Business Operations Manager

STEPHANIE JACOBS

Stephanie Jacobs is a home gardener, farmer, community educator and local food systems advocate. She began her career at Sandown as part of the first cohort of regenerative farmers, growing medicinal herbs, plant starts, fruits and vegetables. At the end of 2022 Stephanie transitioned away from farming full-time, and took on the role of Business Operations Manager in 2023. Stephanie has diverse experience in agriculture, business and advocacy. She worked as the Manager of the North Saanich Farm Market, currently serves on the Board of Directors for Haliburton Community Organic Farm and is the Co-Chair of the Victoria Urban Food Table. She is a graduate student in Sustainable Food Systems and Food Security at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and is deeply committed to the practice of regenerative agriculture. Stephanie is also the founder of The Regenerative Home Gardener, a full-season hands-on course that helps people learn to grow food, improve soil health and support biodiversity on a home scale. Stephanie is dedicated to local food security, resiliency building and climate change action. She recognizes the damaging effects of colonization and the industrial food system; on people and the planet, and is working to help create a more just and sustainable way forward. 

Community Engagement Manager

EMILY HARRIS

Emily brings over five years of experience in community building, marketing, and ecological farming as the co-owner and operator of The Plot Market Garden. In addition to this, she holds a degree in Geography from the University of Victoria, has a diploma in Visual Arts from Camosun College, and a certificate in Permaculture Design from the Brighton Permaculture Trust. 

Farm Manager

JENN CLINE

Jenn is an amalgamate farmer-chef-educator that is passionate about community food security. With 8 years experience in cooking, 6 seasons farming, and farm managing with A Rocha, Jenn brings a multidisciplinary approach to everything she does. Jenn also works with Kwantlen Polytechnic University on  farm planning and development, and most recently worked to further develop the plan for the CRD Food and Farmlands Trust.  

Stewardship Manager

MATTHEW KYRIAKIDES

Matthew is a farmer, agroecologist, and soil scientist with seven years of experience working in agriculture. As the Manager of Land Resources, he is responsible for developing and implementing a stewardship plan for the forests, pastures, and wetlands of the site. He is also conducting PhD research with Dr. John Volpe from the University of Victoria on the environmental benefits and financial viability of various land care techniques at Sandown. Matthew holds a BSc in Global Resource Systems from the University of British Columbia and an MSc in Earth and Environment from Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands where he focused on biological soil quality and ecosystem restoration.

Facilities and Finances Manager

TREVOR KRYT

Trevor has 30 years of experience in Engineering, Business Development and Business Operations.  Living on a small farm holding in Saanich he has volunteered for more than a decade as a 4-H Leader with the South Malahat Beef and Swine Club. As the Manager of Land Assets at Sandown, Trevor manages farm infrastructure development, farmer's plot support, and many other aspects in the project's start-up phase.