 Jay's interest in gardening began during his childhood days while eating his way
through the family berry patch and vegetable garden. While completing a master's
degree in education and human development at the University of Maryland he began
an organic market garden influenced by visits to the Rodale Organic Research
Center and Walnut Acres organic farms in nearby PennsylvaniaAfter moving to Vermont in 1975 Jay continued to expand the market garden
business and combine it with his work for private and public educational
programs in Vermont. He collaborated with foundations and schools to develop
programs for school gardens, agriculture centered curriculum, and staff training
to more effectively use local food products in Head Start nutrition programs. He
is currently working with a group of Middlebury College students to develop an
organic garden that will provide food for the campus dinning service, be
available for organic crop research and serve as a site for community functions.
In the mid 80's Jay ran trial gardens and managed sales to commercial growers
for a mail order vegetable and flower seed company. He has run seed trials in
Vermont for Renee Shepherd since 1989 and currently manages East Coast sales and
customer service for Renee's Garden.
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