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Meet The Team

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Founder & Executive Director

Jamiah Hargins

Proudest Gardening Moment: "I took Concord Grape Vine cuttings from a fellow crop swapper, and brought them to my garden and inserted into the ground. They grew 20 feet in 1 year and fruited!"

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Sales & Donations 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!"

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      Farm Operations Assistant

      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."

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          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."

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              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 "

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                  Farm Operations Assistant

                  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."

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                      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."

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                          Farm Operations Assistant

                          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."

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                              Farm Operations Assistant

                              Caroline Bustillos

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

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                                  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.”

                                      Meet The Board

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                                      Jamiah Elijah Hargins

                                      Chairman of the Board

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                                      Tamala Choma

                                      Secretary

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                                      Ginnia Hargins

                                      Board Member

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                                        Derrick Chapman

                                        Board Member

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                                        Lourdes Haro

                                        Board Member

                                        Partners

                                        We Grow Food On Unused Spaces

                                        Growing Communities, Inc. dba Crop Swap LA ™

                                        We acknowledge the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and So. Channel Islands). We pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.  

                                        They are the First Peoples of the region, their lands were unceded, they did not negotiate a treaty with Mexico or the US government.

                                         

                                        Today, the First Peoples of Los Angeles struggle every day for their sovereignty.

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                                        info@cropswapla.org

                                        (213)878-2752

                                        © 2025 Crop Swap LA™

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