ABOUT US
Meet the people behind Slow Food Lake Tahoe!
AMY FAGEL
Board Member | President | Salmon Club Coordinator | Grow-Your-Own Coordinator
Board Member Since 2018
Amy began her journey with the Slow Food Movement in college at San Francisco State University. There, she studied Holistic Health which included philosophies about health and healing with natural resources and food playing a major role. These studies led her to be more curious and conscious about food, its sources, and its power. She moved from San Francisco to Truckee in Fall of 2011. Once settled, she was inspired by the volunteer opportunities offered by SFLT to learn more about local food resources and the challenge of gardening in the Sierras. Her goals with SFLT include bringing people together to teach and inspire them about food and gardening – creating a self-reliant and sustainable community for all who live here. Amy is also a Certified Massage Therapist who loves to travel and come home to Donner Lake.
TRISH GEARY
Board Member | Vice President | Treasurer | Don't Drop the Top Coordinator
Board Member Since 2016
Trish moved to the Truckee-Tahoe community from her hometown outside of Chicago, IL in November 2010 in search of turning her dream of living in the mountains into a reality. Inspired by the simple, clean, natural beauty of the Sierras and Lake Tahoe, her awareness expanded and she began to look at food in a different light. Trish began to connect more closely with the local food systems via Community Supported Agriculture programs and Farmers Markets. She quickly became fascinated with how whole, unprocessed foods can help to heal the body. She decided to take her curiosity to the next level and earned her Holistic Nutrition Consultant certificate from Bauman College in 2016, as well as joining the Board with Slow Food. Through various types of jobs and roles as a Nutritionist, her scope of knowledge of what 'health & wellness' means is constantly evolving. Ultimately, her goal is to help 'bridge-the-gap' between traditional and holistic medicine in a way that is affordable and accessible. In her free time, Trish enjoys her giant backyard near Prosser Reservoir and loves to snowboard, bike, hike and practice yoga. Her most favorite thing to do, however, is to prepare food and share it with the people she loves.
JENNIFER BOEHM
Board Member | Secretary | Garden Co-Director | Volunteer Coordinator
Board Member Since 2020
Jennifer and her family moved to Truckee 20 years ago and began to learn about the trials and tribulations of gardening in the High Sierra. Her greenhouse home garden has become a labor of love and her tomato plants are cared for like children, getting tucked in cozy and warm on chilly nights. After retiring from Real Estate she has thoroughly enjoyed volunteering in the Food Bank garden and is excited about her growing role in the Slow Food Lake Tahoe program and serving this wonderful community. She rides her bike to the community garden from Glenshire in frost, smoke or shine to join the ever dedicated team of volunteers in getting their hands dirty! Jennifer also looks forward to sharing her passion for gardening with others, particularly with the youngest generation of her family, sharing the magic of gardening with her little granddaughter, Emersyn.
KATIE TOWNSEND-MERINO
Board Member | Development & Grants Manager
Board Member Since 2017
After retiring from a career as a Professor Psychology and college administrator, Katie spent most of her years since 2010 in Truckee. Coming from a long line of family gardeners, and even farm workers, working in the soil has provided her with much lifelong mindful relaxation as well as healthy food. Katie joined Slow Food Lake Tahoe as its’ Garden Director in March 2016 and a year later joined the Board. Spending 5 years helping to grow the gardens with the help of her husband, kids and grandkids and the Truckee community filled her soul. After a hiatus Katie has rejoined the board in a new role and is excited to use her skills grant writing to help her favorite organization in Truckee thrive. Katie loves the fact that SFLT embodies true community care—we contribute to the physical, mental and social health of Truckee.
PATTI TAGGART
Board Member | Garden Co-Director
Board Member Since 2019
Patti moved from Chicago to California in the early 80s. She is a life-long gardener, learning her love of the earth from her mother, who was a founding member of the Illinois Garden Club She is especially interested in promoting healthy eating habits among low income groups in order to affect social determinants of health. Social determinants of heath are resources that enhance quality of life that can have a significant influence on population health outcomes. Examples of these resources include safe and affordable housing, access to education, public safety, availability of healthy foods, local emergency/health services, and environments free of life-threatening toxins. She spearheaded the creation of a raised bed garden on property owned by Children’s Hospital Oakland, where she worked for 25 years. Patti and her family became second home owners in Truckee in the early 90’s, and in 2018, after retiring from her full time career as a physical therapist and hospital administrator, Patti became a full time resident of Truckee. She began volunteering in the garden in 2019 and felt an immediate kinship with the mission of Slow Food Lake Tahoe. Patti is the mom of two children and has three amazing grandkids. In addition to gardening, Patti is an avid skier and ski instructor for persons with disabilities. She enjoys sewing, reading, and creating wedding flowers for friends and family.
EM DEANE KELLEY
Board Member | Marketing Director
Board Member Since 2022
Bio coming soon...
KIRSTIN AUKER
Board Member
Board Member Since 2022
With over a decade of procuring or growing organic produce, Kirstin is passionate about contributing to regenerative agriculture by supporting sustainable business models in the food world. She is deeply passionate about regenerative food systems and helping others make a positive impact through their decisions relating to food and farming. Every decision counts, big or small! Kirstin couldn’t be more excited to serve the Truckee/Tahoe community through our local Slow Food Chapter.
JOEY EBERHARDT aka "FARMER JOE"
Gardens Manager | Grow-Your-Own Coordinator
Garden Manager Since 2022
Born and raised In Truckee, CA, Joey grew up fascinated by the natural ecosystems of the world. This lead him to pursue a degree in Agricultural and Environmental Plant Sciences. After graduating he traveled to Maui and worked on an organic farm for 5 months during the winter. He then spent the next 8 years working at the local Truckee Villager Nursery in the summer and traveling and farming during the winters. He joined the SFLT team in 2022 as the Garden Manager and claims it was “One of my favorite summers ever. Being able to be a part of a team that produced 670 lbs of organic food for our local community garden was special. I can’t wait to get my fingers in the dirt each day!”