Meet Us

Mojave was born and lived in Alaska, before moving to Lake Ozette on the Olympic Peninsula and from there, around the northwest. He spent his entire youth exploring and learning about the outdoors with his two older brothers, as well as helping the family in their annual gardens. All of the Morelli family was taught to appreciate and take care of the land. Being stewards of the earth and not owners of the land is an important mindset of theirs. In August 2008, Mojave married his wife on the farm and in April 2009, the two moved to the farm to make a permanent residence of the beautiful acreage and pursue the dream of the family farm. Mojave realized early on that his real passions in life were for the outdoors and food. He also realized that the two were working together to pull him into organic gardening. In the spring of 2007, he decided to work with his family on their farm. That was the year that Green Wave Gardens became a member of the Spokane Farmers’ Market. The first year was filled with many lessons, which continue today. Mojave is in charge of the planning and growing of all vegetable and fruit crops. He also works and leads his small crew in all harvesting, pest management, quality control, farm cleanup, field preparations, and other daily tasks. He is also constantly in contact with local stores and restaurants who understand the importance of eating and buying local. His main passion is for heirloom tomatoes, which he continues to grow more and more varieties of.

Chelsea grew up in Anchor Point, Alaska, on the Kenai Peninsula. She grew up on her family’s homestead, which her grandparents settled in 1949. She grew up with a great appreciation and wonder of her surroundings. She spent many summers at her grandfather’s commercial fishing sites on Kalgin Island and cherishes the time spent on the peaceful island. After high school, Chelsea attended Eastern Washington University, and received her B.A. in English Literature in 2007. Chelsea began working on the farm right out of college and freshly engaged to Mojave. When endeavoring into the garden world, she brought her connection and love of the land, as well as good work ethic. The seasons continue to bring more experience and knowledge of gardening, making it that much more enjoyable. Chelsea oversees the CSA program, works in the greenhouses, fields, washing area, and packing room; she also travels to Spokane to sell at the Spokane Farmers’ Market and make deliveries twice a week. She plays an integral role in the record keeping - from the fields and greenhouses to the produce harvested and sold, it is all written down for certification and personal records.

Mojave and Chelsea love to spend time in the kitchen together, using ingredients from their garden as much as possible. He is an amazing cook, with a very lucky wife. The winter of ’09-’10 saw Mojave’s fist batches of homebrew bottled, which was very exciting. He is also a talented musician and plays multiple instruments. Chelsea enjoys writing and has a few stories working themselves out. She spends her free time using farm apples to make delicious pies and treats to fatten up the family. Both enjoy taking advantage of the natural beauty of the country by rock climbing, hiking, camping, snowshoeing, skiing, and picnicking on the hills overlooking the Columbia. Sometimes, it is just taking time to watch the sun rise. The couple is very proud of the work that they do and the quality of produce delivered by their hands. There is nothing better to them than seeing the excited faces of market friends and new customers on market days. It makes it all worth it.

Teniya serves as facility manager, groundskeeper, pruner, tractor operator, and cover crop planter. He works on various projects around the farm and supports all day to day activities. He is the go-to guy for immediate needs and amazes us with his ability to get things done in short order. He has been an integral part in the building of Green Wave Gardens with his dedication and solid work ethic that he has applied for the past 9 years on the family’s farm. Teniya was born in McCall, Idaho, and was raised in different wilderness locations of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. He became a proficient and well rounded outdoorsman, while also developing the needed sense of respect, responsibility, and resourcefulness at a very early age. He has worked on a buffalo ranch, farmed, logged, carpentered, and led many wilderness adventure trips. Teniya is an accomplished professional musician, playing shows around the northwest. He is also an avid fisherman. If you can’t find him, he is most likely spending the day on the water in his boat. His no-nonsense approach to life and his great sense of humor help to bring balance to the community.

Shirley is co-founder and co-owner of Green Wave Gardens. She was born in Georgia, and traveled out west at age 18. From there, she met her mate and they set out on a life of adventure traveling and working all over the backcountry areas of Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and remote Southeast Alaska. During this time, she had their 4 children and cared for them no matter where their work or adventuring took them, depending on her natural mothering abilities and common sense. She embodies a true pioneer spirit in her work and her life. Serving as the farm manager, she is responsible for the farm’s Washington State Department of Agriculture organic certification, as well as keeping up all records pertaining to the farm operations. She implemented and oversees all of the garlic production - working in the fields, planting, weeding, harvesting, grading, and marketing the garlic. She also has a love of growing vegetables and flowers for the family’s use and enjoyment. She is a mother of 4 grown children, a grandmother, and wife of 34 years. She enjoys gardening, cooking, and family time on the farm; she also enjoys traveling and artistic endeavors when time is available. Sharing her knowledge of gardening and cooking with others, as well as providing healthy food from her efforts in the garden and kitchen, always makes her happy as well. She makes delicious weekly meals for the family to enjoy, taking the work off of the shoulders of others throughout the season.

Bruce is the co-founder and co-owner of Green Wave Gardens. He is the ‘water man’, keeping the precious resource flowing to the land. He works the garlic and helps out wherever needed with planting, harvesting, and weeding. He is steady and ready for any tough challenge. He was born in Santa Barbara, California, where his grandfather was an orchard manager on the former Hope Ranch. Bruce has been involved in the outdoors since 1967. His early years were spent mountain climbing and exploring in depth the Sierras, Yosemite, and the coastal mountains of Santa Barbara. He and Shirley spent their first 5 years together hiking and packing burros northward from the Sierras to Oregon and Idaho, working with and learning from the few remaining pioneers of the west that had carved out a life in the wilderness. Bruce has lived all of his adult life in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, working in remote locations as a 4-seasons wilderness guide, in Southeast Alaskan fisheries, and as a guide of horseback, hunting, and fishing adventures. Bruce is a rare breed of man in the modern world, staying true to his purpose that he discovered as a young man…living in accordance with nature and keeping the knowledge of the old ways alive for future generations. Knowing at an early age, that the way of life he was born in to was not sustainable because of the disconnection from natural laws of nature. He continues his studies and observations of the natural world.

 ▪   Organic Certifications

 ▪   Farm Photos

 ▪   Garlic

 ▪   Produce List

 ▪   Market Schedule

 ▪   CSA Shares

 ▪   About Us

 ▪    History

 ▪   Contact, Tour, Retreat

Humans merely share the earth. We can only protect the land, not own it.

Chief Sealth