Board Members
Teresa Raffo
Board President
I’ve been on the Noyo Food Forest Board of Directors since 2018, and in 2022 became President. I served as President until January 2025. I love community gardens because everyone needs to eat. I love growing good food at NFF for the high school cafeteria program, and showing students how to do it. Nourishing our kids and our community through this kind of service feeds me deeply. Outside of the gardens, exploring the natural world, listening to live music, and sharing a meal with good friends brings me home.
Matthew Starkweather
Board Treasurer
As a veteran organic farmer and one of the founding instructors of the Nature at Noyo children’s camp, I’ve had the joy of helping our community’s youth connect with the natural world right here at Noyo Food Forest. My experience strengthening local organizations includes seven years as CYSL soccer league registrar, where I helped build a more robust financial framework. This background in both sustainable agriculture and financial stewardship makes serving as treasurer particularly meaningful. I cherish being part of an organization that brings together my lifelong passions for gardening, education, and community service.
Tracy Wolfson
Board Member
I have been deeply rooted in our community for the past 20 years selling organic soil and amendments to coastal gardeners and farmers. A big part of Noyo Food Forest’s mission is growing organic vegetables for the Fort Bragg Unified School District, and teaching children where their food comes from is a core value of mine. I am passionate about helping this organization continue to thrive on the coast.
Danielle Masters
Board Member
Since 2020, Mendocino has been my home, where I draw inspiration from the diverse natural beauty. As a people operations professional, I am deeply committed to facilitating growth and development in others. Amidst the hustle and bustle of our fast-paced world, I feel fortunate to play a role in driving meaningful change through NFF’s empowering programs. By equipping the community with the skills to cultivate their own food and therefore, prioritize sustainable eating, we are moving towards a better future.
S.A. Ephraim
Board Member
I moved here with my wife Ruth in November 1997. I was involved with the Mendocino Community Garden for 19 years, growing and sharing in food production. I taught gardening in Fort Bragg elementary schools and then moved on to working at Caspar Creek Learning Community. Ruth and I bought and ran Frankie’s Pizza and Ice Cream Parlor and we’ve been deeply involved in organizing and growing community ever since. I still maintain a love of growing food and a passion about food and food security.
Our Staff
Beth Horkman
Director of Operations
I believe NFF’s mission is essential to all local communities and I am so grateful it is in ours! I have a background in communications and event planning, and love using my interpersonal communication skills and passion to grow food sustainably, accessibly, and locally. I’ve called Mendocino Coast home for twelve years now, and enjoy exploring its beauty with my dog, Sawyer Green.
Emily Pfeiffer
Garden Manager
I am incredibly grateful and excited to be able to support Noyo Food Forest through my passions. I started working in greenhouses in 2009 and I knew immediately that plants and production were my calling. I have experience with organic no till gardening, nursery production, and enthusiasm for soil regeneration. I’ve been living in Fort Bragg since 2018, so I have seen a few growing seasons. I plan to see many more. I look forward to growing together and I hope to see you in the garden.
Katie Alibrio
Garden Educator
Katie fell in love with gardening when interning at UC Santa Cruz’s gorgeous Chadwick Garden.
From there, she pivoted her plans for life and career towards sustainable farming and education, and has since continued that work in one form or another. She is excited to be teaching the young people of Fort Bragg the joys of working in the garden, and growing beautiful, healthy food!
Our Founders
NFF Founding Members: Kim Morgan, Susan Lightfoot, Katrina Aschenbrenner, and Veronica Storms (not pictured)
