Get to know your Instructor a little...
How it all started...
My journey with plants and healing began in the lush countryside of the Philippines, where growing our own food wasn't a hobby—it was our way of life. As a child, I learned to work with the land, observing how plants thrived in harmony with God's design and how food connected directly to our well-being. I also learned how to use native plants as natural remedies and vividly remember foraging for plants to eat and use for medicine.
Assimilation with different cultures
Before coming to the United States, I spent some time in Thailand and lived with the locals in the suburbs learning their food, culture, and plants.
When I came to the United States in 2008, I was blessed to work at a Lifestyle Center and Hospital in Georgia where my understanding of wellness deepened significantly. There, I immersed myself in plant-based cooking, herbal medicine, and lifestyle medicine—discovering how to transform plants into both nourishing meals and natural remedies. This experience shaped my holistic approach to health that begins in the soil and nurtures the soul.
My path eventually led me to Colorado with my husband, where I embraced the challenge of desert gardening and learned about permaculture principles. Learning to work with this unique climate taught me resilience and adaptation—skills I bring to both my garden and my teaching. Through this journey, I learned how permaculture is connected to my Christian values and how permaculture is closely connected to biblical values of gardening. I learned about stewardship of the land.
Today, I'm proud to be a Certified Permaculture Designer through the Colorado Permaculture Institute, a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and a plant-based cook. With over 20 years of gardening experience across desert, tropical, and humid climates, I've seen firsthand how food forests can thrive even in challenging high-elevation environments.
When I'm not tending to my food forest or teaching, you'll find me creating plant-based dishes from my garden harvests or formulating natural products for Outdoorsy Skincare, where I apply my herbal knowledge to wellness from the outside in.
I founded Dirt to Nurture to share this journey with others—to help you discover the joy of stewardship, growing your own food sustainably, cooking nourishing meals, utilizing your harvest for natural remedies, and living in harmony with God's creation. My classes incorporate Christian values and blend technical knowledge with practical wisdom, making permaculture accessible whether you're just starting or looking to deepen your practice.
I invite you to join me in this dirt to nurture journey. Together, we'll grow more than just plants—we'll cultivate a sustainable approach to wellness that nourishes both body, mind, and soul. Nurture the land, nurture your mind and your body, and nurture your soul.
