
Judith Keenan first came to Tassajara in 1994 for Work Period. In her words, "I had no idea what I was getting into. I was a carpenter by trade and a General Contractor. It turned out I needed Zen practice and San Francisco Zen Center needed a carpenter and a 'superintendent.'" Judith then lived at SFZC’s three practice places for six years. In 1996 she attended Reb Anderson's January Intensive at Green Gulch Farm, after which she worked in the GGF kitchen for a year. Soon thereafter she went to Tassajara for a practice period and worked on the maintenance crew, was head of the shop, and then worked in the kitchen for two more practice periods. In 1999 she became Tenzo (head cook) at City Center. Judith continues: "My thirty-year relationship with San Francisco Zen Center has been informed by my work in construction. Working in the kitchen was a perfect fit with the shop. I've been involved in all but two or three work periods since 1994."