Staff

	Dena Blickstein, Farm Coordinator Ever since living on an organic farm in New Zealand, Dena has been interested in farming and the local food movement. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire, she joined Americorps to work on land and water based conservation projects on Cape Cod. She has lived in DC for the past six years, working at an environmental consulting firm. A resident of Bloomingdale, she is excited to apply her love of fresh, local food and the environment to help bolster and empower the neighborhood.
	Spencer Ellsworth, Farm Manager A DC-area native, Spencer relishes the opportunity to work in his home community to mold minds and fill bellies. Since graduating from University of Virginia he has been working for sustainability and conservation: he advocated for a clean energy economy with League of Conservation Voters and the 1Sky campaign and learned the ways of dirt and sun from time on organic farms in Virginia and Maine. He loves living things and things that love living!
	Mandy Ewing, Education Coordinator Mandy grew up in the hills of WV where her first experience eating locally was picking blackberries with her mother to make her delicious pies. It wasn’t until she lived in a small village in Bolivia during her Peace Corps experience that she was able to eat from the local farmers that she knew and worked with. Upon returning to the US, Mandy worked as an economist for the International Food Policy Research Institute, researching and writing policy on food security, poverty, and environmental change. Finally tired of the computer as a substitute for meaningful dialoge, she has changed her career to become a high school science teacher. On the farm, Mandy loves to see the youngsters find joy in the simple act of tending a garden.
	Liz Fabis, Education Coordinator An avowed hater of vegetables throughout her childhood, Liz attended Oberlin College in rural Ohio, where she was involved in natural and working land conservation. She also volunteered as an Americorps teacher, serving elementary students in Oberlin's public schools. Her time to start singing vegetables a different tune came when a class in sustainable agriculture convinced her to take a job on an organic farm serving Cleveland's CityFresh program, and she's been convincing her family and anyone who will listen of the merits of locally grown foods ever since. In her spare time, Liz enjoys hiking, running, cooking and taking dance classes.
	Melissa Hamid, Graphic Designer Melissa Miller Hamid is a national award winning art director, who transforms lifestyle information into beautiful drool-worthy magazine layouts. Currently at a DC custom publishing company, The Magazine Group, she focuses efforts on Web MD Magazine, the leading health publication in the US. Melissa delights in combining her creative talents with her passion for wellness and nutrition. At home in Silver Spring, she lives in a Technicolor house, has started her first serious vegetable garden, and has aspirations of writing a gluten-free cookbook. Melissa is thrilled to contribute to Common Good City Farm with both graphic design and playtime in the dirt.
	Olivia Ivey, Volunteer Coordinator Olivia began volunteering with Common Good City farm shortly after moving to the neighborhood in the summer of 2009. Working at the garden pulls together her love of outdoors, seeing plants grow, and meeting her neighbors. Spending summers in her grandparent's garden, Olivia grew up surrounded by fresh food. After a few years in New York, she's delighted to volunteer alongside her new neighbors in a place reminiscent of her childhood summers. Her email address is info@commongoodcityfarm.org.
	Tricia McCauley, Resident Herbalist Tricia uses her creativity and passion for plants to inspire people to take charge of their health through food and herbs. She earned her masters degree in herbal medicine from the Tai Sophia Institute in Maryland, and is a certified health coach. Tricia aspires to forge relationships between plants and people --through her work with clients, her herbal-based, all natural body care product line, Leafyhead Lotions & Potions, and her days in the sunshine at Common Good. Before the plants beckoned, she was a full-time actor, and still appears onstage occasionally with the Washington Stage Guild.
	Carl Rollins, Farm and Education Coordinator Carl is a longtime DC resident. Before beginning a spiritual journey that led him to have a passion for food security and the environment he practiced law and did some energy consulting. Carl is a certified Master Gardener and former co-presidents of the DC Environmental Education Consortium.
	Paul Ryan, Farm Coordinator and Board Chair Paul Seamus Ryan is a food enthusiast who, in addition to serving as a board member and committed volunteer for Common Good, also teaches cooking classes at ArtSpace DC, volunteers for the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, shops regularly at local farmers markets, spends a lot of time cooking for friends and family and also spends time behind a camera photographing food and anything else that catches his attention. He makes his living as an attorney for the nonprofit Campaign Legal Center, a DC-based voting rights and election reform organization.
	Murray Schmechel, Farm Coordinator Born and raised on a ranch in northwest Nebraska, Murray has been a rehab counselor, shelter workshop manager, business manager and clergy for the United Methodist Church. He has two grown children in and currently lives with his son in LeDroit Park. Gardening was living for Murray. He grew up preserving peas, beans, carrots, pickles, cherries, tomatoes, beets, and jellies. While working for the Texas Department of Mental Health and Retardation in the 60's, Murray was to set up and operate a horticulture therapy project. He took a short course in horticulture and greenhouse operation and established a very successful program that served juvenile delinquents with borderline IQs. Murray's thoughts on tomatoes: "Love 'em". Favorite variety is carmello. Favorite sauce is simple: garlic, basil, olive oil, lots of tomatoes.
	Chris Soriano, Education Coordinator Raised on tomatoes, basil, swiss chard, and a never ending supply of zucchini from his father’s garden, Chris developed an appreciation for fresh, locally grown vegetables at a young age. This appreciation for local produce grew while Chris served as a Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador, where he helped train farmers to cultivate and sell high value vegetable crops. Chris believes in supporting local agriculture and sharing the joy of growing and eating one's own vegetables with today's youth.
	Niko Welch, Education Coordinator Niko was born in Ecuador, raised in New Mexico and has since lived in CO, CA, GA, Thailand, Zambia, and DC. Niko has worked with children in rural Africa on a community gardening program, three years experience farming and gardening in Africa and the US, and over ten years experience in professional kitchens. He is passionate about food and issues surrounding food security and brings this interest to the kids in the Youth Garden Program with Common Good.