top of page
IMG_0086.JPG

Our Team

Each year a combination of old and new faces can be found on the farm, making all that we do possible.

Who's Here Now:

DEE590D5-8F79-4B1E-8B04-7FEB1E09027F.jpeg

Ellen Drews

Ellen joined Astarte Farm in 2020 as our Farm Manager after three years of production farming at Brookfield Farm in Amherst. Hailing from the upper Midwest, she has been growing food and teaching children and adults about nature for more than a decade  She is passionate about no-till farming and the hope it brings for more resilient food systems in the face of climate change.

13CC9396-93C0-4548-B8ED-A85DA85B1FFF.JPG

Jim Mead

Farm Owner

Having always had a dream of one day owning his own berry farm, Jim decided to buy Astarte in 2014. His background in electrical engineering and atmospheric science, while different from that of the typical farmer, has propelled sustainability research and experimentation here on the farm. 

EFEAC015-1F5B-455E-9CDF-63332D7D297D.JPG

Kelsey Davis

Harvest manager, tractor operator

Third year at Astarte

Kelsey is from Leverett, MA and is an animal and nature lover, especially of all things fungi. She has a special eye for beauty and is always pointing out tiny miracles as we farm. She found Astarte because she wants to learn farming practices that are in line with her values to implement on her own land. No-till organic farming for the win!

theo.jpg

Theo Eagle

Volunteer Coordinator

Theo is originally from Brooklyn, New York and studied Sustainable Food and Farming at UMass-Amherst. Theo worked at Astarte full-time for 3 years but recognized a desire to try out the restaurant world - he now works with our pals over at Daily Operation but helps on the farm as much as possible, especially with coordinating volunteers and large harvest events.

FF1E4706-6BB2-49B0-859A-695471F12546_edited.jpg

New Crew Member

...

...coming soon!...

84BEDA41-8E8A-4B29-B4B2-2A74D18717D7.JPG

Sadie Higgins

Assistant Manager, Greenhouse Manager
Fourth year at Astarte

Originally from Cape Cod, Sadie moved out west to farm in this beautiful and bountiful valley. Although she misses the ocean, she is overjoyed to be in the soil and loving plants all day. She is passionate about farming using sustainable practices, fungi, pollinators and making sure that delicious food comes from a happy earth! She loves leaving work everyday knowing that she added something good to the world.

DAN.jpg

Dan Pratt 

Farm Founder

Founder of Astarte, and longtime organic vegetable grower, Dan is behind it all here on the farm! You'll often find him giving farm tours, making videos for our no-till YouTube channel, or maintaining the compost piles!

AA370B9B-4159-43D0-9953-62D1FA9EA6A1.JPG

Danny Loper

Irrigation lead, tractor operator

Second year at Astarte

Danny joined the farm in 2022 after moving to Western MA from the Hudson Valley. He values sustainability, nature, and has a personal interest in the cultivation of mushrooms. The shift from restaurants to farming has brought love and light into his life as he enjoys being outside working with Mother Earth!

FF1E4706-6BB2-49B0-859A-695471F12546_edited.jpg

New Crew Member

....

...coming soon!...

...and we can't forget...

Our #1 cheerleaers

Millie & Amelia! 

IMG_0441.jpg
C3DAE1AF-C9F6-411D-9D3A-9F14ACE43EC5.jpeg
bottom of page