Our Crew
Willa Power is a non-binary resident of Vashon Island since late March 2020, Willa (or Will for short) joined the HGO Vashon team in June 2020. They have since put to good use the experienced and knowledge gained from 2 years of working for the Seattle Central College Plant Science Laboratory, as well from their Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the UW. Willa grew up on Bainbridge Island, a short distance north of Vashon. In their free time, they enjoy hiking, gardening, foraging, making soup, playing music, painting, home improvement & construction projects, and spending time with their partner & cat. They are excited to continue honing their skills through HGO, and to continue to craft functionally beautiful outdoor spaces and structures.
Tori Hanke is a St. Louis native who transplanted to Vashon Island in November 2020. Tori’s love for plants blossomed after keeping many houseplants in her St. Louis apartment and eventually led her outside to observe local ecosystems and native plants of Missouri. Her passion and curiosity of natural spaces soon taught her that nature is not separate from us and set off on a mission to get as one with Her as possible. Her desire to increase her health and wellness by means of nature lead her to the permaculture and soil regeneration movement. Through travel, composting, keeping a backyard garden, to installing a 17-acre Nature Playscape in St. Louis’ largest urban park, bike riding, making art with natural elements, eating and cooking with organic ingredients, reading many books- slowly she finds her way back to Mother Earth. She gets great inspiration from the sound of the Sound, seeing people live authentically and true to themselves, the bountiful farmstands that dot Vashon Island, and most importantly her partner, Andrew, and their cat, Ethel. She hopes to keep learning skills that will carry with her throughout life and inspire others to go for the wildest dreams because it’s absolutely possible to achieve them.