Kristina Beuning - Kristina
has owned and operated Sunbow Farm as an organic fruit and vegetable farm since
2003. Her passion for plants blossomed
in graduate school where she obtained a M.S. in teaching biology and a Ph.D. in
plant ecology. Although whenever
possible Kristina had cultivated a small garden, when she started Sunbow she
had no background in ‘farming’. She has
learned and continues to learn by doing and is always eager to share what she
has learned with others. As an
ecologist, Kristina strives to create an environment in which all organisms of
the farm ecosystem can thrive, from the tiniest, but vitally important,
bacteria to the insects which pollinate the food crops, to the chickens and
sheep, which through their manure recycle vital nutrients to begin the cycle
again. As a farmer, her primary
objective is to reconnect the people of her community with the land that
provides them with this most basic of resources needed for human survival –
food.
Judy Behrens - Judy has lived in Eau Claire, WI. for over fifteen years where she first
learned about the wonderful value of herbs for food and medicine. With
the objective being to make Herbs her life's work Judy embarked on an
intensified range of educational study, both at home, in the classroom and in
the field. Judy is qualified to instruct in basic Herbalism and is an
active member of the American Herbalist Guild. Judy's respect for the earth is a foundation stone of her beliefs, and
she always treats the earth as a dear friend, never violating it in a quest for
profit. She uses mainly local plants, and always strives to give back
more to Mother Earth than she takes from it. While local plants are her
main focus she is more than willing to use plants from another area to assure
the best overall results. Judy's approach to the use of Herbs is to blend a folk and indigenous
perspective of Herbcraft. She aims to bring the benefits of Herbs and Herbal medicine
to the greatest number of people through a synthesis of old and new ideas.
