Earthwise associates are a core group of individuals committed to working closely together on projects and initiatives that are based in the principles of environmental and economic sustainability and social equity.

Mike Ortosky

Mike is a landscape architect and soil scientist with over 30 years of experience in the areas of soil and landscape evaluation, site planning and design. He is committed to utilizing that experience to develop sustainable, mindful communities. These local, living economies are based in small scale housing, local food systems, distributed energy, and sustainable water management. He believes that through the collaborative effort of many creative individuals and groups, a new sustainable economy can be created that balances social, environmental, and economic needs.

Tony Kleese

Tony has been working to develop a southeastern organic food system since 1989. He started and managed organic vegetable and cut flower operations in several North Carolina counties, and he continues to actively design and install organic farms today. Tony helped develop the USDA’s National Organic Standards and was the first Coordinator of the Sustainable Farming Program at Central Carolina Community College in Pittsboro, N.C. He has served in many roles for the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA), including Executive Director from 2000 to 2007. During this time at CFSA, Tony helped launch Eastern Carolina Organics. His current work focuses on helping protect high quality farmland through stimulating agricultural entrepreneurship.

Buddy Milliken

Buddy is the owner of The Milliken Company, a real estate firm specializing in development and consulting based on New Urbanism and Sustainability principles. He is the founder of Woodsong, a traditional walking neighborhood located in Shallotte, N.C. Buddy is a member of the Congress for the New Urbanism, Cape Fear Green Building Alliance, and serves on the advisory board of N.C. Sea Grant and on the board of the Brunswick County Community Foundation.

Steve Moore

Steve and his family have farmed organically for over 30 years. He is a pioneer in greenhouse and high tunnel production. He is a certified grow bio-intensive teacher and has extensively utilized permaculture principles. He was the past Director of the Center for Sustainable Living Wilson College, founder of the Robyn Van En Center for CSA Resources, and Co-founder of Harmony Essentials, an organization dedicated to the vision and practices of a sustaining food system. Steve has served as board member on the Pennsylvania Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Board, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, and Ecology Action, based in Willits, CA. He is an energy specialist and farm unit manager at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS).