Valerie Chouhan

Val is the Farm’s Field Trip Coordinator and Outdoor Educator. She supports curriculum development, teaches programs, and works with teachers across the county to bring their classes to Coastal Roots. Val has been an environmental educator for 9 years and has supported summer camps in the Bay Area and San Diego. Outside of work, Val loves cooking, listening to music, and trying new coffee spots.

Megan Freeman

Megan is one of the Farm’s Education Mangers and supports the Bishul Bichutz and Shomrei Adamah Program Specialists during Summer Farm Camp. She loves bringing her professional experience of being a farmer and working with kids of all ages to support farmers-in-training in developing their own love of food and the environment. In her free time, Megan likes to go to the beach and make ceramics.

Keelin Grubb

Keelin’s responsibilities as Farm Educator and Volunteer Coordinator include supporting the education department with programs, including camps, field trips, After School, Nature Play, and volunteering.

Prior to joining Coastal Roots, Keelin worked on a goat dairy, at Zachary’s Pizza, and loves to babysit. Keelin recently graduated from UC Berkeley (Go Bears!), where she studied Sociology and Gender and Women’s Studies. She loves to do yoga, puzzles, paint, and explore new places. Keelin enjoys being in the kitchen trying new recipes, jamming out to Maggie Rogers in her car, or catching the sunset in her hammock.

AJ Johnson

AJ is an outdoor educator with a background in sustainable agriculture. As a camp counselor, they especially enjoy teaching campers about compost and soil organisms through art and play.

They aspire to create an inclusive environment for all youth to feel welcome in their exploration of the farm. In their free time, AJ spends time gardening and going on nature walks with their family.

Jami Macleod

Jami is one of the Farm’s Outdoor Educators. She is a local San Diegan who loves sharing her passion for sustainability and agriculture with our community, especially the younger Farmers-in-Training. Jami is also an ice skating instructor and is grateful to spend time in the sunshine here on the Farm!

Kim O’Donnell-Boyd

My name is Kiwi Kim and I am the Outdoor Cooking (Bishul Bachutz) Specialist. I look forward to spending time cooking with your kids in our unique outdoor kitchen introducing them to some wholesome farm-fresh flavors.

 I strive to bring a creative and welcoming energy as we harvest, chop, mix and bake some fun memories all summer long.   When I’m not at the farm, you can find me on a local trail, at the beach, or on a pickleball court enjoying the wonderful Encinitas climate with family and friends. 

Sharone Oren

Sharone is one of the Farm’s Education Managers and is responsible for running Coastal Roots Farm’s summer camp program. Prior to Coastal Roots Farm, Sharone worked as an elementary school teacher and outdoor cooking specialist at a sleepaway camp. Outside of work, Sharone loves to cook, read, and go on hikes with her family and friends and her dog, Lola.”

Janie Overland

Janie is an Outdoor Educator at Coastal Roots Farm where she supports summer camp, field trip programs, public farm tours and other activities on the farm.

When she is not on the farm, Janie works as the Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator at the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition. She graduated from Lewis and Clark College with a degree in Environmental Studies and Poli Sci.

In her free time, Janie loves to surf, read in the sun, throw pottery on the wheel, eat lots of yummy food, and giggle tons.

Claude Pate

Hi, my names Claude. The kids will know me as Corn Claude here on the farm! I’ve been with Coastal Roots Farm as an Outdoor Educator for two years.

During our camps here on the farm I get the pleasure of teaching and leading students in ways which, I hope, help them develop a deeper connection to the natural world around them. When I’m not at camp you might find me running, surfing, or searching for new and life bringing music!

Daniel Schwartz

The name is Dandelion Daniel, the loudest roaring flower you ever did meet. He is an outdoor educator here on the farm making sure kids leave with smile after a day of joy and fun learning and farming and our practices on the farm. Before joining the team at Coastal Roots Farm, Daniel was enjoying life in different parts of the world learning about different cultures and teaching a variety of topics to youth and adults in the health and nutrition world as well as farming. When not at the Farm, he’s usually enjoying outdoor activities, soccer, making and appreciating art, crafting, and cooking.

Kimberly Tomlinson

Kimberly has worked in education for the past decade. Her background includes a combination of traditional and non-traditional education experience. Kimberly served as an ELL teacher, reading interventionist, and kindergarten teacher in Washington DC.

Following a cross-country move, Kimberly pivoted into the world of non-formal education by serving as an Education Manager at the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum from 2016-2021. Kimberly joined the Coastal Roots Farm team in 2021 where she shares her passion for the integration of play and exploration into outdoor education spaces.

Kimberly enjoys spending time with her family and friends exploring beautiful San Diego County!