Who we are
Farm Discovery at Live Earth is a nonprofit organization working in the Pajaro Valley community to empower youth and families to build and sustain healthy food, farming, social and natural systems.
Our home, Live Earth Farm, is a 150 acre patchwork of working organic farm, riparian corridor, oak and redwood forest in the Pajaro Valley of Santa Cruz County, California.
What we care about
We believe that we can transform personal and community health and improve our impact on earth by building and sustaining collaborative agricultural, ecological and social systems. We believe that communities equipped with knowledge and the skills of inquiry can transform food, farming and natural systems for the better.
What we do
* Farm Discovery offers educational programs that inspire youth and families to transform their relationship to food, farming and nature.
* We steward our working farm and its wild spaces as an environmentally and economically viable piece of the food system and a learning space.
* We grow and deliver nutritious, organic food with students for community members most in need – seniors, veterans, foster youth, farmworkers and more
* We collaborate with community partners to learn from each other and extend our collective impact in the community.
Staff
In 2007 Jessica earned her M.S. in Environment and Natural Resources from the Rubenstein School at the University of Vermont. Her Master’s Thesis consisted of Participatory Action Research in an agricultural community in Northern Vermont. She developed, implemented and evaluated a Sustainability Curriculum and School Garden with the 6th graders of Jeffersonville Elementary School. Jessica helped Thomas and Constance Broz to found the Live Earth Farm Discovery Program in 2008.
Stephanie brings a decade of experience working in public schools and nonprofits as an educator and leader. She is excited to continue the work of inspiring the next generation to know their food. Stephanie believes that knowledge and access to fresh food can change the lives of students and their families. When not working Stephanie can be found gardening, propagating plants, reading cookbooks, and making jam.
Growing up in California’s Central Valley, Itzel has understood the importance of healthy connections between communities and food systems. She has grown up gardening corn, onions, and more with her grandparents. Itzel recently graduated from UCLA with a degree in Linguistics and Anthropology. She enjoys reading, painting with watercolor and hanging out with her pet dog, Nova.
Maya grew up on a rural island, working in various farm settings where she developed a deep connection to nature and community. She graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Linguistics, specializing in International Development and Latin American Studies. After graduation, Maya worked on community initiatives across El Salvador and Brazil, strengthening her commitment to spreading sustainable practices and creating positive social impacts. Maya is happiest in the ocean, the mountains, or in the backyard with a good book.
Ben was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and was interested in science and biology but also took on opportunities to stay and work on farms. After finishing his degree in MCD Biology from UCSC, Ben started working at the Alan Chadwick Garden and was trained in the small scale market gardening tradition. He grew to become passionate about the work of farming; growing healthy soil and nutritious plants. Ben enjoys biking, cooking, reading and yoga.
