HGC owner #733 - As a world traveler, Tavia is an environmentalist, a sustainability enthusiast and food activist. She has supported the Sustainable Farming Movement since she was a young girl, selling produce at the Hudson Farmers Market. Tavia’s passion for food started in Hudson in 5th grade when she became a vegetarian for ethical and health reasons. For over 20 years she has worked on organic farms to support the farmers who work towards a more sustainable future.
Tavia holds a BA from the University of MN in sustainability and environmental studies, and a MA from the School of International Training (VT) in intercultural management with a focus on sustainable development and social justice. She received certifications for various healing modalities while living in Peru as a researcher for her masters. With over 9 years working in the field of wellness as a yoga and Thai Yoga Bodywork practitioner, Tavia believes in the connection between food, spirituality and health.
Tavia started Oh, Beehave! during the pandemic. It’s an organic beeswax skincare line that centers around the importance of conservation. Her business model seeks to educate on the power of consumer responsibility, cultivate awareness on prairie restoration, and the protection of native pollinators.
Tavia believes, “to be a co-op owner means to help plant the seeds to grow a new culture of community here in Hudson. There’s so much richness in the Cooperative movement that is based on learning with and from one another. Being an owner means participating in a space for more self-directed healing and wellness based on nutritious food, as well as supporting our local agricultural system and the families who take care of it.”
Currently, Tavia serves with AmeriCorps as the Environmental Education Program’s Analyst for St. Paul Parks and Recreation where she organizes school to farm events, pollinator and garden programs, and facilitates other environmental educational programs for the city.