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Founding Directors of Seeds of Self Reliance

John Hayden

John tomatoes

John is an organic farmer and market gardener who owns and operates ‘The Farm Between’ in Jeffersonville, Vermont. John has a Master's Degree in Agricultural Pest Management and over 25 years professional experience in sustainable agriculture and integrated pest management as an educator, researcher, extension agent, consultant, and practicing organic farmer. John is also a lecturer in the Ecological Agriculture Program at the University of Vermont.

John’s interest in development work began with a Peace Corps assignment in Mali, West Africa where he worked with agricultural extension agents to incorporate pest management techniques for market gardeners. He has consulted in Guinea, India, Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. John also serves on the Board of Directors of  NOFA-VT (Northeast Organic Farmers Association, nofavt.org)  and DIG (Development in Gardening, developmentingardening.org)

Nancy Horses

Nancy Hayden

Nancy served in the Peace Corps in Kenya working on fisheries projects. She has an M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and has been conducting research and teaching in water related areas at the University of Vermont for over 16 years. She is also an avid gardener who works with John on the farm and with various specialty crops (e.g. herbs, flowers and hard-shell gourds). Nancy supplies value added products for their various markets. She is also an artist (Northwind Studio and Gallery) and writer. David Collards  

David Marchant

David is a full-time organic farmer with his wife Jane Sorensen at River Berry Farm in Fairfax, VT. He has an M.S. degree in Plant Pathology and years of experience as a researcher and educator. Along with his hands-on experience and common sense, he brings expertise in business, marketing and production to our organization.