🌱 About our Founder, Rubie Simonsen
Rubie is a passionate Indigenous-Filipino advocate for sustainable agriculture, food sovereignty, and the integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into modern practices. With over a decade of experience in farming, community development, and program leadership, she has dedicated her career to fostering connections between people, land, and culture. My background includes formal education, with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Sacramento State (2014) and completion of Center for Land based Learning California Farm Academy, Beginner Farmer Training Program (2016) that laid the foundation for my work in sustainable food systems.
🔗 What I Do
*Farming: As a farmer rooted in Indigenous practices, I cultivate both the land and community relationships, focusing on ecological sustainability and resilience.
*Education & Advocacy: I lead workshops and create programs that highlight TEK, herbalism, and regenerative agriculture, helping others adopt practices that honor cultural heritage and the environment.
*Community Building: I work with diverse groups, including Indigenous and BIPOC communities, to develop food systems that empower local people and respect traditional knowledge.
🌍 My Work Highlights
*Collaborated with Indigenous communities during the pandemic to establish community gardens that provided fresh food for elders and training for youth.
*Developed food sovereignty programs that blend TEK with innovative farming techniques to support sustainable agriculture.
*Organized workshops focused on herbalism, gardening, and TEK, inspiring hundreds to reconnect with the land and ancestral practices.
📈 How I Can Help
I’m passionate about partnering with organizations and individuals to promote sustainable land stewardship, education, and food justice. Whether through strategic planning, workshop facilitation, or program development, I’m committed to empowering communities to thrive in harmony with the earth.
✨ Let’s Connect!
If you’re passionate about environmental justice, sustainable agriculture, or Indigenous knowledge systems, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s work together to build a future rooted in respect for the land and each other.