
Meet the Staff
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Amanda Martinez
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Amanda (she/her) grew up in the hills near San Jose, CA, where she and her family raised farm animals as pets (pigs, chickens, ducks, goats, and more!). She attended Stanford University, where she studied Sustainable Food Systems and Agriculture. Her experiences working on educational farms, directing summer camps and managing nonprofit organizations have shaped her dream to start an educational community farm near Gresham, OR. Amanda graduated from an MBA program at Yale School of Management in 2022 and she is thrilled to be back in Oregon, working with a wonderful group of people at Thimbleberry Collaborative Farm! In her free time, Amanda loves to cook and eat delicious food, hang out at Mt. Tabor, and spend time with family, friends, her partner Harrison, and her two mischievous cats.
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Drew Renault
FARM OPERATIONS MANAGER
Drew (he/him) took a circuitous route to becoming an organic vegetable farmer. Born and raised in Northern CA, he spent his youth skateboarding, doing street art, and generally being irksome to the authorities.
After high school Drew moved to San Francisco, CA, to pursue his hobbies and acquire a degree in Graphic Design from SFSU in his free time. Throughout school he worked in health food stores and the restaurant industry where he acquired a love of fresh, local food, and became inspired by the farmers he met who supplied these industries.
At the age of 30 Drew moved to Cottage Grove, Oregon, where he owned and operated High Wire Farm, a 1.5 acre vegetable/fruit farm situated on family land, from 2010-2018. Drew is passionate about teaching the skills of farming to youth, local food resiliency in the face of climate change, and building lasting relationships within his community through food and laughter. He lives in SE Portland with his son August.
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Bella Mounsey
EDUCATION PROGRAMS MANAGER
Bella (she/her) grew up in SE Portland, where she spent her childhood helping her parents in the garden, surrounded by chickens and her beloved pet duck. She attended the Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon, where she studied Philosophy and Global Health.
After working and volunteering with organizations such as Multnomah County Search and Rescue, Lines for Life, and the Oregon Public Health Corps, Bella realized she wanted to focus on building her community’s resilience, rather than waiting for moments of crisis to have the ability to help.
Throughout her time as Thimbleberry’s education intern she found this opportunity in spades! This time provided her with valuable insight on how to create welcoming and educational space on the farm for all who come to visit. Bella looks forward to many more opportunities to bring the community together around growing and eating fresh food, and our shared goal of creatively looking for solutions to support our food systems.
Inspired by a wide range of early childhood educational opportunities, Bella is a strong advocate for student-led and experiential learning. She looks forward to helping students develop a deeper connection and care for the world around them—by encouraging them to get their hands dirty!
In her free time, Bella enjoys snuggling with her two cats, enjoying the beautiful forests and rivers of Oregon, and spending quality time with friends and family.
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McKenzie McCann
DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
McKenzie (she/her) has spent a lifetime learning the many ways to be a food system advocate. Immersed in the forests of her hometown in Portland, the dairy herds of Vermont, and the seed farms of Virginia, her 12 year career in environmental education morphed into a second vocation in nonprofit development. Her B.A in Environmental Humanities is from Sterling College and her M.A E.d in Environmental Education is from Prescott College.
Now at TCF, you’ll find her collaborating with supporters, securing resources, and connecting with people who want to be part of building a better food system.
Outside of work, McKenzie can be found reading tarot cards, tending her houseplants, and volunteering in the community.
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Trevor Kaul
ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Trevor (He/Him) thrives on helping good people do even better work while having more fun. His leadership practice is rooted in a belief that the work we do today is an opportunity to learn, grow, and make an even bigger impact tomorrow.
Trevor began his career as a canvasser, organizer, and advocate working for groups like the Sierra Club, Public Interest Network, and Human Rights Campaign. He has since served as an executive director for both the Oregon and Washington Chapters of the Sierra Club and had the honor of working with several youth development focused organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, Coaching Corps, and The Imagine Bus Project.
A student of humanity with an adventurous side, Trevor is a hiker, music lover, and world traveler with a B.A. from Westminster College in Sociology, Anthropology, and World Religions. He lives in Portland with his amazing wife Nicole and their highly entertaining dog Nola.