Rhianna Simes grew up “in the middle of nowhere,” on her family’s 100 acre farm and vineyard in central Texas. Rhianna recently retired from 10 years as an instructor at the Oregon State University Extension Service, where she developed the Land Steward program, Citizen Fire Academy, and also coordinated the Master Gardener program. She has a Master’s of Science in Education and Botany from Southern Oregon University.
Rhianna lives with her husband and two young children outside Phoenix, OR where they operate their own 1 acre, educational mini-farm called Verdant Phoenix (specializing in organic plant starts, perennial food, healthy soil and natural farming). Rhianna serves on the board for the Southern Oregon Seed Growers Association and as Council chair for the Rogue Valley Food System Network. Rhianna is a plant nerd who is passionate about local food, seed sovereignty, and building community!