About Rachel Tayse (she/her)

 

I am a Midwestern soil creative, an organic farmer, a forager, and a from-scratch cook.

I value interdepdence and equity, centering in my work marginalized communities including LGBTQIA+, neurodivergence, and the abundance of life forms on Earth. I find power in diversity, strength in following nature's lead, and beauty in wild edges. 

I practice mindfulness and meditation daily to ground me in my truth that all life is interconnected.

I am honored to steward ten acres of Appalachian land within the occupied territory of Miami tribe in Highland County, Ohio. I draw on the wisdom inherent in these lands and the humans who have come before me, and contribute resources to mutal aid projects regularly.

I share my life with my partner Chris (he/him), teenager Lil (they/them), and our menagerie of dog, cats, fish, and plant pets.

rachel flower field
 
“What we put our attention on grows.”
— adrienne maree brown, Emergent Strategy
 

My farming experience includes eight years as organic farmer selling at central Ohio farmers markets, and three years of solo operating a small-scale seedling and produce farm. As an educator, I have facilitated courses on sustainable agriculture topics such as farm planning, seed starting, grant funding, and farmer wellness for groups of all ages and sizes since 2010. I have worked for the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) and Produce Perks Midwest in sustainable food system roles.

I have had the pleasure of collaborating with regional, state-wide, and national organizations on a variety of private and public funded projects, including writing and receiving grants from the United States Department of Agriculture, the North-Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, and Mid-Ohio Food Bank. I currently serve on the Ohio Nutrition Incentive Network and advise several farmer social support research projects.

My professional certifications include:

agricluster resilience and expansion facilitator badge