Melinda Pitcher
Artisan Farmer - Shizen Farms at Rubissow Estate
Melinda grew up in Albuquerque, NM, where a love of nature took root in her bones. Before arriving at Rubissow, she worked as a sous chef at a prominent Napa restaurant where she developed a passion for great wines; convinced kids to like swiss chard while running the garden education program at COPIA; and befriended the world's best group of volunteers while managing the NAPA VISITOR CENTER. In 2006 she earned her BA in Culture, Ecology and Sustainable Communities with a Concentration in Ecological Agriculture from The New College of California. As if that wasn't enough, she then took on management of the many Wine Clubs at Napa Wine Company's famed Cult Wine Central in Napa Valley. Currently she oversees all the horticultural edible gardening at Napa Valley's celebrated Trefethen Vineyards. In her spare time you'll find here at work on SHIZEN FARMS, an acre of Rubissow estate set aside exclusively for her organically farmed heirloom vegetables and market produce.