Dominica Navarro Martinez (she/ella/they) is OFRF’s new Deputy Director. She brings to this function an intensive background in nonprofit administration, finance, administration, and strategic programmatic growth. She has direct natural farming expertise and beforehand labored for OFRF in an workplace administration and packages capability from 2015-2018.
Dominica presently resides in Central Oregon along with her household and canine Xochitl (pronounced Sochi), and enjoys crusing, mountaineering, looking for out scorching springs in distant areas, rising meals, and processing and preserving items her household has grown, foraged, caught, or hunted.
Inform us about your self.
I’m a Chicana Borinqueña (Mexican and Puerto Rican American) with a powerful meals tradition. I used to be raised in Southern California the place I grew up cooking with household, crusing the pacific coast, and touring Mexico.
I’ve all the time had an in depth relationship with my meals and after a decade of veganism and two levels from the College of California Santa Cruz (specializing in meals, agriculture and social justice), I’ve devoted my skilled profession to meals techniques work. At residence, I’ve a vegetable backyard on an eighth of an acre the place I develop utilizing natural rules.
Why do you care about natural farming and/or natural analysis?
Natural agriculture is necessary to me as a result of it protects individuals and the planet. I personally don’t agree with agricultural techniques that rely upon poisonous pesticides to develop meals. Meals is supposed to nourish us, not make employees and customers sick or poison pure ecosystems. Natural analysis is very necessary as a result of we should additionally study to satisfy the rising demand for natural meals and rising pest strain.
Who’s your farming, analysis and/or meals hero – and why?
My meals hero is all of the abuelitas (grandmothers) on the market who’ve held onto their robust meals cultures and who proceed to share it with their family members. I’m all the time amazed at how a lot data we as a society have misplaced in the previous few generations in terms of meals preparation and preservation. Some issues ought to take time and be made with numerous love, meals is certainly one of them!
What are you enthusiastic about engaged on at OFRF?
It’s thrilling to be part of such a small but mighty group making actual strides within the natural sector. From instructional supplies, to analysis grants, to federal coverage feats, OFRF is all the time pushing for higher illustration and assist for natural farmers. As a returning workers member, I’m as soon as once more proud to be part of this work!
