Dave Hambleton - Farmer and Director

Sisters Hill Farm wouldn't be the special place it is today without Farmer Dave. He has, with the aid of many great apprentices and volunteers, created a beautiful farm that everyone can be proud to be a part of. David was hired in 1999 by the Sisters of Charity to develop a CSA from scratch; he brought an extensive ecological and educational background to Sisters Hill Farm. This includes a degree in environmental studies from Binghamton University as well as talents as a carpenter and cabinet maker. Dave loves developing scale appropriate tools and systems and mentoring the next generation of sustainable farmers!

Alec was born and raised in Houston, Texas and moved to Brooklyn in 2018. Before joining Sisters Hill Farm he was working in foodservice, non-profit urban agriculture, and community organizing. He is passionate about nutritious, regenerative, and culturally important foods as a human right and can’t wait to learn what it takes to start his own farm. Alec loves playing violin, monkey bars, and skateboarding. 

 Jacob was born and raised in southwest Michigan. Jacob started farming at an urban farm in SW Michigan, then at the University of Michigan's Campus Farm. There, he studied Environment and Ecology. Jacob's interest in food, farming, and land stewardship stems from his parent's garden, where he planted his first heirloom tomato and shucked his first ear of corn. Jacob loves finding creepy crawlies, humming made-up tunes, and eating veggies. 

Nate is a local from Poughkeepsie, NY with  background in forestry and land management.  His interest in growing food started with home gardens and gong to local farm markets, and now Nate is excited to learn and work here for his first season on a farm! Off the farm, you can find him in the woods on long hikes, going for bike rides in the area, or with a good book and coffee on the porch.

Ari is coming to Sister’s Hill Farm from New Jersey, where he was born and raised. Ari adores sticking his hands in the mud, being in the company of plants and animals (especially goats), and jamming with friends. He has worked as an English teacher in Spain, a farm educator at a summer camp in the Hudson Valley, and as the first employee at an educational hydroponics startup. He can’t wait to meet everyone in the Sister’s Hill community! 

Raised in southern Connecticut, Cole has been growing vegetables and herbs on market gardens for the past five seasons; he is excited to further his knowledge of agriculture at Sisters Hill Farm in this his second season. After engaging with local food and food systems in college, Cole entered a farming apprenticeship in North Carolina and has been pursuing gardening, foraging, and farming opportunities since. Apart from plant cultivation, Cole enjoys playing music, juggling, and all games of skill or chance.

Greta, originally from Oakland, is coming to Sisters Hill Farm from Brooklyn, where she was working for the NYC Compost Project. She is excited to connect her background in compost, evolutionary biology, and architecture/design to farming this growing season! Greta also loves to cook and ferment all sorts of things, including pickles, vinegars, sourdough, and miso. 

 Kiva is a farmhand and writer from Milwaukee, WI. Her background is in community organizing and immigration law. She started organic vegetable farming in the summer of 2020 in Wisconsin, and then in Colorado. Beyond farming, Kiva is a classically-trained ballet dancer, adventure motorcyclist, and Argentine tango and foreign language enthusiast. She’s excited to continue to grow nutrient-dense food for the members of Sisters Hill Farm this season. 

 Jules grew up just a few minutes from the farm. After a year of service in americorps, they returned home looking for opportunities to get involved locally. They have a passion for community, a belief in small scale agriculture, and a love of fresh veggies! 

 Clara is a native New Yorker with a background in social work and theater. She likes plants, books, being outside, swing dancing, and rock climbing. She recently read and loved Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake. This will be her first season on a farm! 

 Eric is from Pittsburgh originally and arriving from Oakland via Brooklyn. He is very passionate about working with plants and other creatures, and loves to share that with others. He comes from a background working in the urban-farming non-profit world and is thrilled to be working in a setting and scale that will bring more food to to more people. He loves music that makes you move, bringing joy into work, and might not stop talking about soil health if you get him started so be careful. 

​Ella is a New York City native who came to agriculture as she learned more about the industrial farming systems that provided most of the food around her. After majoring in Environmental Studies, Ella went on to teach elementary school science, and hopes to combine her loves of agriculture and education to address issues of social inequity. When she is not farming, Ella is often dreaming of goats or working on a crocheting project. After a year of apprenticing in the 2019 season Ella was happy to stay on as Assistant Manger for the 2020 season and on!

 Sean is from Ledyard, CT. He has worked on two farms in Massachusetts growing veggies before joining us as an apprentice for 2022. He likes peanut butter, American History, and a good joke.  

 Caroline is enamored with vegetables of all kinds. She has been interested in food since she can remember and has recently begun to pursue a career in agriculture. She hopes to be a part of a global transition toward small scale local food being prioritized - our bodies, the land, and our communities depend on it. Caroline enjoys making a good meal to share, a hot cup of coffee in the morning, and traveling. 

 Jason is coming to Sisters Hill from the Adamah Jewish Farming Fellowship where he learned how much he valued farming that is connected to a community, is productive  and varied enough to feed many people, while regenerating the health of the land. Coming from a science teaching background in Boston, he is hoping in the future to combine his passions of farm and educational work. He is excited to be at Sisters Hill Farm learning more about how to run an efficient and successful CSA that gives community members lots of fresh seasonal vegetables!

Sister Mary Ann is a Sister of Charity of New York, and a former biology and environmental science teacher.  Her qualifications include a MS degree in Biology from Fordham University, and post-graduate study.  Inspired by the vision of Thomas Berry and the New Cosmology, she brings to the farm a strong belief in the interrelatedness of the earth community and the sacredness of the Universe.  As the former Farm Director, Sister Mary Ann has been instrumental in shaping the direction and purpose of the the farm.