Jessica Bates (El Sobrante) Is a transplant to the bay area from Washington D.C. She has been establishing her roots in the bay area for the last 13 years. Jessica has been gardening for over 15 years, run multiple gardening education programs (adult, high school, and elementary), she co-founded the Ashby community garden in Berkeley, she has worked with multiple bay area landscapers, and is a certified permaculture teacher and designer who cares about decolonizing permaculture as a movement. She is also an Alameda County “Master Composter,” and is venturing into the art of humanure. She owns and operates a Permaculture business, Food Forest Farm West. She designs, teaches and installs gardens throughout the bay area. Her specialty is in perennial vegetable and annual food production and propagation, as well as CA native and “bay friendly” plants. Jessica is a Contra Costa County Master Gardener who aims to constantly deepen her knowledge and understanding of the gardening world, but also to help give that understanding back to the community.

2016 Convergence Workshops: Growing Community with Urban Food Forests