About
Dave Hodges | Operations
Dave Hodges graduated with a farming degree from Kansas State University. He moved to Hastings Mesa in the 80's with his family (father of two boys) to specialize in welding, carpentry, and timberframing in the surrounding area. Dave purchased Pinion Farm Homestead in Nucla in 2016 with Bodie and Melanie to start his love of farming. He has a knack for picking apples loves working the mobile cider press when it comes to town. You might find him rafting the regional rivers whenever possible and tending to his animals at the farm.
Melanie Eggers | Founder
Guided by a former career in marketing, Melanie freelanced for various businesses including Ryder Walker Alpine Adventures. She worked as the Local Food Initiative coordinator for three years in Norwood and currently as the Food Coordinator for the West End Economic Development Co. to focus on agricultural expansion and distribution for local farmers/producers with an emphasis on Restoration Agriculture. She received a Holistic Nutrition certificate from the Bauman College of Nutrition and Culinary Studies out of Berkeley, CA. She lived in Telluride for more than 20 years and moved to Redvale nine years ago and recently to Nucla to focus on the Apple Core Project and her farm with husband Erik and children Mato and Chayton.
Erik "Bodie" Johansson | Founder
Erik Johansson was born and raised in Redvale, CO. He graduated from high school in Nucla. He moved from Redvale to Nucla in 2016 just after he purchased a 20-acre farm on main street in Nucla. He grew up in the West End of Montrose and San Miguel county picking apples, apricots and any fruit he and his sisters could find from trees igrowing in roadside ditches. He developed a strong interest in preserving the local fruit tree genetics after taking a grafting class with Jude and Addie Schuenmeyer from Montezuma County Orchard Restoration Project. He as special art for grafting apple trees which makes sense as he is an artisan timberframer by trade. He spends his time with his wife, Melanie and children, Mato & Chayton enjoying the outdoors in San Juan Mountains. Bodie helped install the Naturita Library landscape, install a 2-acre food forest with 600 trees & shrubs and is the head grafter for the Apple Core Project.