abigail.s@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x761
she/they | Yo hablo español

About Abigail

Abigail is part of our customer support team, working to maintain a welcoming and inclusive application process for frontline workers applying to the Farm and Food Workers Relief Program in 14 states throughout the Northeast.

Before joining Pasa, Abigail worked at a variety of urban garden non-profits committed to increasing local food justice in both Easton and Boston. As a part of completing her degree in Environmental Studies and Data Science, Abigail is writing their honors thesis on guerrilla gardening and cultivating land as resistance. Outside of food systems, Abigail is passionate about and has experience working in Indigenous rights activism and collective organizing for community empowerment. They have been engaged with Pasa for many years, completing their Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprenticeship program, attending the annual conference, and sharing meals at regional potlucks. Abigail looks forward to joining an organization that is committed to supporting the backbone of our agricultural systems in equitable and accessible ways!

Originally from Minnesota, Abigail now considers Easton, Pennsylvania home and spends their time at community gardens, making dinner with friends, and looking at the sky as often as possible.

The post Abigail Schaus appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

adam@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x732
he/him

About Adam

Adam supports the Climate-Smart program through mapping and data management.

Before joining Pasa, Adam worked as an ecologist and GIS specialist, supporting the conservation of Pennsylvania’s rare, threatened, and endangered species and natural communities. He has also developed conservation education programs focused on experiential learning and student-driven inquiry. He loves that Pasa is dedicated to supporting farmers and promotes ecologically friendly land management. Adam is happy to support Pasa’s mission through creativity and mapping.

In his free time, Adam and his partner manage 40 acres of forest on the Appalachian Plateau. He also designs tabletop games and recently designed two educational board games that focuses on natural resource management, community building, and sustainability. Adam is an active volunteer and member of the 501st Legion, an international non-profit organization that celebrates Star Wars through costuming and support of community events.

The post Adam Hnatkovich appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

adia@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x746
she/her

About Adia

Adia leads our farmer-driven programs and services working to build a sustainable and just food system. Collaboration is key to her approach in supporting our team and our community, and she enjoys mentoring and coaching staff to be their best in and out of the workplace. 

Before joining Pasa, Adia led the School Garden Program at Grow Pittsburgh that included over 60 schools and early childhood centers across the Pittsburgh region. During her time at Grow Pittsburgh she sat on several boards and various working groups to help improve child nutrition education and farm to school efforts both locally and statewide. Adia holds a bachelor’s degree in health services from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s in health education from Penn State. 

Outside of work she enjoys exploring new bike trails, kayaking on the rivers in Allegheny County, and discovering new ice cream shops. For Adia, travel is a priority and a way to connect with friends and family, especially the little ones who call her Aunt Dia.

The post Adia Effiong appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

allison@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x768
she/her

About Allison

Allison supports farmers and helps connect them with essential resources.

Allison is a full-time farmer and operates a diversified vegetable farm in Western Maryland. She has over a decade of experience working in the nonprofit and government sectors on policy advocacy, food access issues, urban farming, farm-to-school, farmers markets, and supply chain logistics. Allison is thrilled to work for an organization that tirelessly works to support farmers in all of their unique needs.

Outside of farming and food systems work, Allison is a certified yoga instructor. She loves hiking and adventuring outdoors with her husband and son, as well as bringing people together around good food.

The post Allison Boyd appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

alyssa@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x752
she/her

About Alyssa

Alyssa helps share our stories and works to make meaningful connections in our community. As the lead on managing our social media, it’s fitting that this is where Alyssa first learned about Pasa. She was drawn to our work to combat the impact of climate change and advocate for food system justice. 

Having graduated with a degree in graphic design, Alyssa worked for many years in various creative marketing roles. In an effort to support more small businesses and nonprofits that aligned with her values, she eventually launched a small design studio that focused on branding, web design, and digital marketing. Before officially joining the Pasa team, Alyssa’s studio supported our work raising awareness about the importance of the federal Farm Bill.

When not working, you can often find Alyssa adventuring with her (human and fur) family, desperately trying to save her back porch garden, or exploring a new creative hobby.

The post Alyssa Moore appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

andrea@pasafarming.org
she/her/ella | Yo hablo español

About Andrea

Andrea conducts thorough research on relevant social, economic, and political issues that align with farmers and Pasa’s mission.

Andrea earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Lebanon Valley College, where she developed a passion for understanding the intricacies of political systems and their impacts on marginalized communities. Post-graduation, Andrea channeled her enthusiasm for social change into action by joining CASA, a non-profit committed to advancing the rights of immigrants and fostering inclusive communities. She played a key role in state and local campaigns by collaborating with fellow advocates to bring attention to the complexities of immigration policies. Andrea brings a unique perspective to the world of farming, combining a passion for policy analysis with a deep appreciation for the importance of sustainable and equitable agricultural practices. She values active engagement in policy advocacy and saw that Pasa desires to contribute to systemic change by influencing and promoting sustainable agriculture policies, prompting her to join the team. 

Andrea lives in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and is DACAmented. She enjoys exploring the world through food and travel. Andrea also enjoys hiking and iced coffee and is on the hunt for her next binge-worthy Netflix series.

The post Andrea Hernandez-Rodriguez appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

andrew@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x747
he/him

About Andrew

Andrew co-leads our Climate-Smart Farming and Marketing program, supporting farmers as they implement environmentally resilient agricultural practices. He works closely alongside Pasa’s project partners to deliver services to farmers from Maine to South Carolina.

Before joining Pasa, Andrew worked on a wide variety of farm operations ranging from large cut-flower farms to small, diversified vegetable farms. He has worked as a horse-powered, low impact logger and has a master’s of forestry from the Forest School at the Yale School of the Environment. He also holds a master’s of social innovation from Cambridge University’s Judge School of business, where he wrote his thesis examining the social drivers behind farmer’s use of sustainable practices. Community is central to Andrew’s love of farming and he strives to build inclusive and welcoming spaces for farmers to learn and connect.

He and his partner Aaron manage Seven Springs Farm, an agroforestry farm with both silvopasture and alley cropping systems. In his free time he loves to work with wood and walk through the forest looking for understory herbaceous plants.

The post Andrew Currie appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

andrew.g@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x744

About Andrew 

Andrew supports farmers as they implement climate-smart farming practices to increase climate resilience and food sovereignty from Maine to South Carolina. 

Prior to working for Pasa, Andrew worked at the Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education for seven years, where he managed a greenhouse, operated a CSA, and created and taught classes. During his time at the Horn Farm, he received his permaculture design certificate and completed a coppice agroforestry course. Andrew appreciates Pasa’s mission and breadth of contribution to regenerative agriculture, prompting him to join the team. He is amazed and impressed by everyone involved and is beyond excited to contribute.

Andrew has a passion for growing nutrient dense food and replenishing soils with homemade compost. He is interested in learning and understanding more about the connections between soil health, plant health, and animal/human health and what we all can do to improve those relationships.

The post Andrew Horn appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

annika@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x773
she/her

About Annika

Annika supports farmers as they implement climate-smart farming practices to increase climate resilience and food sovereignty from Maine to South Carolina. 

Annika was first introduced to farming through a beekeeping internship during her undergraduate studies, followed by an apprenticeship with the Boston Area Gleaners. She currently lives in Ithaca, New York, having relocated there to pursue a master’s degree in soil and crop sciences at Cornell University. She quickly became involved in the local community and regularly volunteers with food rescue organizations. Annika has also stewarded at a local organic vegetable farm where she furthered her understanding of the link between climate and farming. She is thrilled to be a member of the Pasa team and part of the organization’s mission of creating community, supporting farmers, and evaluating sustainable, farm-based research.

Outside of work, Annika enjoys hiking, biking, and swimming in and around the Finger Lakes. You can often find her in the kitchen turning veggies into a delicious meal or experimenting with a new baked good recipe.

The post Annika Rowland appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

anya@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x767
she/her | Yo hablo algo de español

About Anya

Anya oversees Communications at Pasa, ensuring that clear, consistent messaging and quality content reach and serve our valued community. 

Prior to joining Pasa, Anya applied her marketing and communications skillsets in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. She gained direct ag and ag-adjacent experience working for a local food justice nonprofit and on a friend’s diversified organic veggie farm. Together with her husband, she is in the early stages of establishing an agroforestry farm. She feels moved to help amplify and uplift the voices of farmers committed to sustainable agriculture and to drive forward Pasa’s mission, which resonates personally and deeply with her own values and experience. 

Outside of work, she enjoys reading, practicing yoga and meditation, and all things food–growing it, cooking it, eating it! She volunteers on the board of her local watershed alliance and land conservancy’s communications committee.

The post Anya Hanna appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

ben@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x751

About Ben

Ben helps plan and design meaningful and educational events for our community.

Ben’s introduction to Pasa was at our 2016 Sustainable Agriculture Conference. He returned as a volunteer every year before officially joining the team in 2023. Ben grew up wandering around in his grandparent’s orchard, helping out with chores, and tending to the market stand. His love of plants and wildlife grew into a passion for diverse ecosystems and nutrient dense foods. He has small-scale production experience with various fruits, specialty cut flowers, salad greens, and micro greens. Before entering the agriculture field (pun intended), Ben earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and spent time working as a substitute teacher and as a percussion instructor for marching bands.

Ben loves to explore the woods and mountains of Central Pennsylvania. He can be found fly fishing in the state’s beautiful streams and rivers all year round. Ben also enjoys hiking, camping, and napping in the shade on a sunny day.

The post Ben Wetzel appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

carly@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x731
she/they

About Carly

Carly works with farmers to coordinate and implement our farm-based research projects, including the Soil Health and Nutrient Density Benchmark studies.

Carly studied agriculture at Oregon State University and has been farming in different regions and production systems for about five years. When she is not working with soil, she can be found with a book about agriculture, ecology, or the like, walking through an inviting meadow, or trialing new plant sources for natural fiber dyeing.

The post Carly Dodson appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

carter@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x781
he/him

About Carter

Carter supports farmers as they implement climate-smart farming practices to increase climate resilience and food sovereignty from Maine to South Carolina. 

Before joining Pasa, Carter spent time as an engineer working on human-centered design projects and cooperative business development before transitioning into working on farms and homesteads in southern Ohio. Wanting to combine his technical background with farming and a broader food systems understanding, Carter pursued a master’s degree in food studies at Chatham University with focuses in agroforestry and creative non-fiction writing on food, agriculture, and grief. He was drawn to Pasa’s accessible resources and work with farmers to create more resilient and equitable food systems.

In his spare time, Carter is always trying to narrow down his hobbies, which currently consists of building, repairing, and riding bicycles; finding new short stories to delve into; and keeping his dog, Carrot, from eating the ever-tantalizing cantaloupes in the garden.

The post Carter Spires appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

christian@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x741
Yo hablo español

About Christian

Christian is part of our customer support team working to maintain a welcoming and inclusive process for frontline workers applying to the Farm and Food Worker Relief program.

He brings over 15 years of experience working and learning about intercultural relationships with a focus on growth, mentoring, and coaching to his role at Pasa. He also has a bachelor’s degree in public accounting. Christian cares deeply for people and says his work at Pasa has opened his eyes to the realities of the food chain and the importance of stewarding our environment.

A husband and father of three, in his free time Christian loves sports.

The post Christian Vivas appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

finance@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x712
she/her

About Christie

Christie is part of our accounting team and keeps a sharp eye on our financial health.

She joined Pasa with 20 years of nonprofit accounting experience from her work in higher education and assisting with college sustainability projects. She also worked at Habitat for Humanity and opened the first ReStore in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Christie holds bachelor’s degrees in business administration and biology from Linfield University in Oregon and a master’s of business from University of Massachusetts.

Residing in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in her free time, Christie can be found volunteering with the Gleaning Project, gardening, kayaking, hiking, or traveling somewhere new.

The post Christie Ashton appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

chris@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x737
hablo español  •  falo português

About Chris

Chris is part of our customer support team, working to maintain a welcoming and inclusive application process for frontline workers applying to the Farm and Food Workers Relief Program in 14 states throughout the Northeast.

Before joining Pasa, Chris was working on a small organic farm just outside of Pittsburgh. He worked growing mushrooms and micro greens, helped with farmers markets, learned about CSAs, and acquired many of the other skills, such as carpentry and creative problem solving,  that go into running a farm.

Chris has been living in Pittsburgh for the past four years. Over that time, he’s developed a passion for mycology and foraging.

The post Chris Esposito appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

christina@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x703
she/they  |  한국어를 할 수 있어요

About Christina

Christina supports our team by looking for ways to improve our internal operations and asking, “How can we continue to cultivate a healthy, effective, and inclusive work environment?”

Before joining Pasa in 2015, Christina was a farm employee in South Korea, and honed their database management skills as an optician in Atlanta, Georgia. Christina has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Wichita State University. 

If you need a good sugar cookie or cinnamon roll recipe, she’s willing to share.

The post Christina Kostelecky appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

cristina@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x770
she/her | Yo hablo español

About Cristina

Cristina is part of our customer support team, working to maintain a welcoming and inclusive application process for frontline workers applying to the Farm and Food Workers Relief Program in 14 states throughout the Northeast.

Prior to joining Pasa, Cristina graduated from Shippensburg University with a degree in social work and a minor in gerontology. Through studying social work, she was able to learn about the importance of environmental justice and its connections to diversity and the economy. During her internship at the Dauphin County Area Agency, she was able to serve the community and gain experience in completing clerical tasks. As a member of the Movement of Immigrant Leaders in Pennsylvania (MILPA) since 2019, she advocates for the rights of immigrants, like her family, who have worked on farms for several years while she was in school. This allowed her to appreciate the difficult and valuable jobs of food and farm workers and to aspire to connect with and serve that community as well. Cristina resonated with the mission to develop the community and economy of farm workers, prompting her to join the Pasa team.

Cristina is a first-generation American from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Her hobbies include reading, watching Korean dramas with her family, and learning about the world through documentaries and books.

The post Cristina Ledesma appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

dan@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x710
he/him

About Dan

Dan leads our Farmer Training and Development team, supervising our apprenticeships, urban agriculture technical assistance, and agroforestry programs. He also supports member outreach and research coordination in Western Pennsylvania. 

He has worked as an agronomist, advising farmers on how to manage their soils more sustainably, as a vegetable grower, and as an educator teaching agroecology. 

Dan lives in Pittsburgh with his family and enjoys biking and gardening in his homemade high tunnel.

The post Dan Dalton appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.

delaney@pasafarming.org
814.349.9856 x782
she/her | Yo hablo español

About Delaney

Delaney supports farmers as they implement climate-smart farming practices to increase climate resilience and food sovereignty from Maine to South Carolina. 

Originally from the Central Coast of California, Delaney spent her younger years on her family’s flower farm, which led to a life of passion and appreciation for agriculture. She studied sustainable agriculture and food systems at UC Davis and volunteered with various nonprofits throughout Latin America focused on climate research, permaculture, and supporting community-led development and change. She values Pasa’s commitments to equity, education, and the environment and is thrilled to be able to support the organization in working toward these goals.

Nowadays in her free time, you’ll find Delaney running her two dogs on local hiking trails or spinning and knitting some of her many fiber projects–many of which seem to have no end in sight.

The post Delaney McKinney appeared first on Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.