Santi Lou

Nathan “Santi” Lou was born and raised in San Diego and has completed an AS in Agriculture from Yuba College, and BS in Natural Resources, with special emphasis in Fish and Wildlife Conservation, from Oregon State University. With more than 15 years of cultivation experience, Nathan has developed a passion for agroforestry, community ecology, and mycorrhizal systems. Nathan is the co-founder and executive director of Mongol Tribe, a community and capacity building 501c3 focused on bridging health and wellness with civic ecology. Mongol Tribe’s pillars focus on co-operative development, regenerative land care practices, and education. Our Food & Medicine Sovereignty Program is cultivating edible arboretums and seed libraries throughout our community. Through our Natural Land Management Program we are developing a forestry school at the 67-acre Nate Harrison Serenity Ranch in Palomar Mountain, CA. We are curating workshops, festivals, internships, and apprenticeships with an emphasis in traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), regenerative agroforestry practices, and holistic health & wellness. Nathan is currently utilizing GIS to perform vegetative surveying for forest health, with special emphasis on oak trees and ethnobotanical species. Nathan has an active practice in natural time, embodying the 13-moon calendar and harmonizing his rhythms with the tides and seasons. His ancestry is composed of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Mongolian, Sri Lankan, Indian, Peruvian, and Northern European. He invokes Quan Yin, embodies Ryujin, and carries the medicine of bear, whale, and salmon.

Scheduled Workshops

  • Oak Woodlands as Indigenous Food Forests

    60 min | The Summit

    Oak woodlands are an integral ecosystem for indigenous food sovereignty. In Southern California, oaks are facing numerous threats that are impacting the overall health of the forest. From beetles and drought to fungal infections, oak woodlands are struggling to maintain their foothold. Leading experts have failed to acknowledge their cultural relationship to indigenous care and their ecological dependency on fire, but this is changing. Come learn about the state of the oak woodlands and how Traditional Ecological Knowledge is being used to restore the resilience of these majestic forests.

  • Greenwood Utensil Carving

    60 min | Imaginarium

    Green woodworking is a mindful, meditative practice that results in the creation of something beautiful and functional. Whittling and chip carving is the most fundamental practice used in the creation of kitchen tools. Come experience the process of working from fresh log to functional utensil. In this workshop, you will learn about the tools and techniques needed to make your own greenwood items and touch into the potential for larger projects. This is a demonstration that will inspire you to begin your own journey into the world of woodworking.