About Kenwood Permaculture

Kenwood Permaculture began with the completion of construction on Mark and Karen's home in 2004. It is a work in progress. We are engaged in a process of continuing development and evolution of our 21st century homestead.

We used the permaculture design philosophy as a major design paradigm. Some of the sustainable features of our house include: passive solar design, solar pv, solar hot water, rain harvesting and storage, water filtration and purification, green roofs, geothermal heating system, non-toxic stains and finishes, Smart House automation, edible landscapes, organic gardening, native habitat and restoration, and more.

Mark Feichtmeir

Mark grew up in an entrepreneurial design and construction family in Walnut Creek, CA in the fifties and sixties. His father designed, built, and managed apartment communities. In the late sixties, his parents decided the family needed to broaden its horizons so they joined the Peace Corps. They headed off to Afghanistan for two years where Mark's father was administrative director. Mark graduated high school there, then went on to Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. After graduating with a BA in Music, he moved to New York City for ten years where he studied jazz guitar. In the early eighties, he moved to the northwest and worked in the lumber industry for a number of years. He ultimately returned to the SF Bay Area in 1989. In 1991, he joined the family property management business and continues to this day.

In 2000, the opportunity arose to design and build a 21st century homestead in Northern California. During the course of his research, Mark earned a Permaculture Design certificate. He is an avid reader. Since 2000, he has read over 90 books on subjects pertaining to sustainable building and design, energy and ecology, global politics and culture, landscape and gardening, and food and food politics.

He joined Toastmasters in 2005. He quickly earned his Competent Toastmaster certification and has served multiple officer positions at his local club. His wide-ranging interests include sustainable building and design, public speaking, permaculture, Slow Food and the Weston A Price Foundation, technology, smart house automation, travel, and long-term health.

Karen Boness

Karen was born in Wisconsin. Although she had an urban upbringing, both her parents grew up on farms in the north where they grew, made and built everything they needed to survive. Her educational background is a BA in Psychology and MA in Counseling Psychology. Her first job was as a social worker for developmentally challenged children. Karen came to California in her early 20s and worked for about 20 years as a Computer Programmer (COBOL, believe it or not!).

She took a year off in 1990 to travel solo around the world. She then earned a TEFL certificate and taught English and lived in both Ecuador and Japan.

After settling back in the states, Karen earned her Permaculture Design Certificate. She continued her studies at Merritt College in Oakland, CA where she received landscape horticulture and landscape design certificates. Karen is wildly passionate about permaculture, California native plants, edible landscaping and medical herbalism. In 2003, she started up her own business, Wild Willow Landscape Design, where she offers ecological design and horticultural consulting services.