Team 
Jessi was born and raised in the PNW and has a strong background of horticulture and environmental sciences. Her early experience ranged in project management, from organizing restoration projects with community volunteers, to high-end residential and commercial landscape design/build. In early 2000, she decided to start an ethical business in the green industry to fill a niche for organic and ecological landscaping. Her leadership combined with her artistic design talents have brought N.W. Bloom numerous environmental awards. She is passionate about animals, permaculture and making functional gardens beautiful. She travels nationwide as a speaker and is the best-selling author of Free-Range Chicken Gardens and Practical Permaculture Design. (Timber Press 2015) and Creating Sanctuary: Sacred Garden Spaces, Plant Based Medicine and Daily Practices to Achieve Happiness and Well-Being (Timber Press 2018) and its companion workbook Everyday Sanctuary(2019). Jessi’s work has gotten press and been featured in many national and local media outlets from the NY Times, Better Homes & Gardens, Sunset Magazine, DISNEY, Martha Stewart Living, Mother Earth News, UTNE Reader, Fine Gardening Magazine and PBS’s Growing a Greener World TV.
Jessi is passionately committed to volunteering in the community and sits on several advisory boards within the green industry and educational/environmental organizations; hoping to empower people, also raising industry standards, and helped develop the EcoPro program for WA State. Currently she was appointed as an Agriculture Commissioner for King County, as well a member of the WA DNR Urban and Community Forestry Committee. She has three kids and spends time with them around their little farm, with a handful of animals and gardens to look after. When she is not working, she enjoys the outdoors: snowboarding, hiking, her horses, running, yoga, biking and stays strong with Olympic weightlifting. Languages: English, NVC/trauma-informed communication
Austin Amaya
Earth Steward Lead
Austin grew up in the NW and graduated from the University of Redlands with a B.S. Environmental Science and B.A. Anthropology. He volunteered with an Ecuadorian NGO outside the city of Tabacundo where he was first introduced to permaculture and bio-intensive agriculture and volunteered for 27 months in Peace Corps Paraguay working alongside an all-women’s farmer committee. As the pandemic began to settle, he found NW Bloom and it was a perfect place to continue his sustainable agricultural journey. Austin is always seeking new knowledge and love to read when he is not getting my hands dirty with the crew he is either buried in a book or at a local crag rock climbing….. Languages spoken: English, Spanish and Guaraní.
Marco Hernandez
Earth Steward
Marco has been with the NW Bloom earth steward team since 2015 and has become a pivotal member of our crew. Over the years he has gained extensive knowledge in organic horticultural practices and construction – from carpentry, masonry to fine detail garden maintenance. He enjoys learning and mastering the diversity of the work. He hails from Mexico and in his free time he enjoys spending time with family and friends, and playing soccer. Languages spoken: Spanish, some english
Sarah Edwards
Earth Steward
Bio coming soon!
Hanisha Bakshani
Community Communications Coordinator
Hanisha was born and raised in Malaysia and earned her B.A. in Psychology from R.D. National College in Mumbai, India. She has gained considerable experience in community communications across various platforms through her work in non-profit organizations. Hanisha held many positions in Northshore School District schools, including Secretary and Communications Coordinator of the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA). She is currently volunteering as the Ambassador Communication Lead at Northshore Schools Foundation. Hanisha was awarded the Golden Acorn Award by the PTSA at Skyview Middle School in 2020 and by the North Creek High School PTSA in 2022. She is a Kukkiwon certified 2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo and a mom to 3 fabulous children. In her free time, Hanisha enjoys spending time with family, walking with friends and painting. Languages spoken: English, Malay and Hindi.
Coming Soon!
We are hiring for several positions
If you or anyone you know would be interested in joining our team, be sure to check out our career page for more information:NW Bloom – employment opportunities
Spanky
Office Dog
This excitable Staffy Bull Terrier senior greets guests enthusiastically when they visit the office. He is also known as the resident foot warmer and has many jobs around the farm, but his favorite job (by far) is being a snuggle bug. He loves to chase off pesky garden rodents, insects, Frisbees and his tail in his spare time.
Rocky
The Ninja Farm Cat
This silly tabby likes to do yoga in the lawn (we’re not kidding) and his impressive ninja skills ensure that any trespassers are surprised and well alerted to his skills – watch your legs! He keeps a watch over the farm and his mad hunting abilities keep all pest rodents in check. Rocky has a knack for herding the poultry out of gardens and can be found spending much of his time near the catmint; rolling in it, eating it, and hugging it. He always smells delicious!