Tim Diebel was born and reared in west Texas but has been an Iowan since 1993. A parish pastor for 30 years, with degrees from Texas Christian University, Brite Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, he followed a surprising call to this gardening classroom to better understand the gift of food, and to participate in the holy work of delicious creativity.  In addition to the quarter-acre vegetable garden that was the centerpiece of Taproot Garden, a flock of heritage-breed chickens and honey bees animated the farm.  Those, along with music and cooking and writing.

Lori Diebel is a life-long Iowan, reared in an educator’s family before becoming an educator herself.  Earning Bachelor and Masters degrees from the University of Northern Iowa and a PhD in Educational Leadership from Iowa State University, she served as an elementary teacher, an elementary and freshman high school principal, and Director of Human Resources of a large suburban school district before retiring in 2014.  In addition to cultivating flowers, spoiling the household’s two Welsh Corgis, Lori cooks and plays the flute.