Emil: Emil’s introduction to the world of agriculture began when he started managing farmers markets in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. Seeing the direct impact that farmers could bring to New York City neighborhoods, while responsibly stewarding farmland, inspired him to work towards a future where more people had the opportunity to do the same. Emil has facilitated beginning farmer courses for BIPOC growers, leading instruction on whole farm planning, and farm business planning for aspiring farmers. He’s particularly interested in the intersection of agriculture as a means for land stewardship and community centered models of ownership.
Ramy: Ramy grew up on her parents’ farm in rural central North Carolina surrounded by flowers and sheep. Her work-study job in college was with the NC Botanical Garden, where she learned about the importance of native plants. After graduation, she WWOOFed across Europe and volunteered on a farm in Peru, continuing her education on permaculture and helping her parents become WWOOF hosts along the way. Ramy now works full-time on her parents’ farm and plans to incorporate more regenerative and sustainable practices to help maintain a healthy ecosystem.
Mak: Mak is a farmer from Southern Appalachia dedicated to the collective effort of restoring food sovereignty and returning stolen land. Through farming, they connect their passions for re-indigenizing our food systems and building local networks of mutual aid to embody restorative land, plant, and people care. They dream of a just, liberated future in which all people have the means to sustain themselves and their communities and hope to realize this future by growing food both for and with their neighbors.
Katerina: Katerina is an aspiring farmer from the midwest and has lived in various communities across the country. She was raised in her family’s pizza restaurant to parents of different cultures, showing her the power of thoughtfully prepared food in bringing people together. This, combined with her deep love of being outdoors, has led her to pursue ways in which she can be on the front end of food production. Since finding her way to WWOOFing in 2022, she has been enamored by the ways in which sustainable farming allows for deeper relationships between communities and the land, and our connection to the past and the futures as members of this planet.
Alexa: My name is Alexa and I am from San Diego, California. I am currently studying International Agriculture Development and Gender Studies at UC Davis. When I was a kid and people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up I always said a farmer. But unlike most people, I did not grow out of my childhood dream. I believe in the power of agriculture for healthy communities and environmental justice. I am excited for this opportunity to continue to travel, build community and learn sustainable farming practices. After college I hope to do the Peace Corps and work with sustainable agriculture and food systems.
Claire: Hey I’m Claire, I’m from upstate NY and I’m passionate about learning how to live regeneratively and in harmony with the earth. My goal is to start my own regenerative farmstead & art community. My life changed in 2021 when I WWOOFed for the first time and took a permaculture design course, and I quickly fell in love with permaculture. I’ve been WWOOFing across the country ever since. I’m fascinated by the intersection between ecology, art, indigenous knowledge and slow living — and the synergy that occurs when we work with nature rather than against it. Ultimately, I want to help empower people to grow their own food and support not only themselves, but the ecosystems around them — reconnecting with our tribal roots and creating symbiosis with Earth.
