Russell Precious

Chair Expansion Committee

After graduating with a BA in Asian History at UBC and UC Berkeley, Russell studied organic farming with pioneer organic farmer and teacher, John Harrison. Subsequently he co-founded the ‘Naam’ vegetarian restaurant in Vancouver (still running after 35 years); Willit Enterprisese--an organic retail & wholesale fruit operation; Quadra Foods Market on Quadra Island and Capers natural foods stores in Vancouver. In 1993 he was a founding director of “Farm Folk City Folk” and was finalist for both the regional ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ and Van City’s ‘Ethics in Action’ awards. In 1999 he was one of three first recipients of the B.C. ‘organic pioneers award’. Concurrently he was involved in several intentional communities, Hollyhock Retreat Center and co-founded the Quadra Island Waldorf School. He has been a student of green architecture, studying with students of Christopher Alexander and has been involved in the design and construction of a dozen projects. In 2000 he was a founding partner of ‘Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy’ in Boulder, Co. where he oversaw design and branding—there are presently 25 stores. In April of 2006 he returned to his farm in Nelson, British Columbia. He is presently working on the Greenhouse Project—a 26 unit ‘green’ housing initiative in Nelson, is a director of the West Kootenay Eco Society and is on the financial planning committee for the Harrop Procter Community Forest. He really likes growing food, cooking food and sharing food with friends………