PAULA WESTMORELAND - Founder, Lead designer & land guide

As a permaculture designer, agroecologist, teacher, and author, Paula Westmoreland is a leading voice in the regenerative community. As Founder, Co-Owner and Designer at Ecological Design, Paula is passionate about designing whole systems that connect people to the land in a way that enriches both and guiding people in reconnecting with land. 

Paula has a Masters degree in Ecology, Sustainable Agriculture and Landscape Design from the University of Minnesota, received her Permaculture Design Certificate in 2000, and started Ecological Design that same year. 

In 2003, she co-founded the Permaculture Research Institute Cold Climate and developed the Natural Capital Plant Database for designing polycultures and cropping systems.  In 2010 Paula co-authored a book of illustrated essays, “This Perennial Land: Third Crops, Blue Earth and the Road to a Restorative Agriculture”.  Paula is on the Board of the Permaculture Institute of North America.

LINDSAY REBHAN - CEO

Ecological Design Owner, Designer, Educator, Lindsay Rebhan is passionate about the health of land, water and people. She is a keen observer of the natural world and food systems. She loves supporting others with their land, livelihood, learning and nourishment. 

A specialist in agroecology, land use, land design and land management, Lindsay works with gardeners, farmers, food nonprofits and organizations to increase the ecological, human, animal and economic health of land over time.

A graduate of Environmental Studies at the University of St. Thomas, Lindsay studied food systems and culture in Bangladesh, Cuba and Guatemala. She is a former Program Director at Permaculture Research Institute Cold Climate, a Program Coordinator at Renewing the Countryside.  Lindsay co-teaches an annual Regenerative Farm Design Course at Mastodon Valley Farm.  She serves on the Advisory Council for Commons Land, the Board of BioNutrient Food Association, the Advisory Council of the Savanna Institute and is a speaker & leader on Land Regeneration and Ecological Design.

LAURA FREUND - Designer

A Certified Permaculture Designer, Laura Freund has worked with Ecological Design since 2007 in urban design and installation. Laura has a diverse horticultural background with experience in greenhouse production, plant propagation, ecological restoration and farming. She gardens extensively on her own property where she experiments with plant hardiness, pest management, incorporating children and creating functional design. Laura loves the work she does and is most happy when sharing what she’s learned with others.

Julie Ristau - Advisor, Land Transition Consultant

Julie grew up on a small diversified farm in Southern Minnesota and has years of professional experience in the agriculture arena. She founded Minnesota Rural Organizing Project and co-founded Homegrown Minneapolis, the city’s local Urban Agriculture and Food initiative. She was also on the Board of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture for six years and is currently on the Board of Shared Capital Cooperative. Julie joined Sharing Our Roots in 2015 to help acquire and establish their 100-acre farm. She served as Executive Director from 2018-2020 and now works with the Sharing Our Roots' team as a Senior Fellow, a Climate Land Leader and as the spark for the new Southeast Minnesota Agrarian Commons.

United Designers International works in digitizing and design for Ecological Design and we co-own the Natural Capital Plant Database together.

UDI is cooperative of international ecological designers and consultants. They design ecological resilience within every project. Striving for abundant food production and natural resources in spite of Climate Change, politics or extreme weather conditions. Helping to build a thriving ecosystem to match local ecology, economy, project preferences and supported by local traditions.

Jim Barmore - 3d visualization

Jim graduated with a degree in environmental engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville in 2005. Following graduation Jim meandered across the country investigating examples of sustainable strategies. In his travels he completed two terms of service with AmeriCorps, lived in an intentional community, studied permaculture, and fulfilled numerous roles in the fields of alternative energy, habitat restoration, and the construction trades.

Jim’s latest adventure is his 3D visualization studio, Harrier Geographics, LLC,. Since 2014, Jim has modeled hundreds of properties impacted by eminent domain projects, served as an expert visualization witness in jury trials, and equipped design professionals with dynamic 3D renderings and animations.

Jim leverages workflows in RTK surveying, drone technologies, GIS, 3D design software, and photogrammetry to create visualizations that inspire, educate, and facilitate collaboration.

Mark Angelini - Designer

Mark Angelini is a certified Permaculture Designer, and works in design and digitization for Ecological Design.

Mark was born and raised in Southeast Michigan on the outskirts of the Motor City. He has spent the majority of his adult life learning from a myriad of teachers and mentors. After interning with Appleseed Permaculture and Green Phoenix Permaculture in upstate New York, he went on to study and practice deeply in the realms of regenerative and organic agriculture, ecological and permaculture design, Western herbalism, ecology, wild foods, traditional woodworking, and fermentation. Aside from his passions for plants, he is an avid woodworker, cider maker, and overall hand-skills enthusiast. He leads consulting and design for Mountain Run Permaculture.