Asili Gardens

Farm Link Bio: Originally from Denver, Colorado I studied Ecosystem Science and Sustainability at Colorado State University. I moved to CT three years ago to undergo farm training and further my education and have interests in agro-ecology, permaculture, sustainable and regenerative farming, and local and equitable food systems and increasing food access in CT. 

I went through formal farm training through Venture Farming Institute, U-Conn Extension, and went through CT's Solid Ground Program (giving more direct skills on Farm business fundamentals, recordkeeping, Marketing, and Land access) and have a long history in environmental/agricultural education mainly working with youth and underserved communities, where I offer workshops and garden care using sustainable methods. I also have a certificate in Eco-therapy and have offered low-cost Nature Connection Mentoring to help community members reconnect to land in meaningful ways. 

Most of my experience with farming is with urban agriculture and also through various (urban, peri-urban, rural) field experiences during my farm training. I currently run an urban community garden growing culturally relevant crops, raising bees, quail, vermicompost and have worked on pest management, watering infrastructure (drip line) and invasive management in the garden. I have previous volunteer experience on farms in Georgia, Alabama, Costa Rica, Connecticut and Massachusetts handling tasks such as the following: livestock maintenance (pigs, goats, chickens), land remediation, tree planting, vegetable cropping, weeding, low-till and non-fertilizer grow methods, irrigation systems, terracing, mulching and building soil layer, harvesting, integrated pest management methods, and construction projects and general land care. 

I am also currently going through a Master Woodland Manager course, intended to enrich my career experience as a Director of Nature Stewardship and Community Agriculture in a popular non-profit, in which I manage operations, contractors and projects on 3 Nature Preserves and various community gardens and farms in New Haven. Additionally, I am going through UConn Extension's Urban Farm Governmental Academy (offering education on policy, municipal structures, zoning, ect) and City Seeds + reSET+Collab's Food Business Fundamentals course (Food business entrepreneurship and supply course), with the vision of enriching my Farm/Food Business, Asili Gardens, allowing me to contribute to local food economies as an organic supplier. 

I'm interested in spanning my skills and experience to small scale and larger scale farming and sustainable land care, organic growing practices, and permaculture practices. I'm also interested in raising livestock, bees, fish, and chickens/quail and expanding my food/farm business to surrounding areas. I'm entrepreneurial at heart, a systems thinker, ecologically considerate and am looking forward to exploring farm and food enterprises while positively contributing to the surrounding communities.