Farm Project Staff

Anne Eschenroeder
Farm Manager
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Anne joined the Phillies Bridge Farm Project in November 2009. She runs the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, manages care of the land, planning and planting crops and harvests on six acres, producing mixed vegetables, herbs, and flowers along with caring for our sheep and chickens. Anne also assists with the Farm-to-Families Program and various on-farm education programs.

Prior to arriving in the Hudson Valley, Anne worked as an assistant farm manager for the Center of Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at University of California Santa Cruz. In that role, Anne helped teach 39 farm apprentices and managed the 130 member CSA. In 2008, Anne earned a Certificate in Ecological Horticulture also at UC Santa Cruz.

Prior to living in California, she served as a garden manager and garden educator for Oregon Tilth's Organic Education Center. In 2006, Anne graduated from University of Virginia. As a student, she worked on the farm at the Mountain School in Vermont where she developed a passion for sustainable agriculture. Anne was born and raised in Blue Ridge Mountains of Central Virginia and is thrilled to be back on the east coast.

Jill Rubin
Executive Director
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Jill became the first full-time Executive Director of Phillies Bridge Farm Project in November 2009. As Executive Director, she oversees general administration and overall programs of the farm including staffing and financial management.

Prior to this position, she served as the Program Manager at Glynwood Center where she worked to bring more agricultural land into production in the Hudson Valley, coordinated public education events, and oversaw a national awards program in sustainable agriculture.

In 2006, Jill received two master's degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a focus on community food systems and sustainable agriculture. Prior to graduate school, she worked as the Food Policy Advocate at the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG). After college, Jill worked in several positions related to environmental education and outreach. In 1997, Jill graduated from Swarthmore College with a BA in biology and environmental studies. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Common Ground Farm in Wappingers Falls. In her free time, Jill enjoys gardening, traveling, hiking, photography, and cross-country skiing.

Amie Baracks
Education Director

Amie first joined The Phillies Bridge Farm Project in the Spring of 2008 to work as an Education Intern. In 2010, she returned to the farm as the Education Director. In this role, she oversees all of our educational programs including Farm Camp for elementary school children, school classroom visits, Growing Together- a parent-toddler program, and workshops related to sustainable agriculture and food preservation. She also helps coordinate the Farm to Families Program that provides fresh vegetables grown on the farm to low-income residents in Ulster County.

Amie graduated from Binghamton University in 2005 with a degree in Human Development and Women Studies and has a background in developing education programs. After graduation she worked in Buffalo, NY where she worked with at-risk youth and other vulnerable populations.

Amie has had a passion for growing food and sustainable agriculture ever since her youth. She grew up playing in her grandpa's garden, has lived in community, and has strived to grow her own food for many years. In addition, she has spent considerable time volunteering on organic farms in Central America. Her year spent working at Phillies Bridge Farm Project was a confirmation that sustainable agriculture is her true passion. After moving to the Hudson Valley in 2008, she lived at Phillies Bridge Farm for a year where she helped teach our education programs, produce fruits and vegetables for our CSA, and care for the farm animals.

In addition to her position as Education Director, she also works as a Case Manager at Family of Woodstock. In her free time, Amie can most often be found hiking in the 'Gunks, hanging out with her flock of chickens or making sauerkraut.

Sandra Capellaro
Administrative Assistant
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Sandra Capellaro moved to Gardiner eight years ago and became a member of Phillies Bridge Farm the following summer. Her daughter was born around the same time as the farmer's daughter and the educator's son, who would eventually explore the gardens and goats together. Sandra got used to juggling her newborn, bags of fresh vegetables, eggs and recipe flyers at pick-up. Although her daughter, now seven, is still not convinced that green is good for you, she will eat anything (green or otherwise) offered to her at Farm Camp and fell in love with Zucchini Bread.

Sandra now works in the farm office and loves to help anyone new to the CSA experience. She also does administrative work for a local church.

» Past Farm Interns