STAFF

Featured

Crystal-Renna Lewis (she/they) Co-Director | Newburgh Educator & Program Manager | Community Pollinator, growing up, wanted to be either an archeologist to dig up ancient ruins and dinosaur bones or a farmer. The really cool thing is she is still loving the feeling of "Diggin' in the dirt." She is a farmer. A chicken farmer and a food farmer. Her chickens and gardens lay the groundwork for her to be able to feed people with fresh eggs and vegetables... Food Justice. Land to Learn is a perfect fit for her to give her knowledge and to help others whether in the schools we serve or at the community level, to learn how to grow their own food without chemicals and organically. She tells everyone, " I finally have my dream job, because I am doing everything I truly love."

Remember to Compost, Recycle and Love the Earth!

Email Crystal at crystalrenna@landtolearn.org

Dana DeSousa (she/her) Co-Director | SproutEd Chair | Newburgh Educator | Outreach Chair, grew up exploring different ecosystems both in NY state and Puerto Rico where her extended family lived. Dreams of becoming a marine biologist led her to the University of Delaware to study Wildlife Conservation. After some years of leatherback sea turtle research in the US Virgin Islands and studying Environmental Science in grad school, Dana discovered her passion lay in education of the natural world. This led to a number of years teaching local communities about the environment and how they could be stewards of the Earth at Greenburgh Nature Center in Scarsdale, New York. Gardening has been a part of her life since a young age due to the influence of her maternal grandmother. Fond memories of picking tomatoes off of the vine and eating the warm fruit with her grandparents still bring her joy every growing season. Combining the love of education and personal gardening led to her current position here at Land to Learn. Dana enjoys sharing culture and the joy of growing your own food with anyone she meets. She hopes to continue to connect the community to growing food and empower students to educate others while learning about food justice in their classrooms.

In her free time she enjoys rock climbing, hiking with her pup, trying new restaurants with her partner and picking up a new crafting hobby every time the wind changes direction.

Email Dana at dana@landtolearn.org

Joshua Boniello (he/him) Co-Director | Newburgh Educator & Program Manager, was born and raised in Peekskill, New York, where he developed his passion for gardening through his family. He has since nurtured this passion through his experiences working with children and on urban homesteads in Burlington, VT and Portland, OR. Joshua's curiosity led him to travel to Australia where he worked on an organic farm, supplementing his stay and broadening his knowledge of sustainable agriculture. As an advocate for access, equity, and sustainability, Joshua is deeply committed to creating opportunities for everyone to connect with the environment and its natural resources. His belief in the power of community and celebrating its people and cultures has made gardening a way for him to share the Earth's bounty with the people around him. Joshua's creative spirit comes through in his music, performing under the stage name Joshua Kaine. He believes in letting students explore their own creativity and express themselves through the garden. In his free time, Joshua can be found cooking (mostly pizza), watching Italian soccer or giving as much love to dogs and cats as he can.

Email Josh at josh@landtolearn.org

Katharine Wood (she/her), Beacon Educator grew up in the Hudson Valley, and was always in love with the natural world, but first truly became interested in gardening through learning about native plants. Her belief in the power of local action to create change has led her to convert her own lawn into a native wildflower meadow to bolster biodiversity and support pollinators. As an educator, Katharine has had the opportunity to travel to both South Korea and Spain to teach English, and become immersed in the wonderful cultures and landscapes of both countries. She brings these experiences into the classroom by incorporating ESL techniques and tools into garden lessons, to help clarify and provide space for English language learners. She has also taught environmental education, working with animals to teach the public about the science of nature. In her free time, Katharine works on expanding her native wildflower garden, adding vegetables, and fending off deer and the occasional groundhog. She also enjoys channeling her creativity into movement through dance, as well as painting, drawing, and sewing.

Email Katharine at katharine@landtolearn.org

Mara Estes (she/her) Co-Director | Kingston Educator & Program Manager | SproutEd Chair - Curriculum | School Food, grew up exploring the woods and splashing in the creeks of the beautiful Hudson Valley. Born and raised in Ulster County, one of her earliest memories of falling in love with nature was swimming in the Sawkill Creek with her family. She holds a master’s degree in TESOL from SUNY New Paltz and has a passion for public education. Her past work experience includes working for various outdoor education and food justice non-profits in the Hudson Valley, including Capital Roots and Wild Earth, in addition to seasonal farming and teaching ENL in Albany, NY. She is excited to combine her love for the outdoors with her passion for public education as the new SproutEd educator in Kingston. When not outside, she enjoys cooking, reading, and dancing.

Email Mara at mara@landtolearn.org

Megan Eckert (she/her) Co-Director | SproutEd Chair - Educator Support | Beacon Educator | Operations & Business Administration, originally from the Adirondack region, found her way to the Mid-Hudson Valley in February of 2012. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from SUNY Oswego, with a minor in Biocultural Anthropology. Her passion for all things “outdoors” began as a child digging up worms in her mother’s garden and playing in clover patches with her siblings. She has continued her love of gardening throughout her adult years as a hobby gardener on 6 acres near New Paltz. After teaching the public about native wildlife for many years, a transition to garden education was a perfect way to combine her hobby, skill set and passion for food. Her commitment to creating stewards of the environment shows in her everyday interactions with children and adults alike! During her free time, she volunteers for the New York State Outdoor Education Association (NYSOEA), spends time relaxing with her chickens, makes soap and travels whenever possible.

Email Megan at megan@landtolearn.org

Nicole Porto (she/her) Co-Director | Development | Beacon Educator & Program Manager | New Initiatives, was turned on to farming through her service learning experiences at small organic farms throughout the world. As she earned her graduate degree in environmental education with the Expedition Education Institute, she explored the role agricultural systems play in the degradation of the natural world and human health. She then decided she would dedicate her career to building sustainable and just food systems. She has gardened and taught with various programs, such as a school garden in Costa Rica, Farm & Wilderness Camp in Vermont, and City Parks Foundation’s Learning Gardens in New York City. Before joining Land to Learn Nicole ran a small CSA farm in the lower Hudson Valley where she had the opportunity to provide bountiful harvests for her community and hone her skills as a grower. She is passionate about gardening and education.

Email Nicole at nicole@landtolearn.org

Sam Adels (he/him) Co-Director | Beacon Educator & Program Manager | Youth Leadership | Development, fell in love with gardening after years of being asked to help out in the family garden. A love and respect for the natural world was instilled in him by frequent camping trips; his earliest memory is of a family road trip to national parks at age four. Sam studied history and the environment at Macalester College and has a masters degree in environmental education from New York University. Sam is committed to social and environmental justice and has devoted his professional life to environmental education. A former national park ranger, Sam has spent many years educating youth about ecology and the environment. Before joining Land to Learn, Sam taught ecology and gardening to NYC public school students, and also worked on a small, organic farm in Maine. Sam teaches through hands-on, experiential education, and enjoys encouraging kids to explore and connect to the world around them, in hopes of inspiring future generations of eco-literate stewards. When not in the classroom or garden, Sam can be found cooking, baking, or exploring the Hudson Valley by foot or bicycle.

Email Sam at sam@landtolearn.org

Stefan Betters (he/him) Co-Director | Development | Operations & Business Administration, comes to Land to Learn with 4+ years experience in philanthropic engagement at NYC's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center and over a decade's worth of strategies and insight for seeking, building and maintaining deep connections with his colleagues and the communities within which he has the pleasure to work. He has a deep felt desire for authentic, collaborative relationships, a passion for learning grounded in equity and access and having recently returned to the Hudson Valley where he was born and raised, is excited to leverage his skills closer to home and grow a deep felt community connection in collaboration and in support of Land to Learn's mission. Stefan can be found sipping coffee on his porch swing, snuggling his cats and cooking in the kitchen with his family.

Email Stefan at stefan@landtolearn.org

Tracee Black (she/her ) Co-Director | Operations & Business Administration | School Food, has lived in the Hudson Valley for the last 20 years. She comes to Land to Learn with over 10 years of experience in Operations. Tracee was introduced to gardening as a child while spending summers in the South. She is dedicated to providing a high quality, affirming environment for our staff, students & community and has a passion for the work she does. Tracee is excited to support the Land to Learn's mission by ensuring we have equitable spaces so our children can thrive. In her free time she enjoys working out, dancing and cooking meals with her family.

Email Tracee at tracee@landtolearn.org

BOARD

Aja Schmeltz (she/her/ella), is an Afro-Latina raising 3 daughters with her partner of 20+ years, growing food and medicine, creating art, loving hard and strengthening connections in her beloved communities throughout the Mahicantuck (Hudson) River Valley. The Just Transition is central to her work, both personally and professionally, because she strongly believes that a successful community is made up of individuals working collaboratively on all fronts to create avenues to build a healthier, thriving, more sustainable environment. In addition to her role as a Worker Trustee at Good Work Institute, Aja sits on the boards of Wild Earth and the People's Wellness Initiative, is a member of the Hudson Valley Food Systems Coalition and is a thought-partner for many initiatives and organizations throughout the region.

Susan Austin (she/her) is a highly collaborative leader with a focus on community care and ecological regeneration. She brings expertise in narrative storytelling, competencies in climate change and the environment, and progressive professional success in higher education. Before higher education, she worked in script development, screenwriting and documentary production. Susan was deeply impacted by volunteering for hospice as a young adult and her feature-length documentary This American Death took a personal look at the challenges of achieving a so-called good death. Stories, relationships and care are at the heart of Susan’s work and life—which are centered in the Hudson Valley and begin and end with her partner and their child.

Dareshanie D'Arpino (she/her) is the Vice President of Club Operations at the Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh and has been with the company since 2013. Dareshanie’s primary role is to manage the daily operations of units/Clubs with the primary concern for a comprehensive, outcome-driven program and service delivery, community relations, and membership administration. Dareshanie has worked in the childcare and education industry for over 20 years. Dareshanie lives in Beacon, NY with her son Augie and her husband Evan. She enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with her family.

Will Brammer (he/him) is a Financial Advisor as well as the Growth & Development Director with Northwestern Mutual- Mid Hudson. Practicing since 2016, Will’s primary roles include building and reviewing financial plans with clients while also developing new advisors entering the firm. Will brings his financial expertise and attention to detail to arrive at the best solutions. Growing up in rural Milan NY Will has always had a connection to agriculture and a passion for working with kids from coaching sports, mentoring students, and now helping the fight for food justice and community wellness. Will can be found in Wappingers Falls at local parks, golf courses, or walking around town with his fiancé and dogs.

Kevin Bertholf (he/him) is a homestead farmer in Beacon, NY. When he isn’t gardening, foraging, or drinking too much coffee he can be found teaching RPG-related content at Compass Arts or photographing performances at local concert venues. To pay the bills, he is employed as an Informatics Architect for Sun River Health and has worked in data analysis and systems development for almost 20 years. Additionally, Kevin runs a small roadside free produce stand called Dennings Ave Farmstand. Follow him on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/denningsfarmstand/) to learn from his gardening mistakes, or come take excess produce from his victories.