Martha Gilbert

B.A. Chinese Language and Literature, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Martha was born to back-to-land parents in the driftless region of Southwestern Wisconsin and spent her formative years making maple syrup, gardening, and romping in the woods with her sisters. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she obtained a degree in Chinese Language and Literature and was an active member of the Nottingham Housing Cooperative and the UW Breakdance club. Upon graduation, she moved to Utah and began working as a Wilderness Therapy Guide. She spent the next 8 years in the mountains and deserts of the American Southwest guiding teens, young adults, and families facing challenging life circumstances. She took breaks from the backcountry to work as a consultant in Beijing, China, and as an educator at an organic garden. She currently lives in Lyons, Colorado.