Diane Ransom
Founded by Diane in 2010, Red Bird has become a leader in sustainable and restorative landscape design and care. Diane’s training and background in Permaculture design, team leadership, project management and business development have created a uniquely capable landscape practice. Through her commitment to growing and developing the passions, gifts, and skills of the team, Red Bird’s approach is rooted in care for the earth, care for clients - their gardens and landscapes - and respect for one another.
Ryan Makarenko
Ryan has been with Red Bird since 2017 – one of the originals! He’s our go-to for operating and maintaining vehicles and equipment: trucks, trailers, mowers, trimmers. He enjoys planting, caring for roses, and is happy to tackle the next task that comes along - moving soil, mulching, and seasonal garden maintenance! He’s curious about and wants to learn more about creating meadows, irrigation, food gardens, and native plants. In his spare time, he enjoys building and painting model kits.
Catalina Polloni
Trained as an architect, Catalina joined Red Bird in 2017. Her landscape design practice has grown and evolved, grounded in a deep commitment to integrate nature’s ways with our hopes as humans. Through intentional observation, Catalina designs landscapes that include regenerative, dynamic plant communities filled with life and beauty. She is a life-long learner and good listener, dedicated to finding effective, responsible, shared solutions. In the face of ongoing climate change, she is passionate about growing food in a local, sustainable manner and using native plants to foster resilience and habitat restoration.
Rick Hatch
A committed and knowledgeable permaculture practitioner, Rick’s approach to life and work is grounded in his care for the land and for people. A member of the Red Bird team since 2017, Rick’s positive attitude, diverse life and business experience, and deep knowledge in permaculture inspires others and his leadership. His strong practical skills in gardening, landscaping, and building are complimented by a commitment to family, and many years of devoted engagement with the Penticton Farmers market.
Lila Tauzer
Lila is a biologist and farmer and enjoys time spent outdoors - even when the work is hard. An enthusiastic nature lover with a strong background in native plants and animals, she is trained as an ecologist, and appreciates the complexity of interactions in the natural world. She enjoys planting Red Bird gardens, designed for beauty and diversity, and often including native plants, food gardens and food forests, creating and restoring habitat for native bees, birds, and butterflies. She loves taking the time to plant well.
Alvaro Morales
With a background in Agriculture and Agroecology, Landscape Architecture, Irrigation efficiency, greenhouse design and construction, Alvaro offers a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and attention to detail – all valued assets in the Red Bird team. He cares for the natural environment and seeks to improve each site he tends. He enjoys building relationships with clients, and delivering strong results. As a gifted water colour artist, his appreciation for natural beauty and joie de vivre shine.
Catherine Lavoie
Following several years in the wine industry managing vineyards, Catherine joined Red Bird in 2022. Catherine has a keen interest in food growing, creating food forests, and training in North America edible wild species. She is “obsessed with finding new edible species that I haven’t yet discovered. I love to plant species that serve as food for both humans and animals.” She offers a willingness to do what is needed, confidence to install and problem solve in irrigation, and a strong ability to multitask.
Kerry Van Kooy
A certified Horticulturist and farmer, a naturalist and nature lover, Kerry joined the Red Bird team in 2023. She brings a deep care for the land, restoration, observing nature, and building community. Hard working, with a love for all aspects of horticulture, she enjoys team leadership and mentoring roles and has a keen interest in design. Kerry is passionate about soil science, food growing, and developing best practices to nurture plant health.
Miles Hayden
One of our newest recruits, Miles brings enthusiasm and a positive attitude, enjoys hard work outdoors in nature, and is keen to learn from others as a strong team player. He appreciates working with plants and caring for landscapes. When he’s not gardening, he is honing his skills as an elite runner and cross-country skier.
Stacey Smith
After several years owning and operating an artisan bakery in Kelowna, Stacey is pursuing her passion for gardens and design. She joined the Red Bird team in 2023 and is working towards a diploma in landscape design.
Inspired by the stunning beauty of the Okanagan Valley, she is a plant enthusiast, deeply passionate about plants native to this region. Building on alternative and sustainable approaches to traditional garden design, she enjoys creating resilient landscapes in harmony with nature, and installing beautiful gardens designed by Red Bird!