About

Hello and welcome to Roots & Marvel! My name is Emily Ho.

I am a food writer and educator as well as a digital communications consultant to wellness entrepreneurs.

When I’m not behind the computer or in the kitchen, you’re likely to find me organizing food swaps, studying herbalism and wildcrafting, and exploring the mountains, canyons, beaches, and deserts near my home in Southern California.

The meaning behind Roots & Marvel…
I believe in the importance of cultivating our connections to the earth and to each other. There is great joy and power in understanding where our food comes from, exploring the world with all our senses, and sharing this nourishment with others — generation to generation, neighbor to neighbor, hand to hand. I hope you’ll join me in discovering and celebrating the wonder of nature, culture, and food.

Whether you’d like to work together, share stories, or just say hello, I’d love to hear from you! You can leave a comment on the blog, email me, or connect on Twitter.

Biography

My interest in nature, culture, and food began at an early age. One of the most meaningful experiences of my childhood, and the seed of my commitment to this work, was helping to lead tangerine meditations with Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. Growing up in his community, I learned to be mindful of my food, seeing in every bite the interconnections between eater, farmer, plant, animal, soil, and sun.

My parents, too, were important guides as I witnessed their work as healers and nourishers — my father an acupuncturist, gardener, and chef; my mother a teacher, storyteller, poet, and occasional vegan caterer for farm labor leader César Chávez. At the table and on the streets of my hometown in San Antonio, Texas, Mr. Chávez impressed upon me the power of social justice and community organizing.

As a teenager I became active in the animal rights movement. From this, I learned lessons in organizing and communication, but I also discovered what isn’t so helpful: alienating people, polarizing groups, and failing to honor a diversity of viewpoints. Small, sustainable steps are often more effective than absolutes. I’m still a vegetarian (since age 5!) but I’m probably the least dogmatic one you’ll ever meet.

These early experiences with organizing and food intersect with my learning and expertise in the publishing world as an adult. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Art History with a focus on the History of the Book and Print Culture (Hampshire College) and a masters in Library and Information Science (San Jose State University). In addition to my background as an editor (print and online), I have been blogging since 1998, both personally and professionally. I have also worked as an art librarian, archivist, and financial analyst – all the while honing my skills as a home cook and food crafter.

Mindful cooking and holistic health are now the foundations of my work as a writer, teacher, and consultant. I am delighted and privileged to be a part of a growing community committed to making the world a better place.

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A few other tidbits:

• My volunteer activities include teaching food preservation as a Certified Master Food Preserver and working with children at the Garden School Foundation.

• I live in a little 1929 apartment in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles with my partner Gregory and our two cats, Eames and Eero.

• I am an Angelena who doesn’t drive. I walk and take the bus or train. It can be done!

• I am particularly fond of the earth’s often overlooked wonders: lichens, fungi, bugs, and slugs.

• My favorite flavor is elderflower.