Creative Minds at Work: Crafting What We Learn

Planting Hope: One Seed at a Time

They say the best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago, but now is the time to act.

Over the years in the field, I’ve learned that optimism and consistency can help turn a forgotten seed into a field of abundance, and like seeds, we human beings have this potential if the conditions are right.

Let’s be part of the abundant and blessed growth, not the destruction. One seed at a time.

Bachelor’s in Environmental Biology and Hispanic Studies from Columbia University.

LJ (they/them) lives in Brooklyn and grew up in Ojai, California. They are an ecologist, environmental educator, and farmer/gardener.

They have a bachelor’s in Environmental Biology and Hispanic Studies from Columbia University.

LJ is a member of the Student, Applied Ecology, and Education sections of the Ecological Society of America and presented their research at the 2022 ESA conference in Montreal.

They love sharing their passion for ecology, plants, insects, and wildfires with students and anyone else who will listen.

BS in Environmental Science and a minor in climate change and sustainability from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Libby is a passionate outdoor enthusiast and hopes to use their knowledge and skills to connect the public school system of NYC to the natural world.

Libby holds a BS in Environmental Science and a minor in climate change and sustainability from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. They have completed multiple full length scientific research projects including an honors thesis titled, “Heritage Quilt” that combined their 3D art skills with their passion for clean waterways by removing waste from the Merrimack river and using that waste to create a 3D quilt sculpture. The method of combining art with environmental awareness is something Libby hopes to bring to the classroom as well.

That curiosity blossomed into a real passion for nutrition and herbalism, and it’s been such an empowering journey of learning about myself. Libby is excited to work with the public school system to explore the world of agriculture in the city. Through the earth they believe we can discover so much personally and as a group. Libby also is a NYS outdoor guide and takes groups of clients to the Catskills and Adirondacks for hiking, canoeing, and camping trips to get outdoors and into the mountains as often as possible. This helps to promote environmental stewardship through personal experience with nature.

Libby can’t wait to see where the school year takes everyone!

Healing Through Food, Herbs, and the Garden

You know, the saying “Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food” has really become something I live by these past five years.

For a long time, I dealt with pretty persistent joint discomfort, mostly in my hands and knees. Eventually, I got a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis in my twenties, but it never quite felt like the full story. That led me down the road of trying different medications to manage the pain. But honestly, by 2017, I was just yearning for a different way to feel better day-to-day, which also sparked my deep interest in where our food actually comes from – almost like debugging my own health from the inside out!

That curiosity blossomed into a real passion for nutrition and herbalism, and it’s been such an empowering journey of learning about myself.

My background as a software engineer has actually been surprisingly helpful in approaching this, bringing a kind of analytical and problem-solving mindset to understanding how different foods and herbs affect my body. Getting involved in a community garden has been a fantastic part of this – there’s something so grounding about getting my hands dirty, learning how to grow both yummy food and helpful herbs, and connecting with other folks who love nature as much as I do.

Since focusing on nourishing my body through food – often by just making little tweaks to our family recipes or how we cook – I’ve honestly felt so much better. It’s pretty amazing to realize the power of what we eat, especially when it’s fresh from the garden! While everyone’s path to well-being is their own, I’m genuinely excited to share what I’ve learned and maybe even inspire others to explore the magic of food and even try a little gardening themselves, perhaps even seeing it as another interesting system to understand!

Expertise in Native Plants, Permaculture, Herbalism, Nutrition & More

Colin began his gardening journey while teaching preschool and discovering its educational and healing potential, henceforth deciding he wanted to move towards connecting plants and people.

For the past decade since then, he has studied and worked in a variety of environments to develop a well-rounded understanding of the world beneath our feet, cultivating particular interest and expertise in subjects such as native plants, agroecology, permaculture, perennial systems, compost, herbalism, nutrition, plant-based cooking, homesteading, and more! He currently works seasonally with Beazer’s Garden Workshops and in the summer manages a small farm and native plant nursery in Northern NY.

Colin loves sharing the joy of learning via the natural world, and believes it can offer wisdom, healing and purpose to anyone!

Bachelor’s degree in Children and Youth Studies with a minor in Visual Arts from CUNY Brooklyn College.

Isabel is an environmental arts educator passionate about developing opportunities for youth to receive equitable access to green space and the arts. Through her curriculum, she uses the natural environment as a basis for learning and restorative practice.

Isabel strives to empower youth to be confident in their rights to use space, resources, and their own creativity to create something new. By forming a connection between arts and the environment, youth are encouraged to trust natural processes and treat all living things with care, whether through the growth of a basil plant or through the creation of a self-portrait painting.

Isabel received a Bachelor’s degree in Children and Youth Studies with a minor in Visual Arts from CUNY Brooklyn College.

BSc from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a Master’s in Microbiology from NM State University

Haneen is a passionate soil microbiologist/ecologist and painter. Her research background is in cyanobacteria and other desert soil microbes, and she believes healthy soils are important in cultivating healthy people.

In her free time,she enjoys painting acrylic abstractions of what she observes in microscopes. Her current goal is to bridge the education gap between people, soil, art, and science to create a more enriched community.

Haneen holds a BSc from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a Master’s in Microbiology from NM State University. She was previously employed at Penn State University as a Lab Manager for the Soil Microbiome Lab in the Ecosystem Sciences Department.

While she has extensive field work and laboratory experience, she enjoys engaging and working with science outreach opportunities for children.

Daycare provider/teacher’s assistant

Miranda was born in Brooklyn NY and spent her younger years in South Carolina with her grandparents. Her grandparents were both farmers, that’s when She became interested in growing plants and herbs as a young child.

Miranda has been working with children for over 20 years as a Daycare provider/teacher’s assistant to now a paraprofessional working at PS 84.

She joins us for the 2023-2024 school year in afterschool!

Environmental Studies Program At Hunter College

Hi, my name is Ammy Jimenez I am 23 years old my pronouns are she/her.

I attend school at Hunter College, in the environmental studies program, and I have an interest in environmental outdoor education.

I recently worked in Florida, Massachusetts, with city kids, helping them develop their love for the outdoors, by taking them on backpacking and canoeing trips and showing them the importance of life and nature and how to create connections within the city ecosystem and the Forest.

I look forward to working with everyone and helping create new connections.

B.S. Geosciences, Hobart and William Smith Colleges B.A. Studio Art, Hobart, and William Smith Colleges Certificate of Climate Education, University of Antioch New England

Howdy, my name is Emma 🙂

I’m from a small town in Minnesota, Moorhead, where I was surrounded by prairie and farmland. I grew up learning to garden from my Mom and how to create works of Art from my Dad. From day one my parents inspired and supported my passions.

After High School, I moved to Geneva New York for college where I studied art and geosciences. After college, I returned to Minnesota to study environmental education at the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center on the north shore of Lake Superior.

I moved to New York City inspired to learn more about urban green spaces. I am thrilled to be allowed to be a part of the Beazer’s Garden workshop team where I can inspire youth and learn more about gardening in this beautiful city!

Environmental Forest Biology at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Hello! I’m Tyler, from New York, and a science educator.

I studied Environmental Forest Biology at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, where I found my passion for outdoor education.

I love learning how best to teach groups and spreading information about the interesting lives of insects. I use art and game design to create lessons that engage students while making memories with peers.

Always trying to put together a new activity.

Gardening with Heart, Serving with Purpose

Dante is a passionate and open-hearted young man whose interests in gardening go back to his roots when he lived in his grandparent’s house with his mother during childhood.

He would watch his grandfather gardening and help with the upkeep of various plants, and with time, they enjoyed the vegetables of their labor. His grandmother would use their produce to accent delicious meals that they’d enjoy as a family.

Witnessing this direct transfer from farm to table inspired Dante and fueled his interest to find ways he could farm and provide for the people and community around him.

Dante looks forward to serving and becoming a part of the community of Beazer’s Garden Workshop and the students who bring excitement and curiosity into the space.

BA, Sociology and Community Organizing

Experience: In her 15-year career, Maria has served as a Direct Support Professional, Frontline Supervisor, and Employment Coordinator for AHRC NYC, the largest non-profit agency providing individualized support and meaningful programming for people with disabilities and their families. Maria provides several staff training throughout the agency, keeping both new and veteran staff informed of developments in the field of disability studies. At AHRC NYC Maria honed her skills in individualized planning, advocacy, and community engagement. Her dedication and innovative ideas are an asset to the organization. In early 2023, she accepted a leadership role within the organization as Director of Programming for the Queens region. Maria’s leadership style is characterized by her compassionate approach, collaborative spirit, and contagious enthusiasm. She believes in the power of partnerships and has successfully forged relationships with local business, governmental and education institutions, and community-based organizations to create a more accessible and inclusive environment for her clients.

BS, Journalism & Media; MS, Internet Business

Experience: With a career spanning over 25 years, Jenna Chrisman is an accomplished executive who has contributed to the success of organizations in various industries. During her subsequent roles at QualityHealth as Senior Vice President of Creative Marketing Strategies and as Chief Brand Officer for Edison Properties, Jenna spearheaded transformative marketing campaigns that transcended conventional norms, connecting products and services to people’s emotional needs. With a proven track record of transformational leadership, Jenna ventured into the pharmaceutical sector, where she currently leads Global Communications for Health Care Compliance, Policy & Training at Johnson & Johnson. Leveraging her expertise in brand strategy and communication, she plays a pivotal role in unifying the Health Care Compliance function within the J&J Enterprise globally to create awareness and understanding of critical compliance topics and nurture a Culture of Compliance across the organization. Her efforts improve the company’s reputation and strengthen its commitment to transparent and ethical behavior. Outside of her professional endeavors, Jenna is a teacher and mentor. As a professor of the Internet Business Master’s Program at Mercy College from 2005-2010, she mentored aspiring creative marketing professionals and continues to champion for creative professionals she has mentored over her extensive career.