Meet the Team!

Former PLG President

Robin grew up in Alabama and has lived in Oregon since 1972. Her experience on a cooperative commune in Western Lane County in the 1970s instilled a deep understanding of sustainable living and self-sufficiency. Over the years, she has worked as a craftsperson, writer, teacher, and school administrator. While at Head Start of Lane County, she co-created school gardens with Farmer John Sundquist, developing lessons that taught children about food origins and meal preparation. At the Eugene Waldorf School, Robin helped guide the creation of a school garden, where annual crops of wheat are grown, harvested, and turned into bread. She served as a Board Member there and was a founding member of Forestland Dwellers, which worked to expose herbicide use in Lane County logging operations. Additionally, she contributed to the Oregon Pesticide Action Work Group and Beyond Toxics. Robin is the proud mother of seven children and grandmother to ten, bringing a deep passion for both children and plants to her work.

PLG Director

Marsha has lived at Rivers Turn Farm for nearly 40 years, where she and her husband, John, raised two sons. Over the years, they transformed the farm from a flat 33-acre plot with a modest filbert orchard into a diverse family farm filled with fruit trees and bamboo. While John took the lead on gardening, Marsha provided crucial support, balancing farm life with her career as an 8th-grade teacher for nearly 30 years. Together, they created a space where they could nurture their family and share their love for the land. After John’s passing, Marsha has dedicated herself to supporting his vision for Parker Learning Gardens. She is passionate about sharing the lessons and joys of working with plants—something she and John treasured for so many years—with other children and families in the community.

PLG Interim President

Annie grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and earned a BA in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin. After moving to San Francisco, she earned her Early Childhood Teaching Credential at San Francisco State College and began her teaching career. She joined Head Start in Eugene the same year and has been with the organization ever since. Since 1992, Annie has served as the Executive Director of Head Start of Lane County. She’s lived on her property in Creswell, OR for 35 years, raising two children along with a variety of animals, produce, and flowers. Annie is deeply passionate about giving children the chance to connect with and explore the natural world.

PLG Director

Coming Soon!

PLG Director, Interim Secretary

Coming Soon

Ex-officio member, PLG Executive Director

Coming Soon!