FARM & SCHOOL OWNER | EDUCATIONAL DIRECTOR | RESIDENT HERBALIST

Tammy Kattner has always had a deep love and passion for the natural world. Growing up in Southern California, she would spend as much time outdoors as possible, often frequenting the beach, mountains, Yosemite National Park, while developing a strong desire to live off the land. Connection to the wild has always been her compass.

Tammy holds a B.A. in Social Science with an emphasis in environmentalism, a teaching degree and a Master's in Education. She was a member of San Diego State University's Division 1 NCAA Women’s Volleyball team. As a longtime athlete, Tammy has always been connected to her body’s wisdom and strength, which has carried over into her current passion of living in connection with oneself and the natural world around her.

She has over 20+ years working within the holistic health arena, including nutrition, fitness therapy, teaching, re-wilding, nature immersion, herbalism and regenerative & permaculture-based farming. She has found a beautiful way of encapsulating all of these elements of holism into methods of healing oneself through the lenses of their constitution and their natural rhythms in this world. One size does not fit all, and Tammy believes that the best way to make any change in this world is to look within oneself and acquire the education and tools to learn how to navigate life effectively so that change can happen. "Be the Change" has been her guiding light. All of these elements have brought her to building her dream at Hamilton Pool Farms - where she has co-created a regenerative, permaculture & biodynamic farm, with an outdoor education program that connects over a hundred students each semester with gardening, food sourcing, sustainability and nature skills.

Tammy is a mother of five children who have always been her inspiration for a more natural world. She enjoys beekeeping on her apiary at the farm, loving on her sweet Golden Doodles farm dogs, and connecting with nature as she develops the farm culture while teaching a more sustainable & natural way of living.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR & LEAD TEACHER FOR NATURE ACADEMY

Denlin has 25 years of experience working with children. Starting as a teen ranch camp counselor in Malibu California where she led children in animal care, hiking, games, crafts & campfire songs, along with their daily chores and games, she found her calling. She has completed child development & psychology coursework at UCSC, and pursued a lifelong career as a Kidpower instructor, training annually and teaching workshops all over the world for this lead international personal safety NGO. She specializes in social emotional education for children & families, and has brought that skill set into her work as preK-8 special education teacher, PE coach, and classroom teacher. Her passion is to weave confidence and competence building lessons into games, empowering children and their adults with lifelong skills in a way that both fun & impactful.

GARDEN/FARM EDUCATOR

Deborah’s journey from corporate offices, courtroom advocacy to garden rows and barn doors reflects a life provoked to purpose. As a certified paralegal, mental health advocate, CASA volunteer, and storyteller, Deborah has spent her life advocating for others, navigating complex systems, and giving voice to stories that often go unheard. Today, as a farm educator and owner of a growing farm business, she brings that same compassion and resilience in the soil into the classroom.

At Nature Farm School, Deborah teaches how to grow, tend, and steward the land with care, weaving together all aspects of farming. From soil health and crop planning to sustainable harvest practices. While guiding her students through each part of the process, she also teaches how fresh, simple ingredients can be turned into household pantry staples.

Beyond her work with children, Deborah also leads workshops on the farm, teaching traditional skills like canning and soap making, to herb infusing. She also offers value-added foods from the land she stewards. Her farm is both a place of nourishment and a space of community, where preserves are made with joy and handmade bread is shared with intention.

In a world that often rushes and expects quick results, Deborah gives both children and adults a chance to slow down, dig deep, and reconnect with something lasting. Her work reminds us that we are part of something bigger, good creation, and that with time and care, we too are designed to flourish.

NATURE ACADEMY ART TEACHER & FARM SCHOOL TEACHER

Hello! My name is Makenzie and I love nature and being outside. Growing up I always wanted to be out in nature where I felt more at peace and one of my favorite things to share with others is the peace that nature brings me. Through the last 14 years I have spent my time working with children of all ages in many different ways. Between day care work, being a personal nanny, teaching swim lessons, behavioral therapy and more I have been blessed to encounter and be encouraged in so many circumstances. I love to share the importance of emotional awareness and social emotional learning within our own being. I believe that each individual was created to be their unique self and deserves to be supported as they are and for who they are. In my personal time I love to do art, craft with all sorts of different mediums and be outside. I love to learn new things so I am always trying something new or asking alllll the question to fill my curious brain. I love spending time with those near and dear to me but also enjoy listening to music or an audio book while I embroider (or whatever art/craft) for some me time.

FARM SCHOOL TEACHER

Braden has been working with youth outdoors since 2009. His work began in educating youth about sustainability and has evolved over time to focus on social emotional learning, team building, and survival skills. Braden has worked with multiple Montessori Schools, the Whole Life Learning Center, the Amala Foundation, the Maine Primitive Skills School, Earth Native Wilderness School, Camp Ketcha, and others.

His love of all things outdoors began at a very young age with his Nana and Papa. He planted his first garden at home at age 5, and caught his first fish big enough to eat at a small campground named “Little Grassy” near Joliet, IL at age 6.

Braden studied permaculture and natural building while working as the education director for a sustainability non-profit called The New S.H.I.R.E. Institute in Manor, Tx and eventually made his way to the Maine Primitive Skills School to complete an extended apprenticeship about nature mentoring and living off the land in the most direct way possible.

Braden has been a volunteer associate director for the Amala Foundation’s Global Youth Peace Summits here in the states, as well as in Meru, Kenya.

He is trained in survival skills, nature connection, mentoring, team building, non-violent conflict resolution, restorative justice, rhythm facilitation, permaculture practices, and natural and conventional building practices.

FARM SCHOOL TEACHER

Hi, my name is Jennifer Allen, my husband and I have been married for 25 years and we have two young adult sons and a mini Australian Shepard. I grew up in Iowa and our love of music brought us to south Austin 27 years ago.

My passions include spending time with family, children, animals, music, upcycled crafting, nature and camping.

I've worked in several Montessori preschools and holistic learning environments for all ages as well as being a stay at home mom, small business owner, nanny and photographer.

I'm thrilled to be part of the community at Hamilton Pool Vineyard and Farms!