Rick Trumbull is a sustainable vineyard/orchard consulant for most all of the serious grape and apple farmers in the Walla Walla Valley. He grew up in the valley and farmed with his parents in apples for years before becoming a chemical consultant for a local company. His experiences with the farmers and the different crops over the years showed him the importance of developing a more sustainable method of farming.

Rick's interest became more focused on the microbiology and its importance to the health of the soil and he soon began brewing the valley's first Compost Tea. Sustainable Soil Solutions, his family operated business, was born and services the majority of the valley's major grape and apple farmers with Vermi-Compost Tea, and many many other products that aide in the balancing of the soil. He has also co-founded Quality Compost, the valley's first compost company, which manufactures premium compost and when blended together with many key amendments, serves to re-build the soil for the most high-quality fruit possible.

Besides being the winemaker for Tulpen Cellars, Ken Hart is General manager of Appellation Management Group. AMG develops and manages vineyards within the Walla Walla valley. These include vineyards for Abeja, a'Maurice, Dunham Cellars and Walla Walla Vintners along with another 10 properties. He has also planted other vineyards in the valley such as Seven Hills, Nicholas Cole and Ash Hallow.

Ken's farming interests are now focused on the vineyard development of non irrigated lands in the area of the valley we call Mill Creek, which is proving to be quite exciting. His first dry land project was a vineyard named Yellow Bird, located next to Walla Walla Vintners. Our farming methods are that of Sustainability (focus on the health of the soil and it's microbiology) with all of the larger vineyards being certified Live and IOBC while also having the Salmon Safe Certificate.