Don Tipping, Treasurer

Don Tipping has been farming and offering hands-on, practical workshops at Seven Seeds Farm since 1997.  Seven Seeds is a small, certified organic family farm in the Siskiyou Mountains of SW Oregon that produces fruits, vegetables, seeds, flowers and herbs, while raising sheep, poultry and people. The farm has been designed to function as a self-contained, life regenerating organism with waste products being recycled and feeding other elements of the system.  Lauded as one of the best examples of a small productive Biodynamic and Permaculture farms in the Northwest by many, Seven Seeds helps to mentor new farmers through internships and workshops. In 2009 we began Siskiyou Seeds, a bioregional organic seed company that grows and stewards a collection of over 700 open pollinated flower, vegetable and herb seeds and is constantly breeding new varieties that we distribute nationally.  Siskiyou Seeds produces about 50% of the seed at our home farm and then sources the remainder from a network of organic seed growers throughout the PNW.

Don is active in the Seed Stewardship movement and educates regionally on seed saving through the Seed Academy, the Student Organic Seed Symposium, Seed Schools and numerous conferences.  He currently sits on the board of a new non-profit called Seeds of Light that is developing educational programs from Gap year students and workshops aimed at growing humans through their head, heart and hands.

Other collaborations include: Top Leaf Farm (Berkeley, CA), Ecological Farming Association (Watsonville, CA), founder of Siskiyou Sustainable Cooperative (Applegate, OR), the Family Farmers Seed Cooperative, contributor/educator Our Family Farms Coalition(Ashland, OR), Organic Seed Alliance (Port Townsend, WA), OSU Extension Small Farms Program (Medford, OR), the National Heirloom Expo(Santa Rosa, CA), the Ecology Center (San Juan Capistrano, CA),  the Organicology Conference (Portland, OR), the Organic Seed Growers Conference (Corvallis, OR), and numerous other small organic farm conferences and organizations.

Peter Salant, Board Member

Board Member Peter Salant has lived in the Little Applegate Valley since 2000, having bought a small beef cattle ranch there in 1994.

Peter was born in New York City, and grew up in California since he was a four-year old.  Raised in both rural and urban environments, he took to raising cattle as a teenager and pursued Animal Husbandry, attending Cal-Poly Pomona in 1975.

Peter has worked in drug rehabilitation and juvenile re-education, has been in the wholesale food business, the international import-export business, and the raising of beef cattle during a lifetime of adventure.  He and his wife moved to Southern Oregon to raise their daughter here in the Ruch area, with a strong belief in public school education.  She has now fulfilled her dream and become a Marine Biologist.

Raising home-grown, quality beef for the public is Peter’s retirement passion, and he works at it daily.  He’s been on the Board of the Medford Schools Foundation, as well as that of the Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market.  He is excited to be part of this bread-basket of locally grown, high quality food produced here in Southern Oregon.  He is honored to be newly nominated to the Board of A Greater Applegate, and continue participating in the positive momentum we’ve achieved here in the Greater Applegate Valley.

Alison Hensley Sexauer, Chair

Born and raised in the high country of the Angeles National Forest, to a family that owned and operated 8 campgrounds and a small ski resort, Kratka Ridge. In 2000, she moved to Santa Barbara to attend UCSB where she graduated with a BA in Global Studies and Spanish Literature.  From there Alison found herself in the midst of global travels and Farmers Markets, where she spent the next decade-plus of her life managing markets for Peacock Family Farms and Roots Organic Farms. In 2010 she Co-founded the Santa Barbara SOL Food Festival, with a mission to inspire, empower and promote local food and farming transformation.  In 2012 she co-founded Lucidity Festival as the Food and Sustainability Director of the LLC.

All in all, she has spent the last 15 years developing a passion for creating sustainable food culture through education, inspirational events and talks, and empowering herself and others to live into the change they see is possible.  She believes that food is the universal common denominator and a powerful agent of change. She is committed to creating, supporting, and growing businesses and community endeavors whose mission is towards creating a more sensible, regenerative, and just human and non-human presence on the planet.

Alison and her husband Tim moved to the Applegate Valley at the end of 2016 and she has thoroughly enjoyed working with and meeting a new region of food-lovin’ folk and tasting the bounty that Rogue Valley has to offer.

Janis Mohr-Tipton, Board Member and Park Enhancement Program Chair

Janis grew up in rural northern Oregon as a fourth generation member of her farming family near Helvetia. After she graduated from Oregon State in both forestry and nutrition/dietetics in 1975, she moved to southern Oregon and entered into US Forest Service work at Star Ranger Station. There she met her future husband and, after a few years in forest work, they began raising their family (three children). She also began volunteering in the local community and hasn’t stopped. In 1979, she first volunteered with, and then worked for, the Jackson County Libraries, and still does early literacy storytimes for 0 – 3 year olds at Ruch and Central Point Libraries. Janis has volunteered with Friends of the Ruch Library for many years; is a SMART coordinator and reader at Ruch School; annually serves as a community judge for senior high school projects; joined the Applegate Valley Garden Club, and started the Senior Shoebox Project with the members of our local seniors.  In 2016 she proposed a Monarch Butterfly Garden at Cantrall Buckley Park and then joined the Park Committee to help with several projects and coordinate volunteer work with SOLVE. This newest volunteer work brings her full circle to what she trained for in forestry: natural resource management with an emphasis on education for all age groups and outdoor learning centers. When she wants a quiet moment and reflection time, she gardens, does beadwork, or drumming. “Serving in my community is my passion, and it makes my heart sing. I have so many interests in the world around me, and I get to share, listen, mentor, and learn.”

Kim Zwemer-Margulis, Secretary

Kim grew up in the suburbs of the East Bay Area while always dreaming of and scheming to get to more rural and wild places. In 2002, Kim and her family bought their home on Sterling Creek, two weeks before the Squire Fire broke out. They were evacuated for four long days to town with friends and caring for their 6-month old baby. In 2008 Shadowchaser of the Siskiyous, a wildfire ecology and local nature children’s book was released and so began her journey of educating others about our beautiful area and the dangers and benefits of wildfire. Currently, Kim continues to have a part-time private practice in Mental Health Counseling and enjoys gardening on her land on Sterling Creek. She is passionate about bringing the community together to enjoy our shared agricultural, cultural and social gifts and opportunities.

Jim Reiland, Board Member 

Jim moved west after earning a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He worked for twenty-five years in the contract furniture industry, holding positions in management, marketing, and training.  After moving to the Applegate he began a second career in construction, specializing in energy-efficient, carbon storing buildings and rainwater catchment systems. Now retired, he continues to consult and teach. A board member of the California Straw Building Association since 2006, he developed a workshop program, managed a book writing effort, and now produces training videos. Jim has been the volunteer maintenance coordinator with the Siskiyou Upland Trails Association since 2009, helping to keep both the Jack-Ash and Sterling Mine Ditch Trails open.  He has been involved with AGA’s Nonprofit and Business Working Groups, and is a steering committee member of the Rogue Valley Prescribed Burn Association.  Jim and his wife enjoy hiking, gardening, and expansive views from their hillside home.

Megan Fehrman, Executive Director

Megan grew up in the heartland and earned her undergraduate degrees in Agricultural Economics and International Relations at the University of Wisconsin before heading West. After exploring several aspects of community organizing, sustainability, and education, Megan earned a master’s degree at Portland State University, focusing on Community Food Systems and Agroecology. Most recently, she has earned a graduate certificate at Oregon State University in Rural Public Policy. Throughout her professional career, Megan has woven together community organizing, food and agriculture, asset-based community mapping, and now rural community building. Megan has worked as a statewide advocate and educator for socially responsible agriculture and as the Education Program Director for a non-profit that aimed to train and assist the next generation of farmers and ranchers. She is currently the Director of Vision Strategy for A Greater Applegate and is facilitating the Applegate Valley Vision process, step by step. Megan has lived in the Little Applegate Valley for 14 years. She also serves as an advisor to the Rogue Valley Food System Network, and is developing skills to consult with other rural communities focusing on community building, resiliency, and relocalization. When not at work, Megan likes to dig in the dirt, walk in the woods, travel, take in some music, be on the water, and spend time with family and friends.

Email: megan@agreaterapplegate.org

Christina Ammon, Copywriter and Destinations Consultant

Christina Ammon has considered the Rogue Valley her homebase for thirty years, but has left several times: Once to get her Masters degree in Literary Nonfiction from the University of Oregon. Then, after grad school, she spent many years mostly on-the-road as a freelance travel writer, penning stories for the BBC, San Francisco Chronicle, The Oregonian, Conde Nast, Orion Magazine and many other publications. Her personal travel stories have been widely anthologized in books such as The Best Travel Writing, Volume 11 (Travelers Tales Publishing) and Leave the Lipstick, Take the Iguana: Funny Travel Stories and Strange Packing Tips (Travelers’ Tales). She received several writing awards along the way, including an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship to write about Oregon wine.

In 2014, she started Deep Travel Workshops, and began organizing writing workshops in Morocco, Nepal, Mexico and Spain. She learns much from her guest instructors, which include Tim Cahill, author and founder of Outside Magazine, NPR-storyteller Doug Cordell and many other great writers. Her “hand-stitched” travel itineraries emphasize cultural sensitivity, working with small, local businesses and creating “off the off-the-beaten-track” experiences.

She moved to the Applegate Valley to paraglide in 2012, and to write for the National Paragliding Magazine. After surviving a flying accident at Woodrat, she now opts for pursuits that don’t require a reserve parachute, like writing for Applegate Wine Trails and Applegate Valley Connect. She is finding that writing for a small, local audience is the most satisfying writing of her career so far.

Laurel Briggs, Business Marketing Consultant

jb Palasini, Artist Working Group Coordinator

Leigha Perry, Operations Director

Leigha Perry is a Southern Oregon native with eight generations having lived in and around the Applegate Valley dating back to the mid-1800’s.  Her love and appreciation for this area is truly beyond description.  As a mother of two amazing children, Leigha has thoughtfully balanced family life with career and personal wellness.  This approach has healthfully lead her into award winning programs and certifications of adult and youth yoga as well as teaching children meditation.  With these skills, Leigha has enjoyed facilitating many youth camps and activities to soothe and uplift the wonderful children in her community.  In addition, her experience in management and administration within various office settings has created a perfect match in joining the A Greater Applegate team.  Leigha is currently continuing her education through Rogue Community College and Southern Oregon University with a focus on mental health, family counseling and community mediation.  She is absolutely thrilled to weave all of her passions and skills together to create a positive impact within the Applegate Valley and beyond!

Email: info@agreaterapplegate.org

Mia Tarduno, Engagement Director

Mia grew up in Upstate New York with a love of community, creativity and the outdoors. These values have carried her through a wide-ranging career rooted in connection and service. She studied anthropology, environmental studies and dance at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, blending her passion for people, place and expression. After graduation, a job leading backpacking trips sent her to Colorado where she found her love for the mountains.

Mia spent a decade living in rural Colorado where she worked in guest services, taught yoga and eventually ran a thriving yoga studio that became a beloved wellness and gathering space. She also served as Operations Lead at REI where she helped teams communicate more effectively and launched a local artist program that celebrated regional makers and fostered creative community within the store.

She relocated to Southern Oregon in search of shorter winters, a longer growing season and community connected to the land. She started working at Willow-Witt Ranch, a working farm and event venue. There she managed administration, marketing, and communications, bringing vision and heart to every detail. These experiences, along with her leadership in community-based projects, have led her to her current role as Engagement Director at A Greater Applegate where she’s excited to support rural connection, collaboration and resilience. Mia brings a collaborative, grounded approach to everything she does, drawing on her background in business ownership, operations leadership, and community-building.

Mia is also a trained birth doula and hosts monthly Birth Cafés that offer space for pregnant people and those considering pregnancy to share, reflect and connect. In her spare time Mia enjoys trail running with her Aussie, gathering with friends and creating handwoven tapestries. Deeply committed to meaningful connection and creative community building, she is honored to be part of the work of A Greater Applegate.

Email: Mia@agreaterapplegate.org

Tucker Grinnan, RARE Member

Tucker was born in Virginia, but grew up abroad in Hong Kong. Wanting a change from the big city, he made his way back stateside to attend university in Eastern Washington and fell in love with the area.

Since graduating, he’s worked in a variety of positions across the West, finding himself unable to leave the mountains and rural communities behind. He has experience in conservation, after working several seasons for the Forest Service as a Wilderness Ranger, and has held positions in education, agriculture, and communications.

After spending the last year in Wyoming, he’s excited to be back in the Northwest and working with the community in the Applegate on pressing issues facing the valley.

In his free time, you can find him running on dirt roads, browsing library shelves, and sometimes baking (but mostly eating) cookies.