Our People
Clara and Florencio Hernandez, the on-site caretakers, have been with the organization for more than 18 years. Clara does an amazing job cleaning all our facilities with her great attention to detail. Florencio, our maintenance person, keeps all our buildings in shape, which can be a challenge because some of them are over 150 years old.
Fern Tahja, Interim Nature Education and Nursery Coordinator, leads nature exploration hikes, river trips and tours of the Jug Handle Ecological Staircase and Pygmy Forest. She has worked for Jug Handle for over 10 years. Fern is a professional river guide and is certified as a Wilderness First Responder. Fern graduated from Humboldt State University with a B.S. in Natural Resources Planning and Interpretation, with a focus on Botany. Fern also has a University of California Naturalist Certification.
Alison Gardner, our nursery collector, is trained in botany, plant taxonomy, plant ecology, plant propagation, and nursery maintenance. For almost 20 years, Alison has worked to make Jug Handle’s Native Plant Nursery a valuable source of diverse native plants for natural resource agencies, restoration projects, and local gardeners. She has a Natural History Certificate of Achievement from College of the Redwoods. She is a certified Botanical surveyor for Mendocino County and the author of the Wild Mushroom Cookbook.
Board of Directors
Jug Handle Creek Farm and Nature Center is governed by a small hands-on Board of Directors who passionately support the mission of the organization and the growth of the educational facilities and programs.
Board of Directors
Jack Tomlin – President – Retired Teacher, Jug Handle Farm Founder, Nature Educator
Lori Jirak – Vice President – CA Native Plant Society volunteer, Native Plant Specialist
Sandy Lawrie – Treasurer/Secretary (Interim) – Retired Corporate Manager, Therapist
Erica Fielder – Naturalist, Interpretive Panel Designer, Educator
Caryl Thornton Sherpa - Museum Design, Construction Project Management, Author
Past Employees
Helene Chalfin has left Jug Handle after 32 plus years of service. As Education Director and Grant Manager, Helene developed and obtained funding for the Fisheries, Watersheds and Native Plants Education Project which has brought the gift of nature appreciation and stewardship to thousands of children from throughout Northern California. As part of that program, Helene coordinated over 35 restoration/education projects along the Mendocino Coast from Gualala to Westport, partnering with many resource agencies, schools, youth groups and AmeriCorps members. Helene brought the Adopt A Watershed Program into Mendocino County, writing grants and organizing training for over 100 teachers in 7 school districts. Helene initiated and managed a five-year Caspar Gorse Eradication project which resulted in the removal of the invasive plant from over 200 acres of land in Caspar, Ca.
In her role as Jug Handle's Site Enhancement Project Director from 2007 to 2019, Helene obtained the support of the Coastal Conservancy and wrote successful grants for over $ 1.5 million, which funded Jug Handle's new Bunkhouse building, built the native plant nursery, and supported numerous Nature Education programs and activities. Helene also oversaw numerous landscaping improvements at Jug Handle, utilizing AmeriCorps teams, CCC members and Cal Fire crews.
Helene’s initiative, creativity and remarkable perseverance supported facility expansion, our Native Plant Nursery and Nature Education over her many years at Jug Handle. She is now focused on her music, grant writing, consulting, enjoying life and new ventures and spending time with family and friends.
