Welcoming FoodCorps Service Member, Claire

Meet our new FoodCorps service member – Claire!

Claire is a native Oregonian who grew up in Portland, and is excited to return to work in her home state. She recently received her B.A. in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems from Green Mountain College. She will be working at elementary schools in Central Oregon delivering garden-based education, increasing connections for teachers from curriculum to school gardens, and providing technical assistance in garden development and improvement for our ‘Garden For Every School’ initiative through the National FoodCorps program.

Prior to joining us in Central Oregon, Claire spent two years going to school and farming in Northern California, and then three years in Vermont finishing her bachelor’s degree and immersing herself in the local vibrant regional food system. In Vermont she experienced first hand the complex dichotomy of a rural agricultural economy and rural food insecurity. This led her to focus her work and thesis on community gardens as food access points and educational venues. Claire has worked throughout regional food systems from production to market at many scales. This includes in-depth work coordinating, maintaining, and educating at community gardens.

Claire is excited to tackle the complex issues that cause food insecurity in our own Central Oregon communities as well as around the globe. She’s passionate about providing food literacy education to both adults and youth, so that every person can make educated choices about the food they purchase, prepare, and consume. She also cares about preserving biodiversity through seed saving and sharing, as well as growing beautiful healthy plants and gardens.

When not working, Claire can be found tending to her own plants, practicing yoga, playing music, and cooking with friends.

Please join us in welcoming Claire to our community!