Our Team

Bethany is a multimedia artist and clown. She believes that the work of changing the world cannot accomplished from a critical distance, but must be taken up with presence, care, and response-ability in our most intimate everyday engagements.

Bethany holds an MA in Environmental Literatures from UC Davis. She’s done marketing and event production for big tech, labored on small farms, renovated vintage Airstreams, and designed Portland’s favorite dive bar.

Jake Hansen joined our team this fall as Assistant Cemetery Manager and we’re delighted to have him. Jake grew up in Ashland and has spent most of his life in the forests, mountains, and rivers of Southern Oregon. After graduating from Ashland High School, he spent time traveling in India and Central America before obtaining his B.S. in Psychology from Metropolitan State University of Denver. He returned to Ashland this year to attend graduate school.

Larry Lacerte moved to Oregon from Colorado. He was drawn to working at Willow-Witt Ranch by a desire to learn more about off-grid living, working with animals and market gardening. He enjoys hiking, biking, skiing and making music.

Esther has a diverse background as a woman of many trades. She feels most in alignment with the flow of life when connected to the cycles of life, death, and transformation. She is a mother of two young children, shepherd of hair sheep and goats, and a farmhand at Willow-Witt ranch. She is passionate about growing food and raising animals in a way that mimics nature’s intelligence and believes that observation is an important skill in helping humans feel connected to life on earth, each other, and ourselves. 

Garrett is very energetic and LOVES being outdoors! He is a father and enjoys working out at the YMCA. He is also a wildland firefighter in the summer time.  

Caroline is a Salem local and graduated from Oregon State University, Go Beavs! She loves wilderness areas, trees, and human power. After working for wilderness trail crews, equine barns, and doing odd jobs in the Pacific Northwest, she’s happy to be back in Oregon where it all started. Her philosophy is that life is better with animals and even better when you get to work alongside them. Best coworkers ever!