The Farmers
Jon Friedland
Jon and his family spent many weekend afternoons driving from their home in Manhattan to the movie theater in Closter. They loved Closter and the community reminded Jon of the Ohio suburb where he grew up. When the farm became available they saw the opportunity to have a direct hand in creating the food, health and environmental practices they have long believed in, and to learn and participate directly as a family in the labor and care required to operate an Organic farm. It has been a massive learning experience to get the farm up and running and we are grateful to have the opportunity to continue learning and growing with the Closter community.
Jared Krawitz
Jared came to farming relatively late in life. After cooking in NYC, he moved to North Carolina where he apprenticed at Fickle Creek Farm, learning the basics of low-stress animal management, rotational grazing, pasture health, crop planning, market gardening, and much more. After the apprenticeship, he moved to Hopewell, NJ to manage the poultry program at Double Brook Farm. When the opportunity came up to start Closter Farm, Jared jumped at the chance to rejuvenate a piece of land in an amazing community.
AJ Albanos
AJ’s experiences range from wildlife restoration in AmeriCorps to horticulture studies at NYBG. He specializes in the design, installation, and maintenance of woodland gardens. He is deeply motivated by the mission at Closter Farm to regenerate the landscape and foster an ecological food culture through holistic agricultural management.
Phoebe Shields
Phoebe studied Sociology and ENVS at the University of Colorado Boulder and became interested in the intersection of the food system between humans and the environment. At Closter Farm, she has learned the production of a small-holder farm from seeding to selling produce to our local community at market. And she plans on becoming an earth/environmental science teacher and is excited to incorporate regenerative sustainable agriculture and her knowledge from Closter Farm into her class curriculum.
Grace Lyons
Grace started working at Closter Farm in April 2023 and loves being a part of the team. She grew up in Washington Township and will soon have a degree in Public Health from Southern New Hampshire University. Working at the farm has created a deep interest in food systems and regenerative farming and Grace plans on using such knowledge to help her in a future career.
Yadys Martinez
After a 20 year career in the NYC fashion industry I fell in love with herbalism and all things growing in nature. I was fortunate enough to find Closter Farm and become a part of this amazing community!
Jess Ford
Jess got to know the Closter Farm team and amazing products during her time owning and operating Peppercorn Events, a catering and events company. Passionate about local, sustainable food practices, Jess is excited to be joining the Closter Farm team to help run market, facilitate events and share her culinary knowledge.
Dana Harkrider
Dana Harkrider is a beekeeper in Nyack with a passion for native plants. A graduate of Cornell’s Master Beekeeping program and a beekeeping partner with Lomar Farms in Palisades, Dana assists clients with setting up apiaries on their own properties and advocates for increased pollinator habitat across both public and private land. Dana has traveled extensively, lived in three countries, and currently splits her time between New York and the desert of Baja California, Mexico.
Team Alumnus
Vlad Petric
With an educational background in business administration and a passion for fitness, wellness and nutrition, it was a natural progression that Vlad chose to join the Closter Farm team in order to expand his knowledge and experience around food production and the organic/regenerative practices that sustain it. Aside from his role as a farm hand on the field and connecting with our community at market, Vlad is a personal trainer and fitness consultant, as well as a husband and soon to be dad.
Alec Ratyosyan
Alec started farming as an undergraduate, living in Newark, New Jersey, while volunteering for Newark Science and Sustainability. Alec studies Global Agriculture and Sustainability as a Master of Business and Science at Rutgers University. As an avid outdoorsman, Alec is deeply passionate about developing sustainable food systems that support people and our planet. Originally from Tenafly, New Jersey, he is grateful for the chance to help provide tasty, nutritious food for the local community.
Jazmine Garcia
Jazmine is an Environmental Studies graduate from Ramapo College of NJ. Jazmine has a diverse sustainable agriculture background, including work at a hydroponic farm in Hackensack, NJ, volunteering at Mahwah Environmental Volunteers Organization Farm and a garden center. She was also an environmental educator at the New Weis Center which later became a Trustee position on their Board. Jazmine is passionate about environmental advocacy and practicing sustainable agriculture and permaculture.
Chelsea Lancaster
Chelsea had never worked on a farm, but has always had an interest in the overlap of environmentalism and food systems when she joined the team. Prior to working on the farm, she was a caregiver and end of life doula for family members. Chelsea has found healing working in the fields, learning about the soil and cycles of nature while getting to know the community at the farmer’s market. Outside of the farm, she loves to cook with fresh vegetables, and is continuing to grow her offerings as a doula as well as her own at-home garden with her newfound agricultural skills.