🌱 About our Founder
My name is Rubie Simonsen, and my love for plants started in my grandmother's backyard herb garden, where I spent my childhood crafting potions. I spent my summers baling hay for my Aunt's ranch and roaming the unkept hills of my great-grandparents' family farm, picking blackberries and listening to the trees. Through the privilege of being homeschooled, I had the opportunity to visit museums throughout the country, which nurtured my study of Indigenous history and culture.
I am 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, I have dedicated my career to fostering connections between people, land, and culture. This journey continues as I deepen my learning and healing through connection to land and community.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Sacramento State (2014) and completed the Center for Land-Based Learning’s California Farm Academy Beginner Farmer Training Program (2016), which 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 collaborate with a wide range of communities to develop food systems that support local growers, strengthen agricultural traditions, and honor generational 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 collaborating with organizations and individuals to support sustainable land stewardship, education, and equitable food systems. Whether through strategic planning, workshop facilitation, or program development, I’m committed to helping communities build strong connections with the land and create lasting solutions for future generations.
✨ Let’s Connect!
If you’re passionate about land stewardship, sustainable agriculture, or traditional ecological practices, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s work together to build a future rooted in care for the land and strong community connections.