Jesse Savou
Founder/Owner
Jesse founded BlueBarrel in 2012 to make rainwater harvesting accessible for as many people as possible. A graduate of the Conway School‘s program in sustainable landscape planning and design, Jesse earned her professional accreditation from ARCSA, and then the ASSE 21110/21120 certification as a Rainwater Catchment System Designer. Also a certified permaculture designer, graduate of the Ecosa Institute’s intensive course in sustainable design, and Fellow of the Leadership Institute for Ecology & the Economy, Jesse understands rainwater harvesting as one of many measures to bring our households into balance with the earth’s capacity to thrive.
Jennie Pardi
Customer Service
Jennie has over 20 years’ experience in environmental education and sustainability. She studied field ecology and environmental conservation at Prescott College, and has since completed courses in sustainable landscaping at Sonoma State; Bay Friendly Landscaping with StopWaste.org; and the School Garden Teacher Program at Occidental Arts and Ecology Center. Jennie has managed an organic farm, and supported several schools in starting garden programs including BlueBarrel System™ installations. She is passionate about rainwater harvesting and its positive impact on the environment and self sufficiency.
Kelly Nichols
Customer Service & Graphics
Kelly spent 10 years working in marketing before taking time off to start a family, and found a passion for gardening and off-grid living. Following her dream to be a small farmer, in 2019 Kelly co-founded an organic vegetable farm in the Nevada County Foothills. Farming through 2020 she saw firsthand the toll that drought can take on the land, and now she is an even stronger advocate for water stewardship. Kelly first started with BlueBarrel in 2016, rejoined the customer service team in 2021, and now handles graphics and promotions as well.
Saad Siddiqui
Website
Saad is one of Team BlueBarrel’s original contributors, joining the team in 2013 to build the BlueBarrelSystems.com website. He is a UI development speedster and loves new technologies in front-end development. With over 15 years’ experience in web/app design and development, Saad creates innovative online tools for organizations of all sizes. When he’s not glued to his computer screen, Saad enjoys cooking, with favorites of Mexican, Chinese and subcontinent cuisines. Connect with Saad and see examples of his work at smaztech.com.
Bob Spies
Website
Bob joined Team BlueBarrel in 2015 to lend his expertise in web development, website security, and project management. With many years’ experience in web and software development, Bob builds and supports websites for organizations big and small. In his spare time, Bob enjoys running, singing with a Latin American chorus, and volunteering.
Connect with Bob and see more examples of his work at FlyingSealSystems.com.
Olivia Loughrey
Graphics & Media
Libby has worn many hats at BlueBarrel, starting in 2014. She is the brilliant graphic designer behind the user-friendly instructional materials included with our DIY RainKits™, author of many of our blog articles, and more. Quite the garden expert, she has enjoyed working as a landscape designer in Los Angeles and as a flower farmer in western Massachusetts. Libby graduated from the Conway School (that’s how she met Jesse!) and has since earned a masters in Landscape Architecture in The Garden Capital, Philadelphia.
The Advisory Team
We are ever-thankful to our strong team of committed advisers who met regularly to support the launch of BlueBarrel and our products. From A-to-Z:
Erin Axelrod
Erin is a true fixture in the local permaculture world and a strong advocate for organizations and businesses that represent the new regenerative economy. A problem solver and systems thinker, Erin first met BlueBarrel during her many years with Daily Acts, and continues with her amazing contributions to a regenerative economy through her work with LIFT Business Design.
Robert Landman
Robert is a former general contractor and co-conspirator toward a world in which all people align with their true heart-felt paths. A strong and kind supporter of BlueBarrel from its infancy, Robert attended one of our very first workshops and quickly became a BlueBarreler himself, hosting the filming of our How-To Video Series and more!
Christopher Reamer
Chris is a landscape contractor who first lent his skills to BlueBarrel by building rock solid foundations for our full-service install clients. Reminding us that our power to sculpt our landscapes should be wielded wisely, Chris has lent technical expertise and creativity to BlueBarrel along the way. In addition to being a stellar ecological designer through his own permaculture design/build business, Chris is also a greywater specialist. What better irrigation combination exists than rainwater and greywater?!
Margaret Spaulding
With over 60,000 gallons of rainwater storage capacity at her own home, Margaret is a retired marketing consultant, business owner, and author well known in the community for her contributions to all things sustainable. In addition to advising BlueBarrel, she has served on the boards for the Sonoma Land Trust, Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy, and the Sonoma Clean Power initiative.
Sylvia WynnLindeman
As the founding organizational development consultant behind Practical Management Network (Leadership & Organizational Development), Sylvia is personally responsible for some of BlueBarrel’s first and most valuable business relationships. A key adviser along the way, Sylvia is a true advocate for the building blocks underneath good organizations doing good things.
Other credits are due to many folks who, through life’s twists and turns, lent a helping hand to BlueBarrel in the early days. John Thorburn, Henry Wallace, and Jenna Brager, Jesse’s original project partners and supervisors for the Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden project; Carissa Green and Lily Walter (the original ToolGrrlz); Sarah Farrell and Jeanna Ruppel who stuck their necks out to become two of BlueBarrel’s very first clients and workshop hosts; and Keith Evans, our very first participating barrel supplier who rolled with the punches and set the standard for many more. Thanks to Mike Davis, UC Davis plant pathologist who lends his expertise to our important determinations over the safety of used barrels; and to Peggy Froehlich for meticulous proof-reading. Many thanks, too, to Bern Lefson and Lynn Reiter who volunteer their time and vast experience as business mentors with SCORE.
We must recognize the Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy and the Conservation Corps North Bay—and while neither identifies as a business incubation organization, both were key players behind the inception of BlueBarrel.
Big BlueBarrel Blessings to all of you, and all others who have supported and continue to support BlueBarrel in big ways and small!
