Youth Garden Project - Contact Staff

Contact Staff

“2009 Youth Garden Staff”

Executive Director
Jen Sadoff

In her third year as Executive Director of the YGP, Jen is leading the organization in “growing food, growing kids and growing community” and increasing YGP’s impact in Grand County . Jen is an extreme gardener, and loves being able to combine her horticulture and education experiences and passions into programming at YGP. She strives to ensure that the Youth Garden Project’s programs provide youth with opportunities for personal growth, learning experiences and plenty of fun!

jen@youthgardenproject.org

Associate Director
Delite Primus

Delite joined the Youth Garden Project in February 2008. Originally from Iowa , her past work experience includes fundraising for United Way of Central Iowa, serving as an AmeriCorps member in Minnesota , and volunteering at an educational farm in California . The knowledge gained from these experiences was perfect preparation for her many responsibilities at the Garden. Delite loves YGP and is thrilled to be a part of the Moab community!

delite@youthgardenproject.org

Farmer
Rhonda Gotway

Rhonda is passionate about growing! She joined the YouthGarden in January of 2009 and has been growing in the Moab desert for 15 years. She shares a wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm with those she works with and the community. Rhonda loves gleaning expertise from the greater Moab community for growing food and educating future generations. “YGP is about building community. It works!”

farmer@youthgardenproject.org

Head Gardener
Josie Kovash

Josie is excited to be back for her second year. Her knowledge of plants and gardening is growing along with the plants! Josie is deeply involved in the Moab community through KZMU, Moab Theatre, Red Rock Forests , singing in a local garage band, and working part time at Arches Book Company. When asked what her favorite part of the garden is, she understandably says “it’s a toss up between the compost and the cats”.

gardener@youthgardenproject.org

Asst. Gardener/Kitchen Manager
Dana Kennedy

Dana learned a lot about growing food while an intern at Manzana Springs Farm and is using that experience in her job at YGP. She’s helping grow food at the Youth Garden but is also responsible for cooking meals for our events and programs, preserving the harvest, and teaching culinary skills to the Apprentices. Dana is excited for this new challenge and says “It’s very rewarding to be able to have a part in growing the food, cooking the food and sharing it with the community!”

kitchen@youthgardenproject.org

Program Coordinator
Ariel Atkins

Ariel grew up in Moab and recently moved back from Montana. She worked in the garden last fall and became the Program Coordinator in January. She is leading all of YGP's programs; sharing the joy of gardening, nature and bugs with youth of all ages! The people Ariel gets to interact with at the Garden is what she loves most about her job.

programs@youthgardenproject.org

Program Instructor
Anna Meyer

When asked what Anna loves about the garden her response was, “I love the passion. The passion about a row of peas, a jar of peach jam, or an afternoon helping youth go through the compost pile.”. That passion is what is brought Anna back to Moab and YGP. After spending the summer at YGP in 2008, Anna is back to co-lead summer camp and will be staying through the fall to help instruct Garden Classrooms and After School programs.

Program Instructor
Martha Gilbert

Martha loves being outside in the fresh air with the dirt, plants and kids! She is involved in all of YGP’s programs and will be co-leading Summer Camp. Martha has experience working with youth in Wilderness Therapy programs and shares her enthusiasm for nature with children everyday at the Garden! When she’s not busy with programs she enjoys being able to work in the garden and care for the plants.

The Youth Garden also has 16 seasonal AmeriCorps Members working at the Garden each year and places AmeriCorps Members at host sites which include the Moab Teen Center and Grand Area Mentoring.

CSA Volunteer Coordinator
Haley Haws

Haley is working in the Garden, managing CSA volunteers and assisting with programs. She is a great addition to the new Community Supported Agriculture program. Haley loves how happy the plants are at the Garden and she has done a lot to make them that way! Haley moved here from Bozeman , MT , but spent several summers as a river guide in Moab and is thrilled to be back this year.

Youth Garden Project - 530 South 400 East - Moab, UT 84532
Phone: (435) 259-2326 - Fax (435) 259-2329