It all began when....

(Ok, too far back, perhaps..)

It really all began when...

1984-86 - Found myself living in the 'big city' while attending the Art Institute of Philadelphia. Decided to take up vegetarianism, which led me to discover and eventually work at Essene (where I first experienced macrobiotics! And shiatsu! Yay!

1987-89 - Briefly canvassed for Greenpeace, where I met this guy:

whom I would marry a year (and a week) later. In the meantime, we followed this crazy band around, got arrested for hugging, saw the country in an uncooperative VW bus, and started a small business called Banzai, (named after best flick ever) originally intended to sell my handmade greeting cards. Banzai became a small store off South Street, specializing in hippie gear, local & indigenous art and crafts, and activist propaganda. Well-loved in the community, but made no money. (Banzai, after enjoying some success as one of the best tie-dye comapnies in the biz, now specializes in merchandise production and branded ecommerce for musicians and record labels. Woot!)

1989-2000 - Passel of children entered our lives. Hence the adventures began of un/homeschooling, counter-cultural parenting, homebirth, waterbirth, gardening, herbalism, larger and larger parties on our farm, and as much mayhem as one can assume with a family of four boys.

1998 - Took a Level 1 Reiki class with oldest son, then, age 9.

1999 - Took the Beginner's Weekend shiatsu class at ISS ... 12 years after my first (and last shiatsu session). Might have started the full course sooner were it not for the arrival of boy #4.

2001- Found myself at Downingtown Friends Meeting the weekend after 9/11

2003 - Took Sue Hess's first Homestead Herbalism class (Highly recommended!) Moved from our beloved funky farmhouse to a more 'normal' dwelling, but with Amish nieghbors...

2004-2007 - Finally got back to shiatsu school and graduated... having opened my practice in 2005.

2006 - Husband became the proud owner of this hip little biz...(and took up surfing)

2009 - Just celebrated twenty years of marriage and mayhem, with no signs of slowing down, though ever in a state of trasformation.... what's next for Gina and the Marks family......? Stay tuned (and subscribe to the blog)

Little known facts about Gina:

- got first tattoo at age 16, second one at age 33

- named by her Mouskateer fan-mom, after Gina Luree, Annette Funicello's daughter

- played 3rd chair clarinet in middle school band

- has met: Barney Martin, The Drifters, Richie Havens, Margot Timmons, Bill Porter, The Disco Biscuits, DJ Logic, had brunch with Alan Rickman ("Alright. Who's got my omelette?")

- lived in eight different locations by the age of 12

- only been out of the US as far as Montreal and Nassau.

- had a great uncle who played clarinet and conducted a big band

- gags when eating cilantro

- in spite of working for Greenpeace, never got the hang of hackey sack

- has been able to quickly recite the alphabet backwards from a very young age

Gina & Bill, "the original Drifter"