Glenn Hill, 2012

Glenn grew up in hot and sunny Sacramento, in the midst of a half-acre organic garden full of giant veggie plants, over flowing fruit trees, chickens and rabbits. With organic figs, plums, cherries, grapes, apples, almonds, walnuts, lemons and oranges, he developed an early love for fresh fruit. His family had been farmers in California for three generations, growing grapes, almonds and other crops. Glenn`s father taught him early the details of growing organic vegetables and fruits, and his Mother taught him how to preserve these fruits and vegetables.

In 1971 Glenn was one of the founding members of the Sacramento Food Co-op, which started in the basement of his brother`s house. In his late teenage years, Glenn worked as a fruit harvester for several years, while living in an intentional farming community in Washington State. This last experience taught him what life was like for the workers who harvest our fresh tree fruits. He was also one of the founders of the Yakima Food Co-op during that time.

He was a member of the Sunburst intentional Spiritual/ organic farming cooperative community in the 1970`s and 1980`s. During these years, he worked as an organic farmer, natural food store manager, and in many departments of the community’s natural food stores. Sunburst Farms was the first organic retailer/ growers, to set standards for organic certification in California.

In 1987 Glenn and his wife Laurie, moved to the Rogue Valley, partially drawn to the area by rumors of the thriving Ashland Food Co-op. He worked in the produce department at the Co-op for a while, and then in a number of other food stores in the Rogue valley over the years.

Glenn and Laurie currently tend their large organic garden in the city of Phoenix.

From 2000 to 2006, he served on the Board of the Ashland Food Co-op, as Board Secretary, Board Treasurer, and as a member of the finance committee and growth committee. Glenn has also been a volunteer with a number of other non-profit organizations, in director positions, and in finance and budgets. He also served the City of Phoenix for 6 years as chair and member of the planning commission and budget committees. Glenn is now a full time artist, creating carved and sculpted one-of-a-kind Celtic harps, which he has done for 31 years.

Glenn believes that the Ashland Food Co-o has a bright and growing future as one of the key anchor points for the Ashland and greater Rogue Valley communities. He brings to the Co-op a great deal of cooperative and creative living experiences. His success in co-operative, non-profit, and artistic endeavors has taught him that human beings have an unlimited potential to bring passionate, positive dreams to life!