Thiemo Blank began Zen practice in Germany in 1989. In 2008, he left his job in medical research to move to Green Gulch Farm. He was ordained as a Soto Zen Priest in 2010 by Tenshin Reb Anderson and served as Shuso (Head Student) in Fall 2016. After being Plant Manger, Guest Program Manager and Director of Green Gulch Farm he is now in the role of Tanto (Head of Practice). Thiemo lives with his wife Stephanie and their two children, Miro and Lucia at Green Gulch.