Who We Are

FarmFolk CityFolk is a not for profit society that works to cultivate a local, sustainable food system. Our projects provide access to & protection of foodlands; support local growers and producers; and engage communities in the celebration of local food.

"Something happens to people who plant seeds- it is impossible to watch a plant grow and flourish without getting a sense of the miracle of all life."
-Herb Barbolet, Co-founder of FarmFolk CityFolk

FarmFolk CityFolk Society - Board of Directors 2011/2012 (Stewardship Team)

Heather Johnstone - Coordinator, Edible Garden Project (Chair of the Board)
Monique Van Vliet - Director of Management Reporting, UBC
Vijay Cuddeford - Managing Editor, Developing Countries, Farm Radio Network
Tricia Sedgwick - Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Seeds of Plenty
Gabriella Szerze - Associate Lawyer, Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP
Tracy Ho - Project Administrator, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Michael Dary - Manager of Resources Consulting Group, Accenture
Jodie Lightfoot - Social Media & Marketing Coordinator, Future Shop

Staff

Nicholas Scapillati, Executive Director ~ Nicholas is a dedicated activist and conservationist. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biogeography, from McMaster University and has worked in conservation for over 15 years. First with the David Suzuki Foundation as a researcher & project coordinator working on Climate Change, Marine Conservation, and the Great Bear Rainforest project.

While at the Foundation Nicholas worked as a researcher on David Suzuki’s best selling book The Sacred Balance, later developing it into a cross Canada multi media tour to launch David Suzuki’s Nature Challenge, and co-producing a television special for the Discovery Channel based on the tour.

As the Executive Director of the Musqueam Ecosystem Conservation Society Nicholas incorporated both science and traditional ecological knowledge into the organizations many programs including a BioBlitz of the Musqueam Creek ecosystem; the first of its kind in Vancouver.  He has extensive experience in program management, fundraising, coordinating multi-level stakeholder processes, and relationship building particular with First Nations communities.

Urban agriculture has been a tradition in Nicholas’ family for generations that has cultivated his love of food and passion for cooking. Nicholas lives in Vancouver with his wife Kas and their dog Sitka.

Heather Pritchard, Farm Program Manager ~ a long time food activist and co-founder/farmer with Glorious Organics Co-op in the Fraser Valley. She is the grand daughter of H. G. Neufeld, who has been inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame for his work as a plant breeder in the early development of canola seed.

Bonita Jo Magee, Events Manager ~ Bonita's education includes an Environmental Studies Diploma (with honors). Her work experience is diverse - including computer consulting, health food manufacturing, and campaigning for the protection of wilderness and wildlife. While working with FarmFolkCityFolk, Bonita is educating herself about farming and making plans to purchase farm/ranchland with her family and a handful of friends.

Michael Marrapese, Communications & Technology ~ Michael is our resident communications and technology guru. Our webmaster and Editor-in-Chief of our magazine, he also produces promotional materials, writes public interest articles, and meets the challenges of the ever-evolving world of technology in a limited-budget, not-for-profit office. Michael is an avid photographer whose photos elegantly don the pages of FarmFolkCityFolk, the book. He is a long time resident of the Fraser Common Farm Cooperative in the Fraser Valley.

Erin Nichols - Project Manager, Shared Harvest Erin has worked in various capacities over the last 16 years to optimize the local food system and support food security. She is a Founder of the Vancouver Farmers Markets and was the Promotions Supervisor for spud!, an online grocery delivery business. She developed business opportunities for venders at the Vancouver Farmers Market and for Tarragon Foods, a local co-packer and food processor.

Niki Westman, Financial Manager ~ Niki joined FarmFolk CityFolk in June 2011 as the Finance Manager.  Niki is equally excited crunching home-grown vegetables from her community garden as she is crunching numbers for local non-profit organizations and small businesses focused on promoting environmental and economic sustainability, social justice, and good health.  Her passion for supporting local small-scale agriculture was first brought to fruition when she founded a community garden in her Mount Pleasant neighbourhood in 2002, which she continues to coordinate today.

Niki's past work as a number cruncher included a decade at Ecotrust Canada as the Finance Administrator, where she supported the growth of the conservation economy in BC.  Prior to that, she was the bookkeeper at Finlandia Natural Pharmacy, where she enhanced her knowledge of nutrition, herbal remedies, and alternative healing.  Niki is originally from southern Ontario, where she earned an undergraduate degree in business, and a Masters in English, focusing on environmental issues and First Nations' culture in literature.  She is currently studying to become a Certified General Accountant as she works part time as the Finance Manager at FarmFolk CityFolk.

Tallulah Winkleman - Administration and Farm Tour Coordinator ~ Tallulah is a shareholder of Fraser Common Farm, a certified organic farm in Langley, where she periodically farms. She is also an actor and a mother.

Consultants and Contract Staff

Melanie Banas, Vancouver Island Feast of Fields Coordinator - Melanie has helped FarmFolk CityFolk coordinate our Island Feast for many years. Melanie lives in Victoria and juggles her time between motherhood and the Feast, among other activities.

Dana Reinhardt, Metro Vancouver Feast of Fields Coordinator ~ Dana began her career in the hospitality industry at the age of 11, spinning cotton candy and selling corn dogs at the PNE. Her father was in the wine importing business for many years and instilled a love of wine, food and travel in her.  Dana started managing restaurants in Vancouver in her early twenties before moving into the kitchen and culinary side with her Cellar Door Restaurant at Sumac Ridge Winery.  Leaving the Okanagan, Dana headed to London, England to do a stint at the River Café.  She moved back to Vancouver and worked at Raincity Grill and Lumiere before opening CRU in 2004.  CRU went on to win accolades and was one of the Best New Restaurants in Canada, as awarded by Enroute Magazine. Click here to visit the Feast of Fields website

Jennifer Vincent, Okanagan Feast of Fields Coordinator & Meet Your Maker Okanagan Coordinator ~ Jennifer Vincent has a background in Horticulture and an Arts degree.  Growing up on a small hobby farm in the Fraser Valley has fueled a passion for encouraging food gardening and self-sufficiency in others.  Jennifer lived in Australia for over a decade, returning to Canada in 2009. She now calls Penticton home. She is the founder of Little Green Book, a consultancy centered on building collaborative connections between community groups.  This past year, Little Green Book partnered with local food distributor, LocalMotive to build a novel CSA-style program called the Farm Bag Fundraiser.  This initiative assists schools and community groups to sell a monthly bag of locally-grown produce from October to April - fundraising groups earn 20% of sales.  In the first year of operation the program has sold 30,000 lbs of produce.  Jennifer also sits on the Board of the Penticton Urban Agriculture Association and the Downtown Penticton Association.  Community development, experimental gardening and eating locally are of keen interest. She has apricot-coloured memories of childhood summers and weekends spent in her family's Naramata orchard.  No stone fruit has ever tasted as good as  one fresh from those trees.