Marshall Chrostowski – our Gardner is Retiring after more than 30 years!
Marshall is retiring from day-to-day businesses of gardening, landscaping and small organic farming – noting that, “I have been blessed with wonderful customers and great opportunities for creative landscaping while mentoring younger gardeners and food producers.”
He fondly recalled the hundreds of customers who have supported Pacifica’s Organic Market over the past 25 years. “It has been an honor and privilege to feed staff, students and faculty at the Institute and families in the wider community”, he said. “We sold produce to many caterers and other food service businesses and donated tons of food to the Santa Barbara Foodbank, Catholic Charities, Unity House, Organic Soup Kitchen and other non-profits. Our market garden and orchards have been models of modified French bio intensive agricultural practices, varietal trials, and seed conservation as well as of biodiversity. The Lambert Campus has hosted many tours and workshop groups. I shall miss them all.”
Marshall Chrostowski has been a consultant and personal gardener/farmer for over 45 years in California and plans to continue consulting from his home in Colfax (Placer County) through the winter months into early Spring, at which time he will moving from the area to be nearer family and his beloved Micheline in new adventures and projects, in Quebec.
Lastly, Marshall gives special thanks to the following for their contributions to his life and work:
- Maryanne Mott and deceased husband and his mentor, Herman Warsh for more than 25 years of engagement and support.
- Steve Aizenstat and Pacifica Graduate Institute community for the opportunity to create exceptional gardens and orchards on both campuses and to operate his beloved organic mini-farm.
- La Casa de Maria Retreat and Conference Center and associated Immaculate Heart Community for the honor of designing and maintaining spiritual gardens on their Montecito Campus.
- The many current, former and deceased customers and friends who appreciated our services and contribution toward quality of life in their homes, businesses and passions in the Southland.
- My workers, Ralu Paredes-Sanchez, Roman Almazan, Florencio De Jesus, Efigenio Sotero, Logan Nevitt and many former workers, interns and volunteers who sustained my various horticultural and agricultural enterprises and passions.
- Last, but not least, the hundreds of customers for their support.
