Agraria_Journal_Summer_2022

AGRARIA JOURNAL 2022 43 Agraria Grows with New Staff DAVID BROWN David Brown came to Agraria in March 2022 as Assistant Facilities Manager. Born and raised in Ohio, he has always been a sojourner of sorts, splitting his time between northern Ohio (near Toledo) and southern Ohio (Dayton area) as a youth and into adolescence and early adulthood. He never felt he had a place to call home — a place to sink some roots — until he found Agraria. David has always had a love for nature, gardening, and living in connection with the Earth. As a child, he spent time helping his aunt and uncle on their farm outside Genoa, Ohio, where his love of gardening and farming took root and grew. He attended Sinclair Community College, graduating with an Associate of Science degree in Biology. After watching the farming practices he grew up with change from a more natural process that included crop rotation and resting periods to conventional modern-day practices —mono cropping, petroleum-based pesticides and fertilizers — he knew that he wanted something different. In 2020, when the world was flipped upside down by Covid-19, David was laid off from his job as a data cable installer. Fortunate enough to have a minimalist mindset, adequate savings, and a loving family, he was in no rush to go back to the old ways. He saw this time as a moment of opportunity to change the world (and himself): He found the mantra “Let Love Pave Thy Way” and has used it to build a path to a new world. David brings with him a positive attitude, a friendly smile, and a fun- and adventure-loving soul. He is most excited to make dreams a reality with all the lovely souls at Agraria and help make Agraria a place the community can gather, grow, and learn together — in connection with Mother Earth and each other. RACHEL CARR Rachel Carr has joined Agraria as the Volunteer Coordinator and member of the Development Team. With a background in civic engagement, she is passionate about connecting people to communities and the land. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Dayton (UD) in political science. After graduating in 2020, she worked at Patchwork Gardens’ 12-acre produce farm in Dayton as a jack-of-all-trades. In 2021, she moved to the Netherlands, where she completed a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship and explored the Dutch approach to land use. Upon returning to the US, she worked as a Program Coordinator at UD’s Fitz Center for Leadership in Community. Since May, she’s been settling into her new home outside of Yellow Springs and into her new role at Agraria. When she’s not working, you’ll find her skating on the bike paths and baking for the joy of it.