Heidi grew up in Central Illinois, surrounded by the wide-open spaces of a farming community. Her love for nature deepened as she moved to Colorado to study Natural Resources and Environmental Communication. There, she worked as an outdoor instructor, guiding multi-day backpacking trips and further cultivating her passion for the environment.

Heidi later moved to the Pacific Northwest with her future husband, Matt Martin, where she earned a master’s degree in education and a teaching certificate. Her studies focused on permaculture and integrative skills for sustainable change. She went on to teach at Pacific Crest Montessori, a middle school in Seattle with a farm on Vashon Island. It was there that Heidi rediscovered her deep connection to the land and her growing passion for sustainable farming and community-based food production.

In 2012, Heidi and Matt relocated to Bainbridge Island to raise their three children in a place rich with natural beauty, farming opportunities, and a simpler way of life. Together, they founded Kaleidoscope Farm, a family endeavor designed to share their love for local food, nature, and community. Over the years, Heidi also served as the Executive Farm Manager at Heyday Farm, further deepening her roots in the Island’s farming community.

When she’s not working on the farm, Heidi enjoys backpacking, snowboarding/skiing, and exploring Bainbridge Island’s stunning local trails with her family.