Cheryl Helm grew up in Southern California where she attended culinary school and worked in various kitchens in her pursuit of becoming a chef. She headed north to San Francisco in search of a more vibrant restaurant scene; there, she staged in various kitchens and worked as a bartender. While in San Francisco, she got involved in political activism and became interested in growing food, which led her to intern on a Permaculture “farm” on Orcas Island, WA. She spent three years learning various skills such as fruit tree grafting, brain tanning, plant propagation, and the principles of Permaculture design while serving as nursery manager for the farm’s edible and useful plant nursery. She moved to Portland in January of 2011 and was recruited as Mutt’s Office Manager, where she works to keep the office running smoothly and hones her bartending skills.