Saskia Esslinger

Saskia is a permaculture designer, teacher, and practitioner in Anchorage, Alaska. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Western Washington University and has varied work experience in the field. She was an intern on an organic farm in upstate New York, a children’s gardening program coordinator for the Sustainable Food Center in Austin, Texas, a volunteer grant-writer for the Wildlife and Environmental Society in Malawi, and co-creator of the Sundog Café in Rio Dulce, Guatemala.

Her work with Gaia University focused on creating right livelihood with her husband, Matt Oster. Saskia used permaculture principles to design and implement a business plan that would help them work towards their holistic goals as well as help people and the planet. Their business, Red Edge Design, offers home energy audits and edible garden services, and is working towards whole site integration.

Saskia is passionate about food and gardening, and has worked with Matt to turn their duplex into a modern urban homestead and permaculture demonstration site dubbed The Williams Street Farmhouse.  From this practical application of permaculture in a somewhat challenging environment she has gained the skills to help others grow more of their own food and live more sustainably.
Saskia is also very involved in her community as unofficial leader of the Anchorage Permaculture Guild and administrator of a statewide permaculture networking website In 2010 she helped organize and teach Alaska’s first Permaculture Design Course.

Gaia University taught me how to articulate my goals and design a path to achieve them. Rather than giving me the answers, they gave me the tools to figure things out for myself in an orderly and directed way. I learned a new language and strategy to become an effective world changer. I feel inspired and empowered from my Gaia University experience, and am delighted to help others along their path.