Patty & Erick Taylor are Devon Point Farm's owners. Patty's interest in growing began in rural New Jersey where she grew up with a 20' x 30' family garden. A few years after graduating from Univ. of RI in 1993, she completed URI's Master Gardening Course. She's been growing ever since. 2010 was Patty's first year running Devon Point Farm's CSA Share Program. Erick wanted to be a farmer since he was a young boy, and he was always fascinated with the rare, heritage breed of Devon Cattle. After graduating from the Univ. of RI in 1993, Erick purchased his first farm property in RI. Finding the poor sandy, gravelly soils were less than ideal for growing pastures let alone crops, Erick attended Univ. of Maine's Compost School and began enthusiastically composting to amend the poor soils. Now, years later, and three farm properties later, Erick and Patty finally have found a farm property with prime agricultural soils and her love of growing and Erick's love of composting and raising cattle continues!

Tara returns to her Connecticut roots, joining Devon Point Farm after 14 years in China and France, where she was a global manager in the telecoms industry. No longer content with only reading about the various problems and solutions being discussed in the sustainable agriculture industry, she has decided to jump right in and get her hands dirty! In addition to growing good food, she also hopes to learn foraging and beekeeping, while enjoying the beautiful seasons that Connecticut offers. Tara graduated from Duke University with a dual degree in English and Chinese, and has received certificates from John Hopkins SAIS, The Natural Step, and the BTH Strategic Sustainability program in Sweden. She is a raw food enthusiast, loves to travel, and is accompanied by her cat Serafina.

Abbey hails from Southern Arizona where she enjoyed near-endless
sunshine and developed a serious love for authentic Mexican food. In
2011 she graduated magna cum laude  from the University of Arizona
with a degree in International Studies. She studied abroad in
Guatemala and wrote her thesis on issues of sustainability for
indigenous subsistence farmers.  In between classes she worked for the
Campus Arboretum researching native plants, explored the desert's
beautiful hiking trails, and interned with a school-garden program
growing vegetables with kindergartners. Sometimes Abbey likes to
debate theology and politics but at the end of the day she enjoys the
simple pleasures in life: strong coffee, a good book, and listening to
country music really loudly while driving. Her latest endeavor is
learning to play the banjo.

Chris has anchored at Devon Point Farm after many years at sea on ships and crafts of all types and sizes. Most recently he sailed on traditionally rigged sailing ships that teach nautical science to all ages. Messing around in boats has taken him from Alaska to the Canadian Maritimes, and many ports in between including the great cruising grounds of New England. For now, he has stepped away from sails and ropes to put his hands in the earth. Blue seas to green pastures. Chris is a student at the University of Connecticut majoring in Agriculture and Natural Resources. His family has been growing their own food and raising chickens for years. He is interested in local food systems and building community. He is looking forward to being a part of a team that provides healthy, tasty food, making new friends and learning all he can on the farm. He enjoys the great outdoors, watering holes, strong coffee, tea board games, playing with his nephew and niece, campfires, adventure and yes…sailing. He plays spoons.

Kate is a 26 year old teacher from Connecticut, where she was born and raised. After taking up residence in New York City, she and her husband, John, let the lease on their apartment lapse, sold or donated most of their belongings, and trekked by bicycle across the United States visiting family farms along the way. Their adventures cross-country cemented her love of learning, her drive towards sustainable living, and passion for growing good wholesome food.   Having earned a Masters degree in Childhood Education from Hunter College in New York City, Kate hopes to one day marry elementary education and sustainable living by developing a Garden Education program to be implemented in urban public schools. She is thrilled to have joined the folks at Devon Point for, what will surely be, a successful growing season and great fun.

After traveling most of the United States on the back of a bicycle, John is settling down with Devon Point Farm for the 2012 growing season. After 5,500 miles across the United States from East to West, then North to South visiting family farms and craft breweries, he wants to apply the skills he has learned to Devon Point. Through the years he has been a drummer, painter, carpenter, plumber, website and graphic designer, photographer, entertainment technician, and professional adventurer. Those skills look a little all over the map until you put them into the context of running a farm. It is his dream to one day own, and operate, a farm of his own. When not in the field or on a bike, John enjoys reading, writing, running, and eating anything he can get his hands on. To learn more about John & Kate's adventure across country, check out their website at FoodCyclist.

Adrienne is joining Devon Point Farm for a second season, interning part-time with us, and part-time with a local large animal veterinarian. Adrienne will be going into her Junior year at UCONN where she is in the honors program majoring in animal science. Adrienne is planning on being a veterinarian and has worked as a veterinary assistant at the Niantic Animal Hospital, and as an animal education intern at Holcomb Farm in West Granby, CT.  Adrienne grew up in Granby, CT but attended the Green Mountain Valley School, a world-class ski academy and independent high school in Waitsfield, VT. She is also a varsity rower on UCONN's crew team. Her hobbies include sailing, competitive skiing, crew, and spearfishing.

Laura Fisher just finished her Master's Degree at NYU in environmental conservation education, with a concentration in sustainable food systems and urban agriculture. She previously worked with 'Green Guerillas' a non-profit community group that uses a mix of education, advocacy, and organizing to help people cultivate and sustain community gardens. In addition, Laura has interned at the NY Coalition of Healthy School Food, has taught English as a second language in both the Galapagos and in Ecuador. Her hobbies include reading, cooking, hiking, and horseback riding.

Charlie O'Dowd comes to Devon Point Farm with a wealth of experience in organic farming practices, formerly apprenticing at Henry Brockman's Organic Farm in Illinois and Paradise Farms Homestead in Florida. Charlie grew up in Clinton, CT and graduated magna cum laude from Southern CT State with a degree in anthropology. His hobbies include hiking, kayaking and canoeing. Charlie plays the guitar and sings a little too.