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MEET THE TEAM

Nick Canino
Executive Director & Founder

As well as founding Rhythm Seed Farm, Nick is our in-house botanist, landscape designer, and permaculture expert.

While he was introduced to gardening at a young age through his mom’s community plot in Seattle, Washington, it wasn’t until he graduated high school and worked on organic permaculture farms in New Zealand that his obsession with growing plants truly took root. While living on the North Island, he worked planting trees, maintaining perennial food crops, and building homes from cob.

He returned to the US in 2011 to attend the Johnston Center at the University of Redlands in California. There he worked with the school’s garden, where he spearheaded an independent study project to plant an orchard of apple, fig, plum, peach, pomegranate, and citrus trees. He also planted an herb garden outside the college cafe, initiated a composting effort amongst his peers, and – to the great delight of his roommate – kept a bin of composting worms in his dorm room.

Since he left university, he has dedicated his time to botany. He has worked as a farm manager, as well as designed and installed dozens of unique home-scale gardens across Oregon, Washington, and California. His main passion is working with unconventional edible plants. In particular, he is fascinated by the process of plant selection and understanding how growing conditions encourage new varieties to emerge and adapt to our changing climate.

Alana Cornell

Co-Founder

Although no longer active with the organization, Alana was vital in supporting the organization as it emerged from the earth during the COVID-19 pandemic. We value and honor her contribution to the early days of Rhythm Seed. She not only helped transform the abandoned lot full of weeds into a thriving organic farm, but she sketched the first draft of the Rhythm Seed logo and helped come up with our name during the initial brainstorm sessions. Without her, Rhythm Seed Farm may have never made it past the concept phase, and we are deeply grateful for her contributions!