Pablo Elliott grew up in Washington, DC and attended Sidwell Friends High School. He first took an interest in food production his senior year at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. Between classes, he apprenticed with a local farmer on the Poughkeepsie Farm Project, a sustainable vegetable operation on Vassar’s campus. The magic and challenge of growing food stayed with Pablo and he eventually returned to his family’s farm in Gainesville, VA. There, he started a small organic market garden, which he gradually expanded to include a “Community Supported Agriculture” (CSA*) program.

Pablo has been a guest contributor for the Rodale Institute’s New Farm on-line publication on sustainable and organic agriculture methods. His goal is to create a stronger connection between as many folks and their local food-shed as possible, through education and eating! He joins the Local Food project at Airlie with the hopes of inspiring young and old alike to support local farmers, grow food in their own gardens, and even take up the challenge of farming.

*A CSA is an increasingly popular model of agriculture that connects community members with a local farm via the purchase of a share of the farm’s annual bounty.

Local Food Project home

A 2008 “graduate” of the Local Food Project at Airlie Internship Program, Brynn assists with management of garden production and lends logistical and creative support to community outreach and educational programming.

Brynn grew up on a cattle ranch in northern Nevada and first participated in organic gardening as a college student. Spending a semester tending a bed of carrots, learning about compost, and eating veggies straight from the ground sparked a new passion for local food. Since moving to Virginia, she has been a CSA member and weekly patron of local farmer's markets.

In addition to supporting the coordination of tours, workshops, and conferences, she helps organize the work of interns, as well as conference guests and community members interested in volunteering in the garden. Brynn received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.