Ryan Silsbee

Ryan Silsbee is a skilled Conservation Project Manager at the San Mateo Resource Conservation District since 2024, with a strong background in sustainable agriculture and resource management. Previously, Ryan served as a Water Resources Agricultural Analyst at Watershed Progressive from 2022 to 2024, focusing on sustainable agricultural practices and resilience projects. As Co-Founder of Fire Tongue Farms, Ryan specialized in chile pepper production from 2014 to 2024 and managed diverse landscapes as the Land Manager at Nestldown LLC from 2021 to 2022. Experience as Orchard Manager and Specialist at Orchard Keepers Inc. from 2015 to 2021 included developing organic growing systems and offering best management advice to growers. Ryan's earlier roles included surf guiding and teaching sustainable agriculture at UC Santa Cruz, alongside various positions in local food systems and cooperative management. Educationally, Ryan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from UC Berkeley and a Certificate in Ecological Horticulture from UC Santa Cruz.