People

Karen Wolfgang (Owner & Manager) was born and raised in PDX’s West Slope neighborhood; she grew up with her nose usually in a book (and, more relevantly, helping out with her parents’ small businesses). Karen attended Princeton University, where she earned her BA in Anthropology and Environmental Studies in 2006. She re-settled in Portland shortly thereafter, and in 2008 received her MA in Educational Leadership at Portland State University, with a specialization in Leadership in Ecology, Culture, and Learning. Karen is certified in Permaculture Design, and in her spare time serves as a member of the Foster Green EcoDistrict Steering Committee and a liaison to the Foster Lents Integration Partnership (FLIP), a Harvest Leader for Portland Fruit Tree Project, an occasional volunteer with Isabel in MCSO-SAR, and an instigator of various other community projects. She sees Independence Gardens as a prime opportunity to connect to and strengthen relationships with individuals and organizations in the greater Portland area, and gets more excited about organic land care every day. You can contact her at Karen@IndependenceGardensPDX.com or 503-929-7170. [Updated 4/2013]

Isabel LaCourse (Owner) grew up in Portland’s Montavilla neighborhood, working in the garden with her Master Gardener mom—that is, when she wasn’t playing sports or just being outside. She joined Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (MCSO-SAR) at age 14, and every year since then has dedicated around 550 hours a year volunteering her time to support the community. Isabel, who remembers always being aware of the importance of the connections between things—especially between the natural world and human well-being—is currently working as the Environmental Education Coordinator for Tualatin Riverkeepers and pursuing a degree in School Health Education with a minor in Native American Studies at PSU. She is a Master Gardener, and believes that gardening fosters connections between people and plants, and that it remains a wonderful way to share her knowledge and help people help themselves. You can contact her at Isabel@IndependenceGardensPDX.com. [Updated 4/2013]

Tygh Tarlton (Lead Builder) earned his first degree in Building Construction Technology and is currently pursuing a second degree in Operations Management. In addition to building garden infrastructure with Independence Gardens (and keeping our spirits up, while he’s at it!), he also owns a small construction business: Tarlton Construction Services. Tygh was a cadet with Portland Police, and volunteered for several years with Karen & Isabel through Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue. He was born in North Carolina and raised in Troutdale, and lives in Gresham. [Updated 4/2013]

Angela Wilson (Project Assistant) is from and lives in Gresham; she is currently a full time student at Mount Hood Community College, focusing on getting her core courses out of the way. She is going into her second year working for Portland Parks and Recreation as a Park Ranger, serving as a “goodwill ambassador” and helping to provide a positive presence in Portland parks and park facilities. She thinks of her role within Independence Gardens as the “Soil Transportation Specialist”—and she’s *really* good at it! Her goal with the company is to advance her skills and knowledge about gardening. [Updated 4/2013]

Megan Brown (Garden Guide) will graduate in June with a BS in Community Development from Portland State University, with honors from Phi Kappa Phi. She has co-chaired the Community Development Student Group and sat as a member for the Undergraduate Representative for the Executive Committee in the Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, and is currently the president of the non-profit Hawthorne Family Play School. She has enjoyed traveling to places like Belize, Nicaragua, Belgium, Spain and Japan—but lately her adventures are more close-to-home. When she is not running around to meetings, she is getting her hands dirty in her own backyard, building forts with her daughter and getting to know her neighbors. She can be contacted at Megan@IndependenceGardensPDX.com. [Updated 4/2013]

Heather Harrington (Garden Guide) grew up in Chattaroy, WA, where winters are long and snowy and soil is hard and dry. After graduating from the University of Oregon, she stayed in the fertile Willamette Valley planting seeds and selling organic veggies for Sweet Leaf Farm in Eugene. She moved to Portland, met her husband, and began digging up grass with a fervor, transforming their little city lot into a productive and attractive garden space. Wishing to help others feel the sense of freedom and connectedness that comes with growing one’s own delicious produce, she joined forces with Independence Gardens. She believes that you don’t have to move to the country to enjoy a bountiful harvest or the pleasure of connecting with our Earth. The soil is rich with possibilty right there, under your front lawn! Having recently completed the OSU Master Gardener Program, Heather is more inspired than ever to spread the joy of gardening and caring responsibly for our land and bodies. She can be reached at Heather@IndependenceGardensPDX.com. [Updated 4/2013]

Rayna Mayo (Doo Tees Sales Associate) is an avid do-it-yourselfer and is really excited about how urban farming (and DOO TEES!) can increase self-sufficient and creative communities in Portland. Rayna earned a B.A. in Environmental Policy from Marlboro College in Vermont and an M.S. in Environmental Studies from Syracuse University in New York, and has interned with John Todd Ecological Design and Oregon Environmental Council. He is currently on the board of OutGrowing Hunger, a nonprofit that addresses the food deserts of East Portland through community gardens, and regularly volunteers with Solar Oregon and Coalition for a Livable Future. He can be reached, for all matters Doo Tees-related, at DooTees@IndependenceGardensPDX.com. [Updated 4/2013]

Rey (Job Buddy!) found Karen & Isabel in March 2013, and his rapidly became one of the most frequently seen faces on the job. He is kind to young people, other animals, and every other creature we’ve seen him interact with. Even though he usually hangs out in the truck while we’re working, he still manages to make life a little happier! [Updated 4/2013]