Myra Sohn, R.Ph
(Registered pharmacist of California) integrates her almost 30 years of professional experience in prescription medicine with her extensive knowledge and passion for holistic medicine.  She received her first pharmacy degree (R.Ph.) in prescription medicine with a subspecialization in eastern and herbal medicine in Korea. Shortly after, Myra came to the USA with her family and obtained her California pharmacy licence. For nearly ten years, Myra worked as a pharmacist at Rite Aid Pharmacy, Glendora Medical Pharmacy, UCI Medical Center, and Roche Professional Home Health Care.  She later created Pioneer Pharmacy and expanded her practice in the community for close to ten years.  During this time, Myra experienced the limitations of conventional prescription medicine for both her clients and herself.  She concluded that personalized holistic medicine, combining her knowledge of traditional remedies,  nutraceuticals, and homeopathic and  herbal medicine with her scientific knowledge and professional experience, could help her community by offering a complementary and healthy alternative. To strengthen this goal. She engaged with the community by conducting workshops on holistic living at the Myra House, an ecological based community and non-profit organization in Claremont, California. She also studied pastoral care and counseling at the Claremont School of Theology. At Ecoterra, Myra has a vision to use her integrated knowledge to care for individuals in order to strengthen their vitality and holistic well being and thereby to help build a long-lasting and healthy community.

Sung Jacob Sohn, Ph.D.
A holistic educator, practical theologian, socio-cultural architect and ecological/sustainable design consultant. Sung received his Ph.D. from Practical Theology Department at Claremont School of Theology. He is the founder of Myra House Holistic Living Center (2001), Ecoterra (2007) and Acology Institute (2008). In the early summer of 1986, Sung and his family moved to the United States. His first graduate study was at Tulane University, with a focus on multicultural built-environment. At UCLA, he undertook his second graduate study in art history with an emphasis in culture and urban study. After receiving his Master of Divinity degree, Sung began his doctoral study at Claremont School of Theology, focusing on ecology, spirituality and practical theology. The studies of spiritual, social, and environmental ecology lead him to practice those principles in integrative settings such as Myra House and Ecoterra.

Since 2001, Myra House has been a cross-cultural learning as well as biologically healing place for residents and guests to share ethnic foods, perform music events, and host yoga and Zen practices. The house was remodeled according to ecological principles – interconnecting living and gardening spaces, humans and live stock (rabbits, chickens, cats and dog), residents and retreatants, falling water ponds and fruit/vegetable gardens, etc. The house also has incorporated organic gardening with composting to create healthful soil and for growing vegetables at outdoor greenhouse and lands. For sustainable implication, the building not only use energy efficient lighting bulb, 18 of photowatt 100 photovoltaic panels converts solar electric power 1.8 kilowatt per hour average per year. Solar hot water heating tank has been placed to preheat water for baths, showers and washing dishes. Myra House living has enabled Sung to write and publish The Sextet Love Story: A Perfect Love Story in An Imperfect Society (originally published in Korean and later translated into English).

The Myra House family and Sung have worked together at Ecoterra to promote personal and social health with a fundamental belief that people deserve good food and natural medicines at an affordable price. Ecoterra has become a popular public space where locals meet and chat about everything from health and natural cooking to holistic parenting, green living and spiritual lifestyle. Sung’s alternative education program integrates the study of culture, science and religion. This aspiration was crystallized as the Acology Institute, which stands for A (Agapic love-centered) + Eco (oikos-ecologically-grounded) + logie (integrative study). In this light, AI is conceived to be a new educational model and a catalyst for restoring ecological integrity in inner/inter/intra-relationships among person(s) to person(s) and nature to God in both the local and global contexts. Participants seek to be leaders through a cross-cultural approach. Their goals are set on environmental stewardship for the well being of present and future generations. The AI program is an intellectual and ecologically oriented academic avenue for the values characterizing Myra House and Ecoterra.

Sung is currently working on a new book titled From the Depth of Heart To the Ends of Earth: Journey Towards Integrative Wholeness for the Displaced.

Myra House: www.myrahouse.com
Acology Institute: www.acologyinstitute.org

Guntram von Kiparski, Ph.D
Environmental Scientist, Chemist. UC environmental researcher currently active in field and laboratory projects involving water quality, soil biogeochemistry and society. At the Acology Institute, he is conducting research on critical zones in the built environment.

Ecoterra (2007 - present), Acology Institute (2008 - present) and University of California (2005 – present)

Recent Publication: von Kiparski, G.R. and A.R. Gillespie (2008) Agroforestry management effects on plant productivity vectors within a humid-temperate hardwood alley-cropping system In Toward Agroforestry Design: An Ecological Approach, Gordon and Jose (ed), Spring Verlag, Dordrecht

Thomas Lou
Head Chef, Vegetarian/Vegan meals