Nella Mae Parks

Nella Mae Parks is a farmer, writer, organizer, parent, and community builder in the high desert of northeast
Oregon where she grew up farming.

Nella Mae’s Farm is located in Cove, Oregon in the
semi-arid, high desert of Oregon, zone 6b with heavy clay soil, and huge daily temperature swings.

Growing practices are low-till with an emphasis on mulch, deep compost, and principles of community organizing, Holistic Management, and Lean Farming.

The farm is dedicated to rural food access, community building, research, mentorship, and training the next generation of farmers. Curiosity, creativity, community, and a love of nature are central values.

Nella Mae loves talking all things plants and soil, and is interested in increasing and sharing our knowledge for growing in dry climates.

Katie Swanson

Katie Swanson is the owner/operator of Sweet Union Farm, a small-scale diversified vegetable farm located in Klamath Falls, Oregon, zone 6b.

Katie is completed her 9th growing season in 2025, growing food for her community in the high desert climate of Klamath Falls.

She has been a participant of two SARE projects previously, including the Farmer/Rancher 2022 project “No/low-till practices as a water conservation tool on small-scale vegetable farms East of the Cascades” for which she was the principal investigator.

She is also the co-founder of the Klamath County food hub, Klamath Grown.

Maud Macrory Powell

Maud Powell has worked for Oregon State University Extension Small Farms Program for 18 years educating farmers and ranchers on all aspects of production and marketing.

She and her husband have owned and operated Wolf Gulch Farm, a small diversified vegetable and seed farm, in the Little Applegate Valley, for ten years.

Maud worked for four years as the Project Manager for the Siskiyou Sustainable Cooperative, and currently coordinates their Community Supported Agriculture Program. Maud is passionate about reinvigorating rural communities by strengthening local economies and increasing food and fiber production.