Meet Our Team

Although my mother wasn’t an active gardener, I think that sometimes interests skip generations. I remember my grandmother saving seeds of her treasured cleome (we called them ‘spider flowers’) whose pods we would lovingly ‘pop,’ and if we opened them at just the right time, you could stick them on your nose and create wonderful garden ‘creatures.’ She was a marvelous cook & baker and she shared stories of bringing special flours and seeds from Russia to use in her culinary dishes and share with others.

Working in the garden with her, I became enamored with how she carefully created specific areas to walk so as not to impact the soil. From that moment, a special seed was planted in me to learn as much as I could about tending the soil, realizing the amazing treasures of food, herbs, and flowers it yielded. I was just grateful to take part in the stewardship process.

Being involved with DUG for over 20 years, I have quietly listened as people from diverse countries shared their stories of bringing their own treasured seeds to plant, nourish both body and soul, and to help us understand that in our differences, there is a strong opportunity to learn, grow, and appreciate our diverse talents.

I’ve had the privilege of working with amazing staff, educating children and adults, leading the Master Composter program, and watching the seasons’ ebb and flow. As time goes by, I am inspired by the wisdom of the Earth, gathering all together to pause in wonder at the unfolding of each sunrise and its new possibilities for quiet reflection and growth. DUG is a web of interconnected voices, more than individual gardens: each voice giving strength to our vision of community, of strength in diversity, of sharing the stories of our home.

Penny is an 8th-generation Coloradan, but she didn’t appreciate the state till she moved to the mountains to care for their grandma. During this time, Penny started hiking, using reusables, eating a vegetarian diet, and overall: connecting to nature. Eventually, she had an epiphany that sustainability is her calling and got a degree in it at Arizona State University. As a student, Penny was an Undergraduate Research Fellow studying gender equity in agriculture and she continued her research by working on a chili farm in Denmark after graduation. One day, Penny has a dream of wearing yellow overalls and living off the land. For now, Penny is passionate about making sustainable behaviors fun, easy, and engaging. In their free time, Penny LOVES frolicking through the woods, singing karaoke, and dancing like no one's watching.

Fun Fact: Penny has a climate change power pantsuit and used to dress up as Miss Frizzle to teach elementary students about compost, lifecycles, where plastic bags come from, and whatever else made them curious.

Max has lived and gardened here in Colorado his whole life. After earning a master's degree in Sustainable Food Systems last year, he's been looking for ways to make a positive impact in his home state. Max's food journey began in restaurants and has led him to work in vineyards, wineries, organic farms, landscaping/edible gardening, food retail, and food policy. These days, he's passionate about food, wine, gardening, cooking and baking, canning and preservation, fermentation, and just about anything else garden or food-related. In his free time, Max is an amateur birder and loves exploring the amazing world of Denver’s parks and diverse ecosystems. He is thrilled to be part of the DUG team, helping to grow Denver’s beautiful garden spaces and bring together our communities.

Krist’s earliest gardening memory is of pulling carrots from a small dirt plot with her Finnish-Canadian grandmother in Vancouver where she grew up. Her academic journey sprouted in Agroecology at the University of British Columbia and planted her clear across the country in Florida where she studied biochar and carbon sequestration in soils. Kristi’s passion for nurturing sustainable food systems blossomed during her involvement with the Damayan Garden Project and Florida Farm to School Team in Tallahassee. Settling midway in Denver, Kristi became an alumni of DUG’s compost training program in 2019 and is a converted advocate of home vermicomposting. Her composting knowledge and expertise has been put into action as a Garden Leader at Greenway Community Garden. In her free time you’ll find Kristi hiking in aspen groves with her wife JJ and pup Kona, biking through Central Park, practicing yoga at Root to Rise, or dancing with random abandon at a Red Rocks concert.

Fun Fact: Every Fall, Marisa coaches field hockey at East High School! Go Angels!

Osiris is originally from Jacksonville, Florida and has lived all over the country (and even a few places oversees). And while Osiris moved for work, they stayed for the snowy mountains of Colorado. Osiris enjoys bridging their passions for language, community, and stories at DUG and is new to gardening! Osiris is all about holistic wellness and is an avid yogi (you can find Osiris teaching yin at the local climbing gym), passionate powerlifter, and novice climber. When Osiris is not working, they're sipping iced matcha, reading a cheesy romance book, or cuddling with their dog, Betty!

Fun Fact: Osiris speaks Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese!

Shay is from Taos, NM and grew up gardening with his mom in the Ranchos Valley. Shay grew up an avid outdoorsman in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Northern New Mexico. Shay attended the University of Pennsylvania where he studied political science. In college, Shay started his food systems work through a non-profit leading war recovery projects in rural Sierra Leone. Shay helped the organization win funding from the US Department of State to support cooperative farming and food pantries. Shay remains an untamable backcountry fanatic but also enjoys quiet days in with his partner Marley and their two dogs, Franklin and Otis.

Fun fact: He has a dachshund and pug (and they are bffs)

Brit has over 10 years experience in food systems work and began volunteering with DUG in 2014. She is deeply passionate about localizing our food system and deepening knowledge around growing food. Brit holds a Master's Degree in International Development from the Josef Korbel School for International Studies at the University of Denver. Brit enjoys yoga, hiking, reading and gardening with her two daughters, Willa and Indigo, and pup, Max.

Fun fact: Brit has over 50 first cousins!

Izra is incredibly passionate about creating spaces centering equity. They earned a BA in English with a minor in Psychology from Regis University. In the past they’ve worked to provide essential services to folks experiencing homelessness in Denver, increase food security, and publish historically disenfranchised authors. They are thrilled to join the DUG team to further improve the quality of life for Coloradans.

Izra has lived in Denver for the past decade by way of New England. In their free time, they can be found passing time with their cat, swimming, crafting, or reading.

Fun Fact: Izra is a board game and TTRPG collector.

Caroline (she/they) comes to Denver via the Northeast. She is a nonprofit administrator with prior experience in civil rights law and the arts. Caroline has been privileged to learn from food justice, community, and mutual aid organizers in Denver and beyond, and brings a systems-level framework to the daily details of event management.

Fun Fact: My favorite holiday is Halloween!

Lara Wirtz Fahnestock has a passion for building community, teaching children where their food comes from and finding places of beauty and healing wherever she can. Lara joined Denver Urban Gardens as a Garden Leader in 2010 and DUG staff in 2015. As the Director of Garden Operations, she coordinates land use with DUG partners, oversees all new garden builds and oversees DUG's Therapeutic Garden Initiative. She has a BA in Biology from the Colorado College, a certificate of Authentic Leadership from Naropa University and is a Licensed Massage Therapist specializing in trauma healing. Lara is currently studying Horticultural Therapy.

Fun fact: Lara is a second degree black belt in taekwondo

Eve was born and raised in Colorado Springs. She attended the University of Colorado Denver and earned a Geography degree with an emphasis in environment, society and sustainability. After her studies she moved to France for over a year and attended the American University of Paris where she studied French. During my year in France, she visited eleven countries! In her free time Eve enjoys gardening, watching movies, and exploring my neighborhood. She is so excited to be a part of the DUG team!