Neshobe Farm is being pioneered by Elemental Partners, a consortium of environmentally conscious builders who are committed to the values of sustainability and community.

Chuck Johnson, Founder

Chuck Johnson, a builder from Sonoma County, California, has been a student and practitioner of natural building since the mid-1970s. He started his company, Artisan Builders, in 1989, working as a general contractor designing and building custom homes utlizing natural and sustainable materials. He later expanded into environmentally sensitive land development. Chuck lives with his wife and two teenage daughters in their beautiful Sebastopol arts and crafts style home built by Artisan Builders. Chuck directs design and development for Neshobe Farm.

Michael Jacob

Michael, founder of Talia Development, is a general contractor building custom green homes in Northern California. Michael has a background in large commercial construction management and has been active in developing co-housing communities. He lives in a co-housing community in Sebastopol, California, with his wife and daughter.

Craig Meltzner

Craig Meltzner, of Craig Meltzner and Associates, has been an affordable housing development consultant in the Bay Area for twenty years, working with numerous non-profits and public agencies on funding and project management. His company, established in 1989, does professional housing and community development consulting, assisting community-oriented developers to plan, permit, and finance affordable homeownership and rental housing. Craig was recently awarded the 2009 Sonoma County Housing Hero Award for his work in the creation of over 2,000 units of affordable housing throughout California.

Allen Matthews

Allen is a sixth generation farmer from Pennsylvania with a Masters degree in organizational development. He currently works for the University of Vermont’s Sustainable Agriculture Department. Allen consults with farmers and land owners on organic farming practices and develops business plans and funding for small-scale sustainable agricultural projects. He directs the organic agriculture component for Neshobe Farm.