Meet the Orrantias
Dusty and Riley wanted to create a space where kids could feel safe, have fun and discover the magic of learning outdoors. That dream blossomed here at Tierra Ohana, where we blend hands-on farm experiences with curiosity driven exploration. Come see what makes our program so special!
Yessie Joy Verbena-Director of Education
Yessie Joy Verbena is the Director of Education at Root & Rise Farm School, where she guides curriculum development, mentors educators, and helps steward the school’s long‑term vision. Her work centers on nurturing learning environments where children feel connected to the land, to their community, and to their own sense of capability.
Before joining Root & Rise, Yessie founded Blackberry Academy, Oregon’s first fully licensed outdoor preschool. She brings forward that same commitment to curiosity, equity, and nature‑immersive learning as she supports Root & Rise’s growing preschool and gradeschool programs.
Yessie is dedicated to expanding access to high‑quality outdoor education for all children and celebrates the diverse ways young learners grow, explore, and thrive. Her leadership is grounded in the belief that childhood flourishes in environments rooted in wonder, belonging, and relationship with the natural world.
Dusty Orrantia
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Dusty is a farmer, educator, and land steward devoted to restoring meaningful relationships between people, land, and food. A Southern California native, his path into permaculture and agroecology has taken him across diverse growing regions in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the American Southwest, where he deepened his understanding of how climate, culture, and ecology shape communities.
His experience developing and teaching at a nature-based outdoor farm school in Vista, California helped clarify a calling toward outdoor education.
As co-founder of Tierra Ohana Farm Non-Profit dba Root & Rise in Southern Oregon, Dusty helps cultivate spaces where learning grows from direct experience through tending gardens, caring for animals, preparing food, and participating in the rhythms of a working farm. Through this work, he supports the development of ecological literacy while strengthening local food systems and community connection.
He believes that nutrient-dense food grown with integrity and vitality can help heal both people and planet, and that real change begins by living the example we hope to see in the world. Inspired by the generations who came before us, Dusty sees this work as part of a living legacy, one rooted in care for the land and in the possibility of thriving future generations.
Miss Cailey
Lead Preschool Educator
“Hello! My name is Miss Cailey, and I’m so excited to be part of Root and Rise! For the past few years, I’ve been working in a kindergarten classroom, where I’ve had the joy of helping little learners grow, explore, and build confidence. Before that, I worked in recreation at a skilled nursing facility, and I’ve also had the joy of spending several summers with kids — first as a horseback riding instructor at a summer camp, and later as a Girl Scout camp counselor. Those experiences showed me just how special it is to create fun, supportive spaces where kids can be themselves and thrive.
Outside of school, I love adventures with my two kiddos, digging in the garden, and going to concerts. I like bringing those kinds of real-life joys into the classroom, because I think kids learn best when they’re having fun and exploring new things.
My biggest hope for this program is to give children a space where they feel safe, encouraged, and proud of who they are — while also developing a love of nature and the world around them. I can’t wait to get to know our families, work together as a team, and help Root and Rise grow into something truly wonderful for the kids and the community.
The Vision
Tierra Ohana Farm aims to model regenerative, community-centered agriculture.
We strive to create a space where people can reconnect with the land, with each other, and with the food we grow, prepare, and eat. With the support and engagement of our community, we envision the farm growing into a sanctuary of abundance, offering food security, healing, and nourishment for all. We are proud to be part of the local food revolution, a movement with global momentum, and we hope to serve as both an inspiration and a practical model for others working to revive and strengthen small-scale farming.
About the farm
Tierra Ohana Farm is tucked into the Southwest foothills between Ashland and Medford, Oregon, where rich soil and changing seasons offer endless opportunities to learn and grow. As a working farm and education center, we grow food, tend animals, and invite children to connect with the land through hands-on experiences.
About our Practices
We practice regenerative organic methods that honor the land and support long-term ecological health. From composting and cover cropping to rotational grazing and water stewardship, every decision we make is rooted in reciprocity. We care for our soil, our animals, and our community with the belief that healthy systems create thriving people. By working in harmony with nature, we are not just growing food, we are growing a resilient community.