Noyo Food Forest

STAFF

Linda Pack, Executive Director is responsible for the implementation of the organization’s philosophy and mission. She provides direction and leadership toward the achievement of its strategic goals and objectives by allocating, organizing, and overseeing the use of staff, contractors, and volunteers to create programs that meet the mission to cultivate a healthy local food system by providing opportunities for education, social enterprise, and community involvement. She joined the Noyo Food Forest in February 2011, bringing more than 30 years of proven leadership skills and management expertise.

Gowan Lester, Learning Garden Manager, is responsible for growing and harvesting produce for our Farm to School program, Fort Bragg Farmers Market and other outlets at our flagship Learning Garden. Born on the Mendocino Coast, she was Artist in Residence at the Mendocino Art Center in 2006, studied art in college and completed Oregon State University’s Organic Gardening Certification, as well as Master Gardener Training. Her gardening experience includes farms ranging from 1/4 acre to 150 acres and she is a strong believer in biological soil fertility, polyculture, and connecting the community to the farm.

Carrie Gerard, ASSETS After School Program Instructor and BEANS (Better Eating,Activity, and Nutrition for Students)Program Coordinator, oversees and supports teen teaching in community and after-school programs. BEANS students teach Nutrition and Physical Activity classes in the KUDOS K-8 after-school programs. ASSETS after school classes teach high school students cooking and gardening skills. Carrie also assists in the Noyo Food Forest office. She holds degrees in Geography and Dietetics from Florida State University.

Natalie Cottrell, Volunteer Coordinator, for more than 14 years coordinated volunteersecurity in the music entertainment industry for both small concerts and major northern California festivals. She supervises volunteer recruitment, training and activities at the Learning Garden.

2011 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Laura Welter, President of the Board, is the Executive Director at Safe PassageFamily Resource Center. She has worked in non-profits in our community for thepast twenty-eight years, and joined the NFF board of directors in October of 2010. Safe Passage and Noyo Food Forest are partners in the Stone Soup Family Garden at Safe Passage.

Katrina Aschenbrenner is a Co-founder of Noyo Food Forest, is a mother, and the owner of Deep Roots Healing Arts. She is the edible garden mentor and consultant for the NFF.

Pilar Gray is an educator and the Nutrition Services Director for the Fort BraggUnified School District. She is diligently building a sustainable and replicable Farm-to-School program with the Noyo Food Forest Learning Garden at Fort Bragg HighSchool as the main supplier of local, organic produce for school meals.

Susan Lightfoot, a Co-Founder of Noyo Food Forest, led the organization from seedto fruit and, in 2010, handed over the reins to pursue a lifelong dream of travelingand working in Africa. She is dedicated to creating youth programs that inspire andengage teenagers into a life of community service and leadership.

Steve Lund, Treasurer of the Board and former Superintendent of the Fort BraggUnified School District was instrumental in providing a location for the “LearningGarden” and in promoting the concept of a healthy sustainable community.

George Reinhardt is an activist for sustainable food and energy policies. George is also an enthusiastic advocate for localization, food sovereignty, renewable energy and a resilient local economy. A link to his other community work can be found at www.noyoheadlands.org.

Brent Rutherford is a retired employment and training manager, vocational and technical education coordinator and community college history teacher. He has over 35 years of experience working in the local community. As a coordinator for the Mendocino County Office of Education, Brent helped develop organic gardening programs for both adults and high school students. Brent believes that the web of life is best appreciated in a garden.

Ben Corey-Moran is President and Director of Coffee at Thanksgiving Coffee Company. He holds a BA in International Affairs and travels extensively throughout Latin America and East Africa working with Thanksgiving Coffee’s partner cooperatives on a variety of quality improvement, sustainable agriculture, and business development projects. Ben also heads the Company’s green coffee supply chain development and leads its sales and marketing team.

Curt Gore, Manager of the Nutrition Department at the Mendocino Coast Hospital, brings over 40 years of culinary experience to the Noyo Food Forest Board. In the 27 years Curt has been on the Mendocino Coast, he has worked in the kitchens of the MacCallum House, Little River Inn and Patterson’s Pub. He also volunteers for Parents & Friends, the Garcia Grange, and the Lions Club.