Stewards of Quiet Creek
Ashton, Claire, Walker and Rusty Orner are the stewards of Quiet Creek Herb Farm & School of Country Living.
Ashton is a 10th grader at Conserve School in Land O' Lakes, Wl. Currently he is learning the intensity of environmental science, Spanish, English, History, Earth Art, Stewardship, and Camping Skills all in the context of the North Woods not far from Aldo Leopold's phenology spots. He is completely immersed in X-Country skiing, downhill skiing, ice skating, sledding, and snow shoeing. This summer he plans to return as an apprentice at Quiet Creek, conduct two environmental service projects at a Peruvian eco-village and Slippery Rock University along with being a camp counselor at Timber Ridge Dance Camp.
Claire has a BS in Geology from West Virginia University and two Master degrees in Middle School Education and Curriculum & Instruction from Appalachian State University and the University of Washington, respectively. She is certified in the states of Pennsylvania and North Carolina to teach K-12 students general curriculum, biology earth science, environmental science, physics, and chemistry and has teaching experience in both states. In North and South Carolina she was employed as an Energy/Environmental Educator of Carolina Power & Light Company and Citizen Power. Claire coordinated the University of Washington Science/Mathematics Fellows Program. Prior to her teaching experience, Claire was a hydro-geology with Todd Giddings and Associates monitoring the water quality/quantity problems associated with the coal and solid waste industries.
On the university level, Claire coordinated the University of Washington Science/Mathematics Fellows Program. Currently she is serving on the Board of Directors at PASA (PA Association of Sustainable Agriculture) and the Jefferson County Solid Waste Authority.
Walker is completing his GAP Year between high school and college. During that important time he has served in Spain, Italy, England, Ireland and Guatemala on various service projects -- everything from teaching English, digging out pipes, representing the USA as a Slow Food Delegate, making videos to data entry. He is preparing for the North American Unicycling Convention and Championships in Seattle this summer, apprenticing at Quiet Creek, and completing a Solar Installation Intensive Workshop to help reduce the carbon footprint of Quiet Creek. Walker was awarded the highest merit-based scholarship, the Presidential Award, offered to incoming freshman attending Chatham University. He is excited to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Digital Media in Pittsburgh, PA at Rachel Carson's alma mater.
Rusty has a BS in Agriculture from Pennsylvania State University and experience in dairy farming, growing herbs/vegetables and landscaping. He is passionate about his ministry at the Jefferson County Jail and sharing the love of Christ with Quiet Creek's community. He has been active with his family in the Farmer to Farmer Program in Guatemala sharing his skills in mushroom cultivation, herbal soap making, worm composting and building community.
At Quiet Creek, the Orner Team conducts seminars on the topics of renewable and non-renewable energy, generation of electricity using solar and wind energy, organic gardening, earthen building, medicinal use of herbs, whole-foods nutrition, and more to kindergarten through adult (teachers and administrators) students. They combine their their love of teaching by offering an array of environmental education and sustainable living programs funded by grant writing, tax deductible contributions, and educational improvement tax credits in Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Jamaica, Guatemala and France.
Ashton is a 10th grader at Conserve School in Land O' Lakes, Wl. Currently he is learning the intensity of environmental science, Spanish, English, History, Earth Art, Stewardship, and Camping Skills all in the context of the North Woods not far from Aldo Leopold's phenology spots. He is completely immersed in X-Country skiing, downhill skiing, ice skating, sledding, and snow shoeing. This summer he plans to return as an apprentice at Quiet Creek, conduct two environmental service projects at a Peruvian eco-village and Slippery Rock University along with being a camp counselor at Timber Ridge Dance Camp.
Claire has a BS in Geology from West Virginia University and two Master degrees in Middle School Education and Curriculum & Instruction from Appalachian State University and the University of Washington, respectively. She is certified in the states of Pennsylvania and North Carolina to teach K-12 students general curriculum, biology earth science, environmental science, physics, and chemistry and has teaching experience in both states. In North and South Carolina she was employed as an Energy/Environmental Educator of Carolina Power & Light Company and Citizen Power. Claire coordinated the University of Washington Science/Mathematics Fellows Program. Prior to her teaching experience, Claire was a hydro-geology with Todd Giddings and Associates monitoring the water quality/quantity problems associated with the coal and solid waste industries.
On the university level, Claire coordinated the University of Washington Science/Mathematics Fellows Program. Currently she is serving on the Board of Directors at PASA (PA Association of Sustainable Agriculture) and the Jefferson County Solid Waste Authority.
Walker is completing his GAP Year between high school and college. During that important time he has served in Spain, Italy, England, Ireland and Guatemala on various service projects -- everything from teaching English, digging out pipes, representing the USA as a Slow Food Delegate, making videos to data entry. He is preparing for the North American Unicycling Convention and Championships in Seattle this summer, apprenticing at Quiet Creek, and completing a Solar Installation Intensive Workshop to help reduce the carbon footprint of Quiet Creek. Walker was awarded the highest merit-based scholarship, the Presidential Award, offered to incoming freshman attending Chatham University. He is excited to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Digital Media in Pittsburgh, PA at Rachel Carson's alma mater.
Rusty has a BS in Agriculture from Pennsylvania State University and experience in dairy farming, growing herbs/vegetables and landscaping. He is passionate about his ministry at the Jefferson County Jail and sharing the love of Christ with Quiet Creek's community. He has been active with his family in the Farmer to Farmer Program in Guatemala sharing his skills in mushroom cultivation, herbal soap making, worm composting and building community.
At Quiet Creek, the Orner Team conducts seminars on the topics of renewable and non-renewable energy, generation of electricity using solar and wind energy, organic gardening, earthen building, medicinal use of herbs, whole-foods nutrition, and more to kindergarten through adult (teachers and administrators) students. They combine their their love of teaching by offering an array of environmental education and sustainable living programs funded by grant writing, tax deductible contributions, and educational improvement tax credits in Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Jamaica, Guatemala and France.
