

Meet The Team

Sales & Membership Manager
Marlena Rijn
Proudest Gardening Moment: "My first pandemic summer my tomato plants did so well, they were taller than my neighbor's home. I had such an abundance towards the end of the season that I was able to make the best tomato soup I had ever had. Hoping they do as well this year!"

Project Manager
Karin Johnson
Proudest Gardening Moment: "Working in the extreme Flagstaff, AZ temperatures, building a makeshift hoophouse to keep my veggies from getting frostbitten in the beginning of spring when the temperatures at night were still frigid. That summer, I harvested my first full-sized squashes, and they were the most delicious I've had."

Director Human Resources
Econzi Benjamin
Proudest Gardening Moment: "Taking plant clippings from my home, and spreading them throughout my office building. In recent times it would be this Dracaena plant I named Roots in the picture; it was nearly dead a year ago when I purchased it at a discounted price. She's quite happy and growing these days."

Director Policy & Development
John Garside
Proudest Gardening Moment: "I've managed to keep my guiana chestnut alive for over 12 years, 4 transplants, and one particularly long summer where it survived as an honorary roadie in the back of a tour van."

Project Manager
Jana Ross
Proudest Gardening Moment: "I am most proud to take care of my monstera tropical house plant, gifted to me by my friend Gloria. I enjoy watching the new leaves unfurl day by day and watching them grow larger than my hand."

Farm Operations Lead
Mychal Creer
Proudest Gardening Moment: " Turning a mustard seed of a Dream (of cultivating my front lawn) into Asante MicroFarm. Proverbs 28:19 "

Apprentice
Brandan Parker
Proudest Gardening Moment: "During the pandemic, I planted my first seeds (including corn kernels and sunflower seeds). Unfortunately, those seedlings didn’t last long, but their brief life sparked a deep passion for gardening. Since then, I’ve gone from nurturing bonsai, succulents, and houseplants to eventually cultivating my food, thus reducing my reliance on grocery stores."

Administrative & Marketing Coordinator
Haley Jones
Proudest Gardening Moment: "When I finally started my balcony garden at my apartment after years of wanting to grow my own food, and saw my first tiny bell pepper appear after watching it transform daily, from flowers to food I could eat."

Apprentice
Yahmani Musa
Proudest Gardening Moment: "My proudest gardening moment was watching a plant grow as a kid and being able to connect with the earth."

Delivery Driver
Jose Martines
Proudest Gardening Moment: "I saw a time lapse of a plant one day. The concept of growing a plant from seed that will later bear fruit to feed me . Kind of reminds me of life on how being patient with it and watering/feeding yourself will one day be able to reap the rewards once it grows."

Farm Operations Assistant
Caroline Bustillos
Proudest Gardening Moment: “Turning my cement backyard into a food jungle hosting over 100 species of plants.”

Farm Operations Assistant
Caroline Kikut
Proudest Gardening Moment: “My proudest gardening moment is working on the University of Denver community garden team to build a permaculture plot in an abandoned garden bed. It was so inspiring to see how community members outside the science sphere were passionate about regenerative agriculture.”

Farm Operations Apprentice
Gabi Fermin
Proudest Gardening Moment: “I love sowing seeds into the soil! The fact that something so small can bloom and blossom into something so magnificently beautiful and nutritious will never cease to amaze me. Witnessing the growth of any plant at any stage is truly a great blessing to encounter and enjoy.”

Farm Operations Assistant
Maxim Recke
Proudest Gardening Moment:
Meet The Board

Jamiah Elijah Hargins
Chairman of the Board

Tamala Choma
Secretary

Ginnia Hargins
Board Member

Swaiti Chandra
Board Member

Derrick Chapman
Board Member

Lourdes Haro
Board Member
Partners

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LA Compost