Sarah “Redbud”

Sarah has worked as an environmental educator and leader for 16 years, developing equitable and inclusive programs that deepen kinship between people and the land. Redbud is passionate about taking action in community for all beings to thrive, including advocating for Indigenous land rights & conservation, sustainable food systems, a stable climate, resilient systems for community care, and rights of humans & nature.

Redbud directs PLG’s programs and has been the lead instructor for Children’s Garden Club since August 2024. She subs for all classes and also supports Youth Discovery Project as a co-instructor. Redbud blends inclusive land-based experiences with meaningful skills in sustainability that center participants’ needs and care for our plant & animal kin.

In class, Redbud infuses applied science & organic farming with silly games, free play, and creative pursuits, providing opportunities for students to follow their curiosity. Imagine students practicing stillness while calmly listening for birds, balanced with belting loud silly songs as we harvest fruit. Farm exploration with our hands on the land is entwined into each lesson, turning logs over to find decomposers, planting greens, harvesting herbs, and building our dream farms in the mud.

Childhood, personal passions & life experiences

Redbud grew up both smack-dab in the city of Houston and on a lot of land outside the city, gardening with their family & caring for the land from a young age. They had a vegetable garden along with orange, lemon, fig, pecan, and persimmon trees. She remembers making pepper jelly, sifting soil, and exploring the surrounding woods and bayou banks. She lived among wild hogs, diverse birds (world heritage site for birding), alligators, fireflies, squirrels, snapping turtles, coyotes, and bobcats. Redbud attributes her commitment to caring for the earth to their childhood experiences, which is why she works to foster biophilia (loving nature) in youth today.

Redbud loves exploring new wild places & cities alike with a fondness for learning and novel experiences. They love camping, hiking, rockhounding, relaxing in or near water, mushroom foraging with her spouse & partner in adventure—Dwan, and their child—Kamdyn. When they aren’t exploring or gardening, Redbud enjoys eating delicious food, dancing & listening to music, and spending quality time with friends & family. As someone with chronic illness & disabilities, Redbud embraces listening to her body & needs and supports others to do the same.

Formal education & professional experience

Redbud received a bachelor’s degree in Communications & World Cultures from the University of Houston, where she later worked as the Sustainability Manager for the whole campus. Notable projects include restoring a section of campus lawn to a native pocket prairie and managing an organic community garden for low-income community members in a food desert. Redbud moved from Texas to Oregon to pursue a master’s degree in Environmental Arts & Humanities at Oregon State University where she studied environmental justice, land-based education, and ecological ethics. She also led the H.J. Andrews Forest Discovery Trail project — an arts & ecology learning experience for youth in an old-growth forest.

She later worked at Straub Outdoors in Salem as an educator and Whole Earth Nature School in Eugene as the Outdoor School Director and Equity & Engagement Director. Sarah has extensive experience leading training in and implementing practices aligned with trauma-informed care, restorative justice, intersectional justice, queer rights, Indigenous land rights, traditional ecological knowledge, equitable education, and accommodation plans.

Learn more about Redbud: https://sarahminette.com/