UGAarden Staff
Johannah Biang (Farm Manager)
JoHannah graduated with a master of science in horticulture in December 2012. Her research focused on irrigation scheduling and green wall systems. JoHannah is currently working as the farm manager and she is interested in alleviating food insecurity in Athens and teaching students how to grow their own food.
Marc Beechuk (Intern)
Marc is a second year graduate student in environmental planning and design and is also obtaining a local foods certificate. At UGArden, he is creating a GIS map of the property, working on a rain collection system, and helping oversee some of the fruit plantings. He has been a cook, a brewer, and a concerned eater for many years now and hopes to bring the worlds of regional planning and food systems together in order to provide positive community development.
Sam Boring (Intern)
Sam is a graduate student in the anthropology department studying motivations of urban agriculture in Athens. He works in the fruit orchard and would like to continue working with fruits in the future.
Morgan Castellow (Intern)
Morgan is a senior horticulture student from Moultrie, Georgia. Morgan helps in all aspects of the farm especially vegetable garden maintenance. He is moving to Birmingham, Alabama after graduation to work in landscaping.
Jessica Cudnik (Graduate Student)
Jessica is a graduate student in the horticulture department doing research on substrate companion in constructed raised beds for vegetable culture. Jessica has worked in greenhouse management, west coast flower sales, and as an overseas educator. She truly believes in humans' agrarian roots and seeks to reconnect people with that truth.
Lindsay Davies (Volunteer Coordinator)
Lindsay is an Americorps Vista and is serving for a year at UGArden. She graduated from Indiana University in 2011 with a degree in biology. Lindsay is excited to help coordinate and increase volunteer efforts with the UGArden. Her future plans include helping people to grow and eat lots of tasty food.
Mary Ergul (Intern)
Mary is a sophomore at UGA and recently accepted to study advertising at Grady College. In pursuit of her Local Food Systems Certificate, she fell into UGArden where she operates the produce stand. She hopes to continue her love of food from its growth to its selling to its preparation throughout her life.
David Gianino
David Gianino "Shaggy" is a horticulture student and serves as president of the Horticulture Club. His main responsibility at UGArden is help prepare for the course, HORT 4030S sustainable Community Food Production. He is also the resident beekeeper. David wants for be a farmer when he grows up.
George Grant (Intern)
George is a sophomore studying horticulture from Marietta, Georgia. George helps with composting and any other needed projects on the farm. After obtaining his undergraduate degree, he hopes to go to graduate school and study public health or plant epidemiology.
Aaron Hart (Intern)
Aaron is a human geography major with a focus on sustainable food systems. He works with the aquaponics system at UGArden. In the future, he hopes to work with aquaculture in developing countries.
Will Hembree (Intern)
Will is a sophomore in the horticulture department from Douglasville, Georgia. He spends his time with Sam in the fruit orchard. He would like to work in public horticulture when he grows up.
Alice Kirchoff (Intern)
Alice is a third year landscape architecture student from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Alice works in the herb garden and perennial bed at the farm. After completing her degree she hopes to do something in sustainable landscape design.
David Parker (Intern)
David is a senior studying horticulture and is interested in organics and sustainability. David is in charge of the bees at the farm and helps with the compost. He is passionate about urban agriculture and development of local food systems.
Michael Peacock (Intern)
Michael, who is majoring in Horticulture (Class of 2013) and pursuing Certificates in Local Food Systems and Organic Agriculture, began working for UGArden in May 2012. Currently, Michael spends most of his time working off-site with the Athens Land Trust, a private non-profit that has worked closely with the UGA Horticulture Department to create a network of community gardens in low-income neighborhoods. Michael, who is also an attorney, assists the land trust with a variety of legal issues related to its local food initiatives. Michael would like to use his new-found knowledge about sustainable agriculture and local food systems to affect policy change through legal advocacy.
Wick Prichard (Intern)
Wick is a graduate student in environmental planning and design. He is originally from Louisville, Georgia and attended UGA for his undergraduate degree. He works with Rock Eagle 4-H center and is helping them establish a garden. The produce will be used by the kitchen in the meals given out at the center.
Angela Riveiro (Intern)
Angela is a senior horticulture student from Tifton, Georgia. She works all over the farm and enjoys working in the main garden and greenhouse. In the future she hopes to be involved in greenhouse production/management.
Raleigh Saperstein
(Woodland Mushroom Grower)
Graduate assistant in the Horticulture Department. She got her undergrad from UGA in Dietetics. When she grows up she'd like to be enjoying the outdoors and the people around her.
Sarah Shellhaas (Intern)
Sarah is a sophomore studying computer business and is from Albany, Georgia. Sarah works in many areas of the farm including seed sowing, weeding, and general upkeep.
Jessica Wolf
Jessica Wolf is second year Geography and Spanish major while also pursuing a Local Foods Systems Certificate. When she grows up she wants to work on community development abroad, with a focus on sustainability and food. Currently, she is in charge of the UGArden CSA for low income families.