Meet EarthDance’s 2018 Farm & Garden Team by Rachel Levi, Program Director
Meet EarthDance’s 2018 Farm & Garden Team
by Rachel Levi, Program Director
When I heard from Farm Manager Matt Lebon that in 2018, he would be moving on from EarthDance to pursue his dreams of melding his entrepreneurial genius with his love for permaculture, I was at first stricken and saddened, as Matt is truly a one-of-a-kind gem of a colleague and human being. However, I knew that he would not leave EarthDance if he were not confident he would pass the (carrot) baton to an outstanding team of farmers and gardeners.
Continuing in the role of Farm Manager, Eric Stevens, formerly of La Vista CSA Farm will lead the farm team. Stevens has 10+ years of experience as a professional farmer, homesteader, and gardener. He (along with 4 other EarthDance staff members) is also currently enrolled in the St. Louis Permaculture Design Course and is eager to infuse his holistic permaculture-inspired education and experience into our fields and the Apprenticeship program. As a farm educator, he is patient, kind, and provides amazing mentorship to apprentices.
Kaitie Adams, entering her third year at EarthDance, will step into the role of Assistant Farm Manager as well as overseeing wholesale sales. She first joined EarthDance as our AmeriCorps Volunteer coordinator, and she served a second term this past year as Youth Educator. Her exuberance shone from the beginning, as did the satisfaction she finds in hard work done well. Since completing a Masters in Anthropology focused on human connections fostered within local food systems, she has harbored a dream of professional farming—one that she is now realizing.
Assistant Farm Manager Nathan Wolff, a 2015 Farm & Garden Apprenticeship alumnus, joined our team in 2017. In addition to the skills Wolff gained at EarthDance, following the apprenticeship, Wolff managed Hamilton Farms, produce supplier to Vin de Set Restaurant. In 2018, he will continue assisting with apprentice education and farm production, as well as serving as point person for our Living Yoga Studio. Wolff brings unique skills and knowledge to his position through his former career as an electrical engineer and his yoga teaching.
Transitioning from her role as Marketing Coordinator at EarthDance, Crystal Stevens is taking on the new role of Garden Manager. Stevens (married to Eric Stevens) is a trained herbalist and seasoned grower, as former co-farm manager of La Vista Farm. She will focus her efforts on EarthDance’s perennial plantings and be maintaining the Seven Generations youth garden space. In addition, she will boost EarthDance’s herb production and sales and teach herbalism classes.
This superstar team of growers will keep the farm singing—make sure to visit EarthDance often next year to get to know your farmers!