About Us

Kirsten K. Shockey and Christopher Shockey are the coauthors of award-winning The Big Book of Cidermaking, Fiery Ferments, best-selling Fermented Vegetables and award-winning Miso, Tempeh, Natto and other Tasty Ferments. Kirsten is the author of Hombrewed Vinegar. The Shockeys got their start in fermenting foods over twenty years ago on 40-acres of wooded hillside on unceded Takelma territory which grew into their organic food company. They realized that their passion lay in the desire to both teach people how to ferment and push this culinary art to new flavors. They lead experiential workshops worldwide and online helping people to make, enjoy and connect with their food through fermentation.  Kirsten is a co-founder of The Fermentation School a women-owned and women-led benefits corporation supporting the voices of independent educators to empower learning and build culture.

Together, their days are a chaotic combination of grand-parenting, day jobs, writing and navigating whatever the climate and the rural lifestyle throws their way.  Every day is different. Christopher and Kirsten can be found watering, preserving harvests, making cheese, planting trees, chopping firewood, mucking stalls, hiking, dreaming up the next project, reading, or dancing on the porch under the stars.  At the end of the day they go to bed exhausted and knowing life is good.