three different school sites. Iliana has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Sustainability and Social Justice and a minor in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University.
Lindsay Johnson
MELISSA BROOKS
Jenny joined Explore Ecology first as an Environmental Educator, then as a Program Coordinator, and most recently moved into the newly created Programs, People & Culture position. Prior to Explore Ecology Jenny worked in science research and consulting, however her passion has always been science education and outreach. Jenny loves all things related to the ocean, especially free diving, and enjoying the beauty and wonder that is the underwater world. Her greatest life passion is traveling, which she hopes to do more of again soon.
Lu’s love of all things Earth began at James Madison University in Virginia, where they got their Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Lu has a Master’s degree in Spatial Ecology- the study of how creatures interact across landscapes- from East Carolina University, where they studied rock pools along a river and the critters that dwell in them.
Luz developed a strong sense of devotion for working with diverse populations after studying Sociology at UCSB. Her background in social work includes case management for various non-profits, experience with trauma informed care, and developing/teaching curriculum for school garden education & art resiliency. 
Sarah is very passionate about being involved in the outdoors, as well as expressing creativity. She grew up in the Bay Area learning to garden with her mother and going hiking, camping, and backpacking with her family regularly. While gardening with her mother, she grew a deep connection with the processes of ecosystems and food production, so Sarah believes it can be incredibly beneficial for kids to get hands-on experience in nature. 
Sadie
Clare
Chloe grew up in nearby Ojai, CA, which helped shape her passion for living a green lifestyle and conserving wildlife. 
Aimee moved to Santa Barbara from Asheville, North Carolina. She grew up visiting her Grandma in Ojai and wanted to take the opportunity to be closer to her. By lucky accident, she has also found that she is in love with beautiful Santa Barbara! Aimee’s background prior to her Garden Educator position was in Animal Agriculture and she had a layman’s interest in keeping a garden. The Central Coast is a completely different ball game as far as growing produce and she has greatly enjoyed the challenge, as well as taking every opportunity to grow and learn with her students. She loves giving students opportunities to grow lots of food that is delicious right off the plant, as well as learning about the entire ecosystem of their school gardens. She hopes her teaching feels student-led and informed. 
Angie was born and raised in Santa Barbara. She studied Psychology at San Diego State and was a social worker in San Francisco for five years before she discovered her love of growing food. Angie learned how to grow vegetables with the Green Urban Lunch Box in Salt Lake City and then moved back to the Bay Area to start farming. 
