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About Us
Gina and her husband Jeff bought this 5.5 acre property in 1998. Situated at the foot of Mt. Barnabe (1400 ft) in rural Lagunitas Ca, approximately 30 miles from San Francisco and less than 3 miles from Samuel P. Taylor State Park, it sits among several small farms in the area. With full sun, rich soil, and a steady supply of well water, the land was ideal for growing.
Jeff, being an arborist, and Gina an avid gardener, they opted for planting a mixed fruit orchard, consisting of many heirloom varieties of apples and pears, along with some stone fruit and berries. They made garden beds, erected a hoop house, built a chicken coop and goat pen, carved out several seating areas, laid irrigation lines, and generally worked tirelessly, all while raising their two boys, now teenagers. Red Twig Farm has evolved into a gathering place for events and community, but continues to be their home and place of refuge. |
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Gina has pursued a lifelong interest in intersecting health, art, and nature. Her life has unfolded in an organic process much as the seasons do. She grew up on Long Island, NY, and after receiving a BA in photography at RIT in Rochester, packed up her car and drove west to seek out a career where the weather was more friendly.
After some years, she and a friend started “WeBeGreen”, a business growing and selling wheat grass for local health food stores. This began her love, not only for the rich smell of soil and the satisfaction of nurturing plants, but of the health benefits of organic agriculture. After purchasing land in the San Geronimo Valley Ca., Gina began to grow her vision for a sustainable life of growing food for family and community. She taught gardening to kids K-8 at her children’s school while simultaneously worked to make Red Twig Farm a hub of community gatherings, and an ecosystem of harmony, beauty, and health. It is her great pleasure to share these abundant riches with others. Today she dedicates herself full time to the farm, and offers workshops with Heather Podoll sponsored by Fibershed. |
Photo by Kalie llana Cassel-Feiss
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Heather and Gina began working together as garden educators in the small public K-8 school where their children were enrolled. They enjoyed the collaboration and inspiration of their partnership so much, that they carried this working relationship onto Gina's land, where they began offering workshops on a wide array of nature related topics. They planted their first indigo crop in the spring of 2015, which sent them down the path of natural dyeing, a relatively new endeavor for them.
Their love of plants and the natural world keeps them exploring new topics to share with their surrounding community. |
