Deb Lentz, Vice President
Deb Lentz is co-owner of Tantré Farm, a CSA farm in Chelsea, Michigan, which produces certified organic vegetables, fruits, herbs, mushrooms, and flowers. She and her husband, Richard, also own and operate the Washtenaw Food Hub in Ann Arbor, which includes two rentable commercial kitchens, a farm market, and an agricultural educational event space for those interested in a mutually supportive network of local, food-based businesses along with an ecological demonstration site and sustainable food system destination. She also has served on the Chelsea Farmers Market Advisory Committee for a number of years. As a farmer and former educator Deb has led many Farmer in the Classroom presentations for elementary students in the Ann Arbor Public Schools since 2008.
Deb has been a board member of The Agrarian Adventure since 2010 and is a founding member of The Agrarian Adventure’s “Farmer in the Classroom” subcommittee.
Chris Chiapelli
Chef Chris has been the Sous Chef at both The Black Pearl and The Grange Kitchen and Bar in Ann Arbor, among his other work leading the kitchen at The University of Michigan Ross School of Business. He teaches workshops and classes on local sustainable foods through the University of Michigan Sustainable Food Systems Initiative and Munger Graduate Housing. He enjoys volunteering his time and talent to the Ann Arbor community, whether it be serving as a board member at The Agrarian Adventure, cooking breakfast for. the homeless at St. Andrews Church, or preparing the Fall Harvest Dinner for Honey Creek Elementary’s Wellness Program every year.
After volunteering with the Agrarian Adventure as a visiting chef for a couple years, Chris joined the board in 2017.
Jeff Tenza
Jeff went to Logan Elementary, Clague Middle School, Huron High, and the University of Michigan before stumbling on the awesome local farms and food opportunities surrounding his hometown. Happily, young students won’t have to wait so long now! He has worked in diverse fields such as solar engineering, green business research, higher ed administration, real estate, software development, and FARMING. He works together with people in their quests for health, a home in a vibrant community, and a nourishing eco-system. He also enjoys learning skills to live in close connection to nature in Michigan, and enjoys curiously compassionate brainstorming.
New board members:
Eliot Jackson
A Popkey
Neha Shah, Advisor to the Board
Neha Shah is an urban gardener and ecological justice advocate. She teaches fourth grade at Burns Park Elementary in the Ann Arbor Public School District. She holds a Master of Arts in Social Foundations with a concentration in Eco-Justice Education from Eastern Michigan University. At her previous post at King Elementary School as a fifth grade teacher, she spearheaded the school wide composting program and the King Learning Garden.
Neha believes in educating and empowering students with knowledge about the local and sustainable food systems, community interconnection and collaboration, place-based education and eco-activism. Neha co-chairs the Farmer in the Classroom subcommittee and serves on our School Garden Network and Advocacy subcommittee.