LISA CHALIF

FARM MANAGER

Lisa joined the Bayard Cutting CSA Farm in December following two seasons at Jamesport Farmstead, an organic no-till farm in the Riverhead area, and was previously at Restoration Farm, an organic CSA/market farm in Old Bethpage. Farming is a career change for Lisa, who trained and worked for many years in the visual arts, while always avidly maintaining a varied and productive vegetable plot in a local community garden. She reads widely about farming and passionately supports organic, sustainable, and regenerative practices that are critical in mitigating ecological damage to the environment. Recognizing that healthy soil produces healthy crops that benefit our bodies, our communities, and our planet, she envisions incorporating no- or low-till methods at Bayard over time. She is driven by a desire to live and grow in greater accordance with nature and hopes to inspire others in developing a more nuanced understanding of our food system and a greater awareness of our place in nature.

When not on the farm, Lisa enjoys hiking, travel, and time with family.

JOHNNY KORKODILOS

FIELD MANAGER

Johnny started his journey at the Arboretum in 2015 as a farm intern and continued in 2016 as a farm apprentice.  As a trained Permaculture landscape designer, he brings an additional perspective to further the farm’s goal of regenerative organic farming.  He is dedicated to supporting the CSA community’s access to the freshest, best quality produce available as well as the deep connection that forms in relationships shaped around this practice.  He enjoys engaging the often curious public on the practical and philosophical operations of the farm.  Facilitating and aiding in people’s experience of symbiosis with their local landscape is a driving passion for him.

His initiation into the world of gardening came from both his maternal and paternal grandmothers.  When he was a young boy he spent much of his time in his maternal grandmother’s traditional German-style garden and his paternal grandmother’s traditional Greek-style garden, both embedded with the philosophy of growing as much food as possible while maintaining balance in the ecosystem.  He has a strong personal interest in sharing the healing practices of herbalism, yoga, and qi-gong empowering people to further their own health sovereignty.

KAREN VALDINI

FIELD TRIP COORDINATOR

B.S. Food and Nutrition- S.U.N.Y Oneonta, NY
Masters of Education Elementary Ed- Dowling College, Oakdale, NY
Integrative Nutrition Certified Health Coach-Institute for Integrative Nutrition, NYC, NY
During her tenure as a middle school science and elementary enrichment teacher, Karen developed a farm curriculum based on the well-known program “Edible Schoolyard” founded by Chef Alice Waters of Berkley, California.  For years this program focused on teaching students the importance of being conscientious stewards of the land, growing their own food, developing better eating habits, and incorporating this information into their daily lives.

Now retired from formal teaching, Karen has brought a similar program to the Bayard Cutting Arboretum and its newly founded CSA.  In addition, Karen has developed a School Field Trip Program which is now available for local school children in Grades K-5.

The basic belief of these projects is that the key to a future healthy society is to educate our children and to empower them by taking control of their eating habits.  Learning to grow their own food allows the children to get their hands dirty while digging in the soil, planting, and exploring the wonders of nature.  It is an opportunity for children to learn life lessons outside the classroom.