One on One ~ Ramona Tamiyasu
Spring 2007
by Tomi Owens
In the early 1900’s Ramona Tamiyasu’s grandfather got off a boat from Japan in San Francisco. He worked on railroads and did odd jobs, slowly making his way north until he reached the Hood River valley. Tamiyasu knew that several other Japanese families were already settled and farming here and he too founded a farm. Tamiyasu Orchards, Inc. was passed down through the generations, father to son to grandson. Ramona spent her childhood on this farm.
However, in 1980 Ramona chose a different path for her life. After high school graduation, she moved to San Francisco to attend San Francisco State University. There she earned her undergrad degree in Studio Art with an emphasis on clay sculpture and ceramics and a minor degree in Asian American History with an emphasis on Japanese American History.
Like her grandfather, Ramona also made her way north from San Francisco—not back to Hood River but to Seattle where she attended the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She opened her first private practice there in 2000. Ramona also met her husband, Tom Garafalo, while living in Seattle.
Sadly, it was a terrible tragedy that brought her back to live in the Hood River Valley. In June of 2001, Ramona’s brother Eric was murdered. This homicide case is still open and the Sheriff’s department is still without answers for the Tamiyasu family.
Eric Tamiyasu had been operating the orchard for 15 years and their parents had more or less retired. Of the surviving Tamiyasu siblings, only Ramona and her husband Tom were in a position to move to Hood River and do all that has to be done to keep
an orchard in operation.
Despite the tragic circumstances of her return home, Ramona, Tom and their son Benjamin are making the very best of life in this community. They live on the family farm and continue the tradition of raising fruit. Also, Ramona has opened a part-time acupuncture practice in a small but beautifully designed space in downtown Hood River.
I met Ramona for
coffee and visited her office where the influences of Studio Art and Oriental Culture are perfectly blended. We discussed acupuncture, farming, and her continued support of the Gorge Local Currency Cooperative. We also speculated on the future of the Gorge as both a community and a natural wonder:
Tomi Owens: What do you like most about your work as an acupuncturist?
Ramona Tamiyasu: There are so many aspects to this work that I love … being in a serene, peaceful environment that is focused on health, healing, the power of positive thought and the energy of healing work. I love meeting new people who are interested in working toward balance, and helping themselves with some tools that I can provide [and] getting to the root of the problem if they have pain, discomfort or are feeling not as well as they should. I love helping people reach health goals and achieving a higher potential that each of us possess.
TO: What motivated you to join the GLCC?
RT: I wanted to connect with a community in Hood River. After growing up here and leaving directly after graduation, I didn’t have any connections here as an adult …. I knew that there were people I had gone to school with here, but I had no way to connect with others that I might have things in common with. I had heard about RiverHOURS and wanted to see if anyone would be interested in using the local currency for acupuncture.
I had worked for an acupuncturist in Oakland, California who was part of a barter system and I thought it was a good way to obtain goods and services while meeting other people who had businesses.
TO: Where do you spend your RiverHOURS?
RT: I spend RiverHOURS at the ReBuild-it Center. We are always building things and replacing equipment at the orchard. A farm is like a community within a community. Our farm doesn’t just support my family but also supports all the families that live and work with us on the orchard. We believe that it is always better to recycle, both financially and for the environment.
TO: In addition to supporting the GLCC, what other community building projects are you involved with? How do they support our local wellbeing?
RT: One idea I came up with is giving ten percent of all my new patient fees to a local charity or deserving person or business that have good ideas. Each month I select someone and just give them the money as a donation. The first one was Gorge Grown Food Network, the next was the Toddler Music Program through Community Education. The third was PROD who helps with the care of dogs and families who love them. … Next month my ten percent donation will go to 3Flowers Healing and the Wildflower Walks [that] promote Nature and our relationship with her. So far, I’ve had great response. I hope that I and others, by donating even a small amount in seemingly small ways can make connections and support each other. It is really enjoyable and is always appreciated by the recipients.
TO: Over the years, you have seen many changes in the Gorge. What changes do you see as positive?
RT: When I moved away from Hood River in 1980, the economy, at least the downtown and the Heights businesses weren’t flourishing. During the 80’s the windsurfing and tourism started to really take off and the Gorge became a destination. This helped revive and inspire people and it was really surprising to actually have traffic (waiting at stop signs, even!)
TO: What changes do you see as negative?
RT: Although having large stores is convenient, I’d rather shop at a store that is locally owned and operated. Lots of smaller businesses were put out of business by the Wal-Mart going in. Now, we either have to drive to The Dalles to shop or Portland, or buy at the Wal-Mart where things are cheap, convenient and impersonal. I miss Franz Hardware.
TO: In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing the Gorge community as a whole?
RT: I think the biggest challenge is keeping the Gorge beautiful, unpolluted as much as possible and safe [while] meeting the needs of the community and population of the towns. It’s all about balance and controlling excess. The Columbia Gorge is a living organism and should by recognized as such. If we look at our community much like we view a human, we would probably be more respectful to the land—what we put on it, what we ask of it; we would try to promote it to be as wholesome as possible.
Spring 2007
by Tomi Owens
In the early 1900’s Ramona Tamiyasu’s grandfather got off a boat from Japan in San Francisco. He worked on railroads and did odd jobs, slowly making his way north until he reached the Hood River valley. Tamiyasu knew that several other Japanese families were already settled and farming here and he too founded a farm. Tamiyasu Orchards, Inc. was passed down through the generations, father to son to grandson. Ramona spent her childhood on this farm.
However, in 1980 Ramona chose a different path for her life. After high school graduation, she moved to San Francisco to attend San Francisco State University. There she earned her undergrad degree in Studio Art with an emphasis on clay sculpture and ceramics and a minor degree in Asian American History with an emphasis on Japanese American History.
Like her grandfather, Ramona also made her way north from San Francisco—not back to Hood River but to Seattle where she attended the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She opened her first private practice there in 2000. Ramona also met her husband, Tom Garafalo, while living in Seattle.
Sadly, it was a terrible tragedy that brought her back to live in the Hood River Valley. In June of 2001, Ramona’s brother Eric was murdered. This homicide case is still open and the Sheriff’s department is still without answers for the Tamiyasu family.
Eric Tamiyasu had been operating the orchard for 15 years and their parents had more or less retired. Of the surviving Tamiyasu siblings, only Ramona and her husband Tom were in a position to move to Hood River and do all that has to be done to keep
an orchard in operation.
Despite the tragic circumstances of her return home, Ramona, Tom and their son Benjamin are making the very best of life in this community. They live on the family farm and continue the tradition of raising fruit. Also, Ramona has opened a part-time acupuncture practice in a small but beautifully designed space in downtown Hood River.
I met Ramona for
coffee and visited her office where the influences of Studio Art and Oriental Culture are perfectly blended. We discussed acupuncture, farming, and her continued support of the Gorge Local Currency Cooperative. We also speculated on the future of the Gorge as both a community and a natural wonder:
Tomi Owens: What do you like most about your work as an acupuncturist?
Ramona Tamiyasu: There are so many aspects to this work that I love … being in a serene, peaceful environment that is focused on health, healing, the power of positive thought and the energy of healing work. I love meeting new people who are interested in working toward balance, and helping themselves with some tools that I can provide [and] getting to the root of the problem if they have pain, discomfort or are feeling not as well as they should. I love helping people reach health goals and achieving a higher potential that each of us possess.
TO: What motivated you to join the GLCC?
RT: I wanted to connect with a community in Hood River. After growing up here and leaving directly after graduation, I didn’t have any connections here as an adult …. I knew that there were people I had gone to school with here, but I had no way to connect with others that I might have things in common with. I had heard about RiverHOURS and wanted to see if anyone would be interested in using the local currency for acupuncture.
I had worked for an acupuncturist in Oakland, California who was part of a barter system and I thought it was a good way to obtain goods and services while meeting other people who had businesses.
TO: Where do you spend your RiverHOURS?
RT: I spend RiverHOURS at the ReBuild-it Center. We are always building things and replacing equipment at the orchard. A farm is like a community within a community. Our farm doesn’t just support my family but also supports all the families that live and work with us on the orchard. We believe that it is always better to recycle, both financially and for the environment.
TO: In addition to supporting the GLCC, what other community building projects are you involved with? How do they support our local wellbeing?
RT: One idea I came up with is giving ten percent of all my new patient fees to a local charity or deserving person or business that have good ideas. Each month I select someone and just give them the money as a donation. The first one was Gorge Grown Food Network, the next was the Toddler Music Program through Community Education. The third was PROD who helps with the care of dogs and families who love them. … Next month my ten percent donation will go to 3Flowers Healing and the Wildflower Walks [that] promote Nature and our relationship with her. So far, I’ve had great response. I hope that I and others, by donating even a small amount in seemingly small ways can make connections and support each other. It is really enjoyable and is always appreciated by the recipients.
TO: Over the years, you have seen many changes in the Gorge. What changes do you see as positive?
RT: When I moved away from Hood River in 1980, the economy, at least the downtown and the Heights businesses weren’t flourishing. During the 80’s the windsurfing and tourism started to really take off and the Gorge became a destination. This helped revive and inspire people and it was really surprising to actually have traffic (waiting at stop signs, even!)
TO: What changes do you see as negative?
RT: Although having large stores is convenient, I’d rather shop at a store that is locally owned and operated. Lots of smaller businesses were put out of business by the Wal-Mart going in. Now, we either have to drive to The Dalles to shop or Portland, or buy at the Wal-Mart where things are cheap, convenient and impersonal. I miss Franz Hardware.
TO: In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing the Gorge community as a whole?
RT: I think the biggest challenge is keeping the Gorge beautiful, unpolluted as much as possible and safe [while] meeting the needs of the community and population of the towns. It’s all about balance and controlling excess. The Columbia Gorge is a living organism and should by recognized as such. If we look at our community much like we view a human, we would probably be more respectful to the land—what we put on it, what we ask of it; we would try to promote it to be as wholesome as possible.