# data[].attributes.body
Hi, my name is Ammy (she/her/ella), and I’m 24 years old. I’m currently studying Environmental Studies at Hunter College, with a special interest in environmental outdoor education. 🌿

I’m passionate about teaching and have a strong background in environmental science and a love for gardening. Bilingual in Spanish and English, I’m skilled at making learning accessible to all students, no matter the language. With two years of experience working in an elementary school garden, I teach students valuable skills like teamwork, plant care, and environmental stewardship. 🌱

I’ve also worked with city kids, guiding them on backpacking and canoeing trips to help them build connections with both urban ecosystems and the natural world. 🌳🚣‍♀️ I love fostering curiosity and responsibility in young learners by creating engaging, hands-on lessons that connect them with nature, help them understand the world around them, and encourage sustainability.

Currently nearing completion of my bachelor's degree in environmental science, I’m excited to continue nurturing a love for the environment in students. Outside the classroom, I enjoy incorporating creativity into lessons, whether through gardening, cooking, or other interactive activities. Let’s explore, learn, and grow together! 🌱✨

# data[].attributes.body
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!

# data[].attributes.body
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.

# data[].attributes.body
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!

# data[].attributes.headline
Libby- Liberty Ave MS & formerly The Earth School

# data[].attributes.subject
Libby- Liberty Ave MS & formerly The Earth School

# data[].attributes.body
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.

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!

# data[].attributes.body
Rune Davino-Collins is a science communicator from Lewisboro, New York, with a passion for plant ecology, social and environmental justice, and the pedagogical and therapeutic value of play.

Their master's thesis in Environmental Humanities at the University of Utah focused on the capacity of tabletop roleplaying games as educational and community-building tools for facilitating conversations about climate activism and environmental justice, and they have many years of educational and childcare experience.

# data[].attributes.body
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.

# data[].attributes.body
Margaret is a school social worker originally from Atlanta and has been living in New York for the past eight years. She got her BFA from Pratt and then transitioned to graduate school at Fordham GSS, fueling her passion for school-based social work.

She believes that art and psychology are deeply intertwined. Her work is also rooted in a belief in the connection between nature, mental health, and collective wellbeing. She is passionate about how time with the land can support emotional regulation, self-reflection, and a sense of belonging, especially for young people.

Margaret seeds and starts plants in Brooklyn, where she maintains a large garden growing peas, tomatoes, gourds, peppers, herbs, and cut flowers, and even raises chickens in Bed-Stuy! She saves seeds from each season and plants them upstate on her neighbor's farm.

In her work with students, Margaret loves integrating art-making and social-emotional learning into gardening programs, creating hands-on spaces where creativity, care, and connection can take root.

# data[].attributes.headline
Lawrenberg (Previously at PS 199x, PS 36x, PS 84- Currently our Education Liaison 

# data[].attributes.subject
Lawrenberg (Previously at PS 199x, PS 36x, PS 84- Currently our Education Liaison 

# data[].attributes.body
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!

# data[].attributes.body
Darle Bailey Riordan is a seasoned urban farmer and food educator with over eight years of experience in the dirt.

Originally from Long Island, New York, Darle’s love of horticulture began in an abandoned greenhouse at her high school. She spent every free moment teaching herself how to grow plants and eventually fought for the creation of a horticulture club.

While studying at the University of Kentucky, she worked on a research farm exploring everything from viticulture and sustainable agriculture to fruit production and entomology. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Horticultural Science in 2021, Darle has dedicated her work to helping others understand where their food comes from and why it matters.

In 2022, she held the Charles S. Holman Jr. Rose & Flower Garden Internship at the University of Pennsylvania’s Morris Arboretum—an experience that deepened her love for flowering ornamental plants and allowed her to lead volunteer education programs for gardeners of all ages.

After a few seasons of private landscaping in West Philadelphia, she joined AmeriCorps as a Garden Education Coordinator, later becoming a Youth Education Specialist with the Portland Public Housing Authority.

Darle is passionate about passing down her expertise to future generations. There are few things more important to her than food and the journey it takes to reach our plates. She is currently studying to become a school psychologist, to marry her love of horticulture and mental health into a career that nurtures youth through teaching emotional intelligence and resilience in the garden.

# data[].attributes.body
Tess grew up in rural Oregon and has had the joy of working with plants all her life.

She has worked extensively in school gardens, urban farms, and public parks as a gardener, educator, and coordinator.

Tess has a degree in urban sustainability and placemaking from Hampshire College and is excited to learn from the plants, people, and community of PS 84.

# data[].attributes.body
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.

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. A is an educator, grower, and movement artist committed to cultivating joyful, earth-connected learning experiences in The Bronx.

With a background in dance, she brings a unique, holistic approach to gardening education—one that honors the whole child and the wisdom of the body as much as the soil. Her programs center creativity, curiosity, and care, creating spaces where young people can thrive in relationship with the land and each other.

Rooted in a deep love for her community, Ms. A's work weaves together ecological literacy, cultural expression, and community wellness. Whether tending a garden bed or guiding a group through a sensory exploration of nature, she holds space for transformation, connection, and growth.

# data[].attributes.body
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.

# data[].attributes.headline
Colin (PS 84, PS 24, Previously at River East)

# data[].attributes.subject
Colin (PS 84, PS 24, Previously at River East)

# data[].attributes.body
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!

# data[].attributes.body
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.

# data[].attributes.body
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.

# data[].attributes.body
Marcus is an ecologist and outdoorsman, born in NYC but never a fan of all the concrete. His vision is to fill any space possible with living things. He loves to grow native wildflowers in sidewalk tree pits, mushrooms on his bookshelf, and leafy greens from the water in his fish tank. If he had a backyard, it would be full of chickens.

He believes gardening is critical in restoring our environment and communities and that by studying nature, we invite more wonder into our lives.

Marcus is also an artist who enjoys creating illustrations about ecosystems, evolution, and anatomy. As an educator, he hopes to collaborate on creative projects and share with others the many ways they can start incorporating gardens into their life.

# data[].attributes.body
Hi! I'm Carly Basinger, I've been living and farming in Upstate NY for the last several years.

My interest in plants started as a young kid, and I have followed it through college where I worked on the campus farm and studied Conservation Biology.

I love all things outdoors (especially with my dog and cat), learning and sharing about nature's wonders, and meeting new people.

I am grateful and excited for this opportunity to work with Beazer's and the gardening programs!

# data[].attributes.body
Michael graduated from Columbia University with a bachelor's in History, and has worked in childcare and education since 2016 in a variety of roles ranging from camp counselor to tutor to classroom aid -- though he has found the setting of our garden to be "easily, the most pleasant learning environment" he's encountered.

# data[].attributes.body
My name is Noel Elias.

I started working in gardens right after high school when I started volunteering at a community garden in Richmond, VA. I was so inspired to learn from people whose focus was on bringing healthy food to communities that did not have access.

There we would grow varieties of vegetables and herbs that we would often cook together and distribute around the community. I hope to continue to share what these people have taught me so that more people can see all the possibilities for a better future that learning about gardening and ecology can bring us.

In my free time,  I am also a sculptor and my love of plants often finds its way into the art I make. Ecology has always inspired my work and I often use plant matter to create my pieces. I graduated with my degree in Sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University.

I am very excited to be able to work with everyone and continue to learn from them.

# data[].attributes.body
I love to live life artfully and I love to approach life with an innovative, creative perspective.

I have a background in entertainment, as I am a performer who enjoys singing and acting. I also pursued the fashion industry for a while after high school, where I was able to create unique pieces that reflected myself and the community. Now, I am interested in strengthening my skills in plant care and exploring the natural world!

I have been working with children for several years now and I find it rewarding and enlightening. I hope to be able to positively influence and affect the youth, along with helping them make their dreams a reality!

I am excited to continue to expand my interests as well as contribute to the Beazer’s Workshop community!

# data[].attributes.body
Ian (He, Him) lives in Manhattan and was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas.

He is an avid outdoorsman with
experience in urban agriculture, municipal composting, and garden education.

Ian has a bachelor’s degree from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas in both History and French language.

Ian has experience teaching gardening and environmental science both inside the classroom and in nature.

In addition to teaching Ian loves to travel the world, learn new languages, play video games, and rollerblade around New York.

He lives on the Upper East side with his wife and dog.

# data[].attributes.body
Ms. Ventura has been working in public schools for the last eight years. She began working as a Teacher's Assistant in 2015, after graduating with her B.A. in Childhood Education and English 1-6.

In 2019, She began to work as a paraprofessional, and now is a certified teacher for New York State.

Ms. Ventura is also an active member of the Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society.

This past Fall, Ms. Ventura completed her MSED degree in Literacy Education from Queens College and has her secondary license in Literacy Education B-6.

When she is not in the classroom, she finds pleasure in recreational activities such as reading, traveling, trying new foods, photography, and the occasional karaoke night.

Ms. Ventura believes all children can succeed, and that all schools should provide positive educational environments.

# data[].attributes.body
Vince (they/them) is a garden educator currently based at PS 52 Sheepshead Bay. There, they’ve found a strong passion for passing on the knowledge and wisdom of caring for the natural world onto our youth.

Originally from Indiana and Illinois, Vince has grown up surrounded by agriculture, so the importance of knowing how to care for plants and ecosystems is grounded in the most basic parts of their ideology.

Vince graduates with a BA in Environmental Studies from NYU in May 2025, where they’ve focused in on ecology, climate resilience, botany, and animal studies within urban environments. They will next complete an MA at NYU in Interdisciplinary Studies with the hopes of emphasizing the environmental sciences with additional backgrounds in History, Anthropology, Public Health, and Art.

A firm believer in the inherent connection between the health of our green spaces and the health of our communities, Vince’s interdisciplinary approach to subjects has given them the wisdom to understand a wide variety of perspectives to environmental issues, highlighting the need for a holistic teaching style inherently tied to environmental studies.

Previously — and still currently — Vince has worked in the veterinary field as a technician and assistant, helping animals, though they’ve discovered a new passion for also uplifting plants. After grad school, they have plans to further pursue a teaching role in the short term, also engaging with community-based environmental nonprofits with the long-term intention of gaining the experience needed for a PhD.

In their free time, Vince enjoys hiking through Inwood Hill Park (near where they reside); playing with their dog, Oswald, and their cat, Bug; guitar; painting; reading; writing; and crocheting. They hope that they can be a positive influence in kids’ perceptions of the natural world that continues to thrive even in the most urbanized areas, creating the foundations for a gentler perception of how we treat our environment.

# data[].attributes.body
Bella recently graduated from the University of Vermont in December 2020.

She studied Food Systems, concentrating in Environmental Studies and Community and International Development.

This past summer she was able to work on a farm in Tuscany, Italy, learning a lot about farming and Italian culture. She is so excited to join the team and educate our youth in the garden!

In addition to working in the school garden, Bella enjoys reading, music and spending time with her family, friends and cat.

# data[].attributes.headline
Rayah- formerly Belmont Prep & Liberty Ave MS

# data[].attributes.subject
Rayah- formerly Belmont Prep & Liberty Ave MS

# data[].attributes.body
Rayah is a garden educator, artist, and organizer whose work meets at the confluence of care, creativity, and justice.

Originally from Brooklyn, NY, she lived in New Orleans for 7 years, where she volunteered in community gardens, including Ms. Gloria's Garden in Tremé, supported food access with Recirculating Farms, and served as a Climate Ambassador with Friends of Lafitte Greenway, researching the impact of heat and flooding.

Grounded in abolitionist values and Black Indigenous traditions of reciprocity and healing, Rayah approaches gardening as a collective and creative act that reconnects people to the land, to one another, and to the work of transitional justice.

# data[].attributes.headline
Molesia Baptiste-Perry ~ BGW @PS84 Afterschool Site Manager 

# data[].attributes.subject
Molesia Baptiste-Perry ~ BGW @PS84 Afterschool Site Manager 

# data[].attributes.body
My name is Molesia Baptiste-Perry, and I am honored to serve as the Site Manager for your child’s afterschool garden program. I bring a strong background in education and leadership, including a Master of Healthcare Administration from Scranton University, a Doctor of Medicine from the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana, Cuba and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Guyana.

Along with my professional experience, I have a deep love for organic gardening, growing food naturally, and preserving the fruits of my labor at home. I believe gardening is one of the best ways for children to learn patience, responsibility, teamwork, and a healthy respect for nature. My goal is to help create a warm, engaging, and safe environment where every child can grow, explore, and enjoy the experience.

It is a joy to support opportunities that help children connect with the earth, build confidence, and develop lifelong healthy habits.