Staff Member

Amanda Reimer

Amanda Reimer

  • Biography: Although she is a prairie girl at heart, Amanda recently moved to the Valley because of her longstanding love affair with the West Coast. When she isn’t gardening, combing the beach or exploring the mountain terrain, you will find Amanda writing or reading works of poetry and creative non-fiction. Currently she is completing a degree in Professional Writing.
  • Position: CGC store resource manager
  • e-mail: amanda@cowichangreencommunity.org
    • Audra Stacey

    Audra Stacey

  • Biography: Since moving to the Cowichan four years ago, Audra has enjoyed learning about local foods. She loves harvesting seasonal foods and preserving them with her family to enjoy through the year. Her favorite wild foods are yaala' and Salmon (especially smoked!). Of great concern to Audra is invasive plant species pushing out wild traditional food plants, as well the loss of our wild salmon. These are issues that she hopes to help through working on food security at the Cowichan Green Community.
  • Position: Food Security Mapping Coordinator
  • e-mail: audra@cowichangreencommunity.org
    • Cyrano Wildwood

    Cyrano Wildwood

  • Biography: Cyrano is a born and bred west coast native. Being lucky enough to survive growing up on a small farm he set off to explore the world. While adventuring around the globe looking for the meaning of life, he had the good fortune to study with several masters of the ancient martial art of agriculture. With this knowledge and passion he is happy to be contributing to the sustainability of life and food growing capacity of the Cowichan Valley.
  • Position: Ceres Edible Landscaping
  • e-mail: cyrano@cowichangreencommunity.org
    • Emily Doyle-Yamaguchi

    Emily Doyle-Yamaguchi

  • Biography: Since Emily left Toronto and returned to the beautiful Cowichan Valley, she has learned how to catch chickens, harvest veggies, tie raspberry bushes and be part of a haying team. Her next venture is to learn how to transform spaces into amazing permaculture places as part of the Ceres Edible Landscaping team.
  • Position: Ceres Edible Landscaping
  • e-mail: emilydy@cowichangreencommunity.org
    • Heather Kaye

    Heather Kaye

  • Biography: A long-time locavore, Heather is keen to be putting her skills in agricultural communications back to work with CGC. When she’s not talking to farmers, she can be found hiking with her family, puttering in the garden and drawing up plans for a wood-fired pizza oven on her property.
  • Position: Food Security Coordinator
  • e-mail: heather@cowichangreencommunity.org
    • Jason Greenwood

    Jason Greenwood

  • Biography: Jason is a local farmer who co-owns Peace of Paradise Farm with his partner Christy Lindell. Over the last 17 years he has cultivated extensive experience in landscaping and growing food. He has apprenticed with a variety of organic and biodynamic farmers in nine different countries around the world, from the deserts of Ecuador, to the tropical rain forests of Costa Rica. To Jason, one of the most important things we can do in our lives is give back to the Earth by building soil.
  • Position: Ceres Edible Landscaping
  • e-mail: jason@cowichangreencommunity.org
    • Jason Young

    Jason Young

  • Biography: A recent immigrant to the Cowichan Valley, Jason has a M.Sc. in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Geographical Information Systems. When he’s not crunching data he enjoys outdoor activities (like climbing, biking, skiing, and fishing) and music (he plays bass guitar and violin).
  • Position: Food Security Mapping Coordinator
  • e-mail: jaysony@cowichangreencommunity.org
    • Jennifer Freshwater

    Jennifer Freshwater

  • Biography: With the mountains at her back door and the ocean at her front door, it's no wonder Jennifer has a strong passion for the environment and pursued a Diploma of Environmental Science Technology. She has lived on Vancouver Island her whole life and currently resides in the Cowichan Valley with her family. You will always find Jennifer in her yard either trying to corral her twin girls or trying to keep the wildlife from eating her garden.
  • Position: Food Security Mapping Coordinator
  • e-mail: jennifer@cowichangreencommunity.org
    • John Milne

    John Milne

  • Biography: John has been active in community and environmental groups for over 10 years. Before joining CGC, John was working on his MES on Sustainable Food Consumption at the University of Waterloo. When not at work you may find John on his bicycle, on stage, with a sword in his hand, or reading a good book.
  • Position: Food Security Mapping Coordinator Supervisor
  • e-mail: john@cowichangreencommunity.org
    • Judy Stafford

    Judy Stafford

  • Biography: Born in Vancouver, Judy took a long detour through life and other countries before she was enticed back to this gorgeous Valley. Blessed to be living on a float house and working in a fabulous organization that fuels her creative and environmental fire, she's reminded how much more inspiring life is when working in a place that is aligned with her passions.
  • Position: Executive Director, and overall fabulous person
  • e-mail: judy@cowichangreencommunity.org
    • Kelly Hays

    Kelly Hays

  • Biography: Born and raised in Prince George BC Kelly's is a drupal and fermented food enthusiast. His accomplishments include this fantastic new website, incredible kimchi, saurkraut and beer. Recently returned after a year in Asia, Kelly is excited to be back home and in the best part of Canada.
  • Position: Food Security Mapping Coordinator
  • e-mail: kelly@cowichangreencommunity.org
    • Sean Cage

    Sean Cage

  • Biography: Back home from school in Ontario, Sean is stoked to have landed a job with the Cowichan Green Community for his last summer in the Cowichan Valley. While home he plans to Hike, Swim, and spend as much time outside as he can before heading back into the concrete jungle of Toronto this fall.
  • Position: Summer Student
  • e-mail: sean@cowichangreencommunity.org
    • Shannon Wilson

    Shannon Wilson

  • Biography: Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Shannon has over 20 years experience as a gardener. Shannon first discovered that she had a green thumb as a little girl planting out tomatoes with her dad. Since then she has not gone one year without gardening at least some piece of her life. Her love for plants and passion for growing food is now taking root in CGC’s greenhouse, as Greenhouse Manager at Warmland House Community Garden.
  • Position: Greenhouse Manager
  • e-mail: shannon@cowichangreencommunity.org