June Rzendzian
June was raised in the wetlands of Southeastern Michigan, where she spent most of her youth exploring creekbeds, hardwood forests and abandoned farm fields. Although both of her parents were raised in the asphalt jungle of Detroit, they raised their family of five on their own homestead in the country. As a result, June lived by a tiny creek where she witnessed how an abandoned farm field could be transformed into a small-scale orchard, abundant gardens and diverse wildlife habitat.
She left Michigan in 1997 in search of healthy ways of living in the world and alternative ways to use her BA in Education from Michigan State University. Seven seasons of service at MESD Outdoor School turned out to be her introduction to Pacific Northwest ecology and community living. In addition, she is grateful for being formally and informally schooled in more complex ecological knowledge by local place-based educators with strong influences in tracking, plant medicine, hunting, gardening, food preservation and systems thinking. She views her ongoing education in these areas as a part of everyday life, feeding a lifelong process of growth and renewal.
While earning her Masters in Educational Leadership from PSU's Leadership in Ecology, Culture and Learning (LECL) program from 2004-2006, June discovered that there was potential for land stewardship commitments to extend to our human respect for the dead. This led to her final project research that explored historical, desired and legal practices related to death care in the US. This led to private consultations and many interesting discussions with people considering green burial or home funerals in their future. She started training to be a certified Death Midwife through Final Passages of California in 2008.
Most recently, June has married her love of land stewardship with growing food, tracking and community development. She manages Fawnwood Farm, a local CSA and organic farm. The land holds forest, ravines, hay fields and their small scale farm. It is a constant source of inspiration and teaching, not only teaching her about the challenges and rewards or running a small business, but reminding her of the importance of daily mindfulness and attention.
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