S'ra DeSantis
50 Walnut St.
Burlington, VT 05401
802-324-3073,
diggersra@gmail.com
Educational and Teaching Experience
University of Vermont
 Instructor for self designed course, “Controversial Issues in Vermont Agriculture” for Environmental Studies
Program, January 2011
 Scheduled to teach again in January 2013
University of Vermont, MS
 Master of Science in Plant and Soil Science with a focus on agroecology, January 2010
 Graduated Summa Cum Laude, GPA 3.94
Teaching Assistant, University of Vermont
 Plant Propagation – Spring 2009
 Agroecology – Fall 2007
 International Environmental Studies – Spring 2001
University of Vermont, BA
 Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies, May 2002
 Graduated Summa Cum Laude, GPA 3.97
 Valedictorian of the College of Arts and Sciences
Agricultural Experience
Diggers' Mirth Collective Farm, Burlington, VT, April 2000 - present
 Co-owner and collective member of an organic vegetable farm in Burlington’s Intervale
 Manage crop rotation, crop diversity, cover crops and soil fertility; plan crop schedules; find and maintain
local markets and accounts; tractor cultivation; harvest crops; seed; greenhouse management; weeding;
and mentor and provide technical assistance for incubator farms in the Intervale
 Bookkeeper for the farm using QuickBooks
Old North End Farmers Market Manager, Burlington, VT, Spring 2007 – Fall 2011
 Manage the market by finding vendors, promoting the market through media outlets and other outreach,
maintaining the finances, overseeing the Farm to Family Program at the market (supplement to food
stamps)
 Helped start the EBT (food stamps) program at the Farmers Market, part of a pilot project to provide low
income Vermonters with access to fresh produce
 Wrote and implemented grants to develop a market website, promotional materials in seven languages, and
financial tracking documents
Arcana Farm, Jericho, VT, April 1998 - November 1999
 Vegetable field manager
 Established crop plan, managed work crews, and performed regular farm chores
Non-Profit and Other Work Experience
Northeast Organic Farming Association – Vermont, Burlington, VT
 Financial assistant - Bookkeeping in Quickbooks and Excel 2013 – present
 Bulk Order Coordinator – organized bulk order of amendments, cover crop seeds and other items for farmers
and gardeners, 2010 – present
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Developed and wrote content for the Vermont Farmers Market Association website (www.vtfma.org),
January – May 2010
Updated the NOFA-VT CSA (community supported agriculture) website listings, January – May 2010
Bookkeeper for Diggers’ Mirth Collective Farm – 2010 - present
 Bookkeeping in Quickbooks – accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, etc.
Research Assistant, UVM, Burlington, VT, December 2009 – may 2010
 Interviewed farmers about their strategies to increase water quality benefits in order to assess innovative
practices for conserving ecosystem services and protecting water quality on farms
Research and Teaching Graduate Fellowship, UVM, Burlington, VT, Fall 2007 – Spring 2009
 Interviewed diversified farmers throughout the Lamoille River Watershed about their conservation practices
and co-authored a scientific paper with the findings
 Teaching assistant for undergraduate classes including Agroecology, Entomology, and Plant Propagation
Researcher, Editor and Writer for Intervale Center, Burlington, VT, March 2006 – May 2007
 Co-wrote and edited the Intervale Farmer Manual, a resource for Intervale farmers, which describes all the
policies and procedures of the Farms Program at the Intervale Center
 Wrote the Intervale Operational Manual, a resource for organizations who want to replicate the Intervale
Center in other parts of the country, researched the history of the Intervale and the Farms Program,
interviewed farmers for data collection
 Researched and wrote for Intervale Consulting, which provided customized technical assistance and
resources to individuals and organizations that want to develop sustainable farm and food systems
Grassroots Organizer for Rural Vermont, Montpelier, VT, November 2005 – April 2006
 Grassroots organizer to help pass the Farmer Protection Act in VT State Legislature
 Contacted people throughout state to lobby legislators, organized week-long activist presence at the
Statehouse, spoke with legislators
Guest Lecturer, December 1999 – present
 Lectured on free trade agreements (WTO, NAFTA, and FTAA), genetic engineering, sustainable agriculture,
impacts of the global economy on agriculture in Mexico and Central America, Palestinian agriculture,
farm conservation practices in wooded areas
 Lectured at the following institutions: University of Vermont, Dartmouth College, Johnson State College,
Burlington College, Vermont Law School, School for International Training, Community College of
Vermont, St. Lawrence University, and several universities in Nicaragua and El Salvador
Facilitator, January 2000 – present
 Facilitated meetings for various non-profits, including Rural Vermont and Intervale farmer meetings
 Facilitated groups of 3 to more than 100 individuals using small group and large group facilitation
techniques
Intervale Center Board of Directors, Burlington, VT, June 2002 - January 2004
 Served as Farmer Representative for the Intervale farmers
 Raised farmer concerns to the Board, made financial decisions about the Intervale Center, and acted as a
liaison between the Board and the farmers
Grassroots Organizer and Researcher for Biotechnology Project, Plainfield, VT, October 2002 December 2003
 Coordinated the successful Town-to-Town Campaign to stop the proliferation of genetically engineered
crops for Chittenden, Franklin, and Orleans counties
 Met with Vermont legislators about the dangers of genetically engineered crops
 Wrote articles, gave lectures, and facilitated statewide coordination meetings
Volunteer Researcher and Lecturer for Action for the Community & Ecology in Central
America, Burlington, VT, January 1998 – April 2002
 Played a crucial role in organizing a VT campaign to stop the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA),
including organizing a speaking tour, acting as a media spokesperson, publishing articles, and researching
the potential environmental and social impacts of the FTAA locally and hemispherically
Publications
1. Lovell S.T., Méndez E., Erickson D., Nathan C., and DeSantis S. (2010) Extent, pattern, and multifunctionality of
agroforestry systems in Vermont, USA. Agroforestry Systems 80(2): 153-171.
2. Lovell S., DeSantis S., Nathan C., Olson M., Mendez E., Kominami H., Erickson D., Morris K., Boykins W.
(2010). Integrating agroecology and landscape multifunctionality in Vermont: An evolving framework to
Evaluate the Design of Agroecosystems. Agricultural Systems. 103(5): 327-341.
3. DeSantis, S. (2003). Control Through Contamination: US Forcing GMO Corn and Free Trade on Mexico and
Central America. Plainfield, VT: Institute for Social Ecology's Biotechnology Project.
4. DeSantis, S. (2002). Genetically Modified Organisms Threaten Corn. Z Magazine. 15, 75-79.
Academic Awards
Hannah Howard Prize, May 2002
For outstanding academic achievement and highest GPA in College of Arts and Sciences at the University of
Vermont
Outstanding Graduating Senior Award in Environmental Studies, May 2002
For demonstrating academic excellence, environmental leadership, and campus and community activism and
service
Faculty Award for Outstanding Senior Thesis Research and Presentation in Environmental
Studies, May 2002
For researching and writing a 200-page thesis, "A Case Study: Corn Contaminated with GMOs in Oaxaca,
Mexico" on how NAFTA and the import of corn from the United States caused the contamination of indigenous
corn with DNA from genetically modified organisms in Oaxaca, Mexico
International Travel and Experience
West Bank, Palestine January – March 2004, December 2004 – May 2005
 Worked with Palestinians, Israelis and international peace activists to end the occupation of Palestine
 Wrote regular reports and worked on the media team of the International Solidarity Movement
Nicaragua and El Salvador, January – February 2003
 Met with more than 400 Central American farmers to discuss the threats of genetically engineered crops
 Spoke at universities, agricultural institutions, and press conferences
 Researched the effects of Plan Puebla Panama and free trade agreements in the region
Oaxaca, Mexico, January 2001 and January 2002
 Researched the relationship between NAFTA and the contamination of indigenous corn with DNA from
genetically engineered corn
 Wrote my thesis for the University of Vermont based on this research