OUR CREW

Don Zasada & Bridget Spann

Together we operate our family farm. We met as volunteers in Chile while working as community organizers in a rural village. We are living our dream. Dreams are a lot of work! 

After living in Boston for 7 years working with The Food Project as the Director of Agriculture (Don) and at Massachusetts General Hospital as a domestic violence advocate (Bridget), we were ready to move out of the city and find long-term security on some agricultural land in the Northeast. A long search ensued, culminating with finding Caretaker Farm. 

Our work and way of life at Caretaker Farm is our response to our life experience. We see connection to the land that grows our produce as vital to understanding our responsibility to each other and the earth. 

Our two spectacular children, Gabriela and Micah, call Caretaker Farm their home.

Gabriela Zasada

You will often spot Gabriela working alongside the crew during the summers. She enjoys trellising tomatoes, harvesting on distribution days, and playing word games while weeding in the river field. Apart from working with the crew, Gabriela loves hiking/backpacking, rowing, and experimenting with new meals in the kitchen. She loves spinach, sweet potatoes, and all varieties of tomatoes.

Micah Zasada

Micah has always had an affinity for roaming around the farm and assisting with a variety of tasks. Most often seen barefoot, he especially enjoys early harvest mornings.  The summer brings along some competing interests of hiking, fishing, and mountain bike riding but he always seems to find time to get his hands in the soil.  Micah’s favorite vegetables to harvest include sweet potatoes, garlic and onions and he loves to eat husk cherries and carrots.

Severin Beckwith

Severin grew up in South Carolina and attended Clemson University majoring in International Business Management. He worked with the Peace Corps in Zambia as a “Linking Income, Food and Environment” Volunteer. The COVID pandemic forced Severin to return to the US after a year in Zambia and he then studied for a masters from Cornell University in International Agriculture and Rural Development. He is back for his second year at Caretaker Farm to gain a deeper understanding of our regenerative systems and will be managing all of our animals and potato crop. Severin’s loves to play ultimate frisbee, participate in trivia nights, ride his bike or cook up a special meal with local ingredients. His favorite vegetables are radishes, red cabbage and anaheim peppers.

Jake Yankee

Jake grew up in central Massachusetts and attended college at UMASS Amherst, majoring in Natural Resource Conservation. Since graduation, he has worked jobs as a park ranger, water quality monitor, outreach member and trail builder from Pittsfield, Massachusetts to Moab, Utah. When not on the farm, Jake can be found hiking on the various trails in the area, playing music or reading American History. Jake was interested in our apprenticeship program to in order to provide a foundation for future agricultural management. His favorite vegetables are red potatoes, sweet potatoes and kale.

Eva Wertimer

Eva W grew up in Manhattan, New York and attended Scripps College, majoring in Environmental Analysis and Philosophy. For many years of her adolescence, she spent her summers in the nature of Camp Kiniya next to Lake Champlain. Since graduation from college, Eva has worked in various capacities educating youth in New York City gardens. She loves to share her excitement about growing food with others. Aside from farming, Eva passions include singing, acting, hiking and knitting. During her second year as an apprentice, Eva W is managing the greenhouse and flower garden. Her favorite vegetables are fennel and snap peas.

Eva Borton

Eva B hails from Clinton, New York and majored in Computer Science at Williams College. Growing up, she passed many summers in the Adirondacks at a rustic camp living in community with other families. An avid runner, Eva can often be found sprinting around the farm with a smile on her face. During her second year as an apprentice, Eva B is in charge of all of the farm’s irrigation. Her interests include crafting, biking, reading sci-fi and perfecting songs on her flute. Eva’s favorite treats from the farm include Yokatta-Na, Yokatta-Na and more Yokatta-Na.