Meet Drake

Hi there! My name is Drake (she/her) and I'm so excited about your interest in permaculture, whether it's in your landscape, organization or community. I started dreaming up Urban Village Designs LLC in 2020 as an opportunity to put my knowledge, vision and skills into designing regenerative ecological and social systems. My company has gone through many iterations, from a full-service landscaping company with multiple employees to what it is now: a much smaller business and team (mostly me with occasional support form my husband) that focuses on holistic permaculture design, education and stewardship. This work also allows me to regularly collaborate with amazing colleagues in the wider world of land and community care.

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I hold a M.S. in Sustainability Education (2020), B.A. in Social Sciences, minor in Civic Leadership and completed my Permaculture Design Certificate at Portland State University in 2014.

 

My first experiences with holistic agriculture and regenerative living began in 2011 while living on a biodynamic farm and ecovillage in Peru. Since then, I have continued to develop applied knowledge through personal, professional and academic pursuits in the fields of permaculture design, environmental restoration, biodynamic and organic farming, landscaping, project management, non-profit management, service-learning, event production, group facilitation, outdoor and experiential education for youth and adults, personal coaching and mindfulness practices. The work I offer through UVD is heavily influenced by all these fields.

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On top of running UVD, I also serve as garden manager at the Yamane-Bose Food Forest.

 

I'm a baby mama, dog mama, chicken, frog, insect and bee keeper, avid backpacker (both internationally and in the backcountry), writer/memoirist, whole systems nerd and urban village enthusiast.​

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