Denae

Although she hails originally from the Lone-Star State, Denae has made Michigan her official home. She first came to the Great Lakes region to study at Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, IN where she majored in Biology and Sociology. Following graduation, she moved to Chicago to work in public health research. It was there that she discovered her interest in farming, albeit from a systems perspective.  She moved to Michigan in 2008 and completed the Organic Farming Certificate Program in 2009.  That year she began coordinating member services for the farm’s CSA as well as her position as the Recruitment Coordinator for the OFTP.  Along with other program staff, she collaboratively redesigned the program into its current format.  In 2010 she was the farm’s Propagation Manager, and in 2012 the OFTP Program Manager.  This year she is the Cut Flowers Manager, overseeing SOF cut-flower production and marketing and teaching cut flowers to OFTP participants.

In 2011 Denae started Foodshed Farm, a sustainable agriculture business that sells seedlings to local farmers and gardeners and specialty produce to local restaurants.   She is looking forward to a fantastic year in 2013!