As someone with a curious nature and an innate sense of adventure, I turned 18 and went off to explore the big city of Salt Lake. This took me to LA and then eventually NYC. It was there I understood “you can’t take the country out of the girl”. I tended to the vegetable garden at the Automotive Highschool in Brooklyn where everything we grew went back to the kids' school lunches. From there, I ran a community greenspace where I tried and failed to grow vegetables and very quickly learned the crucial importance of soil quality. All the while, I worked as a nanny, a children’s stylist and eventually ended up at an art studio rounding out my entire 10 year experience living in NYC.

After some good quality time spent in the city, I knew my time had come to an end. I was feeling disenchanted and ready to put my entire life into farming. And that’s exactly what I did. First up, came internships at a sustainable farm in Ellensburg WA and then back to NY state to a goat farm in LI. It was one of the most challenging and rewarding years of my life. In 2014 I returned back to Utah and agreed to call it home. Once settled, I was employed by a very nice cowboy who needed someone to clean stalls at his show horse stable in West Point. I took the job and worked my way up to grooming while still mucking. I enjoyed every minute, but it still wasn’t growing food. I put my mind to the grind and started reaching out to anyone who would take me for free one day a week. The day that dream became a reality I received a callback from the SLC Oxbow Jail Garden Program, was asked to interview and got the volunteer position. Requirements were once a week at the garden and twice a month at Downtown Farmers Market. I was at that market every single Saturday. I gave it my all! I had amazing teachers there and became an amazing mentor myself.

I eventually moved to Salt Lake City and took a job at a horse rescue. This stable taught me invaluable patience and unconditional love. My enemy came in the form of a rooster who was out for blood and my best friends were the horses who originally didn’t know they deserved love. It was very short-lived but the impact can't be measured. That place will always be near and dear to my heart. I was able to maintain my volunteer status at Oxbow for two years. It, to this day, is something I’m proud of and tremendously grateful for. Eventually, both of my co-workers moved on and the garden program was in a limbo period. I sadly had to part ways and so my path took me into the film world working in the costumes department for Disney. My inner child related to the excitement these kids had showing up at 6:00 AM bright-eyed, ready and stoked to be part of their favorite series. I supervised over 100+ children five days a week for over 4 years, making sure their shirts looked cool and their spirits remained high. Because of the seasonal nature of that business I started up a landscaping company during the off months. Here I learned everything I possibly could about flowers, drought tolerance and drip lines. In this space I met my husband who had an outdoor business of his own. I started working with him and in 2022 we had a son and the future has never looked so cool. 

I’ve been growing my own food for well over 20 years and have mentored and taught children as early as 1995. Never did I realize that my son would be the one mentoring and teaching me. Goldie Ray is the reason for Pizza Farm. He has been tending our garden since the week he was born and will be joining us in class to seed sow and eat a little dirt. For that, the best gift I can give back to these future farmers are the skills to be self-sufficient, resilient, kind and curious all under the simple act of growing their own food if they want to put it on their pizza, or not. Thank you kindly for being here.