Meet The New Staff Members
April 29th, 2024
BRYN LAFRENZ | ASSISTANT K-8 TEACHING FARM MANAGER
Bryn (they/she) grew up in Nashville, TN where they found respite from the city in their backyard garden. They were grateful for the privilege to grow food at home and were impassioned to grow food for others who could not. Throughout their college career, they worked for regenerative/ educational farms and food security nonprofits. Bryn graduated from Sewanee: University of the South with a degree in Environmental Arts and Humanities. Their education is continuous and intersectional, especially when connecting people to their environment through food!
Bryn (they/she) grew up in Nashville, TN where they found respite from the city in their backyard garden. They were grateful for the privilege to grow food at home and were impassioned to grow food for others who could not. Throughout their college career, they worked for regenerative/ educational farms and food security nonprofits. Bryn graduated from Sewanee: University of the South with a degree in Environmental Arts and Humanities. Their education is continuous and intersectional, especially when connecting people to their environment through food!
JAELA MCDONALD | INSTRUCTORJaela is currently pursuing a degree in Biobehavioral Nutrition and Wellness. From her days as a student laboratory teacher teaching anatomy, Jaela’s got the knack for breaking down complex topics and she’s all about making learning fun and engaging. When she’s not in the classroom, you can catch Jaela paddleboarding, diving into a good book, or hunting for treasures at thrift stores.
MATT NESBIT | FARM DIRECTOR
Matt studied secondary education at Labuth University. While working in the Birmingham restaurant scene, he started to develop relationships with many organic farms in the area. He began to work with them more closely, deciding it was time to go all in on farming. Matt founded Field Culture Compost, a service-based compost company that diverts food waste from landfills and provides resources to folks in Birmingham and also worked with a consulting firm called Kitchen Table Consultants focused on farm and food businesses.
KRISTINA O’QUINN | INSTRUCTOR
Kristina was the kid in your fifth-grade class who stayed in from recess to help the science teacher clean the frog tank. Kristina grew up exploring swamps and pine forests in Louisiana, where she learned basic foraging from her Dad. Her educational background is in child development and her cup is always half full, as she suffers from terminal optimism. 😉
DOMENIQUE PRICE | INSTRUCTOR
Domenique has a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management from Auburn University. She grew up on a multi-generational farm with chickens, cows, and fields of peas, watermelon, and collard greens, to name a few. Domenique has a passion for teaching children about our natural resources and getting back to the heart of living by growing their own food with their own hands. She is happy to join the team and excited to teach the students topics related to sustainable agriculture, Ecology, and wildcrafting!
LINDSAY WHITEAKER | OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Lindsay fell in love with food and agriculture in high school after stumbling upon a book by Nell Newman of Newman’s Own. This love of food and agriculture inspired her to study Anthropology with a concentration in Food and Culture at The University of Alabama Birmingham. During her tenure at UAB, she deepened her connection to food by volunteering at the West End Community Garden and cultivating a love for fermentation. She co-founded Harvest Roots, a kombucha brewery and taproom in Avondale, with her husband. As her chapter at Harvest Roots comes to a close, Lindsay looks forward to bringing her passion for food, community, and fermentation to the team at JVTF.
KRISTINA O’QUINN | INSTRUCTORKristina was the kid in your fifth-grade class who stayed in from recess to help the science teacher clean the frog tank. Kristina grew up exploring swamps and pine forests in Louisiana, where she learned basic foraging from her Dad. Her educational background is in child development and her cup is always half full, as she suffers from terminal optimism. 😉
DOMENIQUE PRICE | INSTRUCTORDomenique has a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management from Auburn University. She grew up on a multi-generational farm with chickens, cows, and fields of peas, watermelon, and collard greens, to name a few. Domenique has a passion for teaching children about our natural resources and getting back to the heart of living by growing their own food with their own hands. She is happy to join the team and excited to teach the students topics related to sustainable agriculture, Ecology, and wildcrafting!
LINDSAY WHITEAKER | OPERATIONS COORDINATORLindsay fell in love with food and agriculture in high school after stumbling upon a book by Nell Newman of Newman’s Own. This love of food and agriculture inspired her to study Anthropology with a concentration in Food and Culture at The University of Alabama Birmingham. During her tenure at UAB, she deepened her connection to food by volunteering at the West End Community Garden and cultivating a love for fermentation. She co-founded Harvest Roots, a kombucha brewery and taproom in Avondale, with her husband. As her chapter at Harvest Roots comes to a close, Lindsay looks forward to bringing her passion for food, community, and fermentation to the team at JVTF.