WHO WE ARE
ANNA TURKLE
is an educator, herbalist, and mother of two. She’s happiest making medicinal concoctions and marveling in natural wonders with little ones. Growing up in New England, she gained a strong ecological knowledge of this area through her work at Pumpkin Brook Organic Gardening, the Native Plant Trust, and Milk and Honey Herbs. She has ample teaching and curriculum design experience, including as a teacher at Fayette Street Academy and Community Garden Connections. While being an educator (and experienced nanny since age 12), nothing has been quite as extensive as the learning that comes along with being a parent. She has an Herbal Medicine Certificate, BA in Psychology/Sociology from UVM, and MA in Environmental Education from Antioch University.
GABRIELLA DELLA CROCE
is an educator, artist, community organizer and mother of two. She is happiest elbow deep in clay or garden beds. She is fluent in Spanish and studying local birdsong. Gabriella first began leading outdoor education programs fifteen years ago on Hook Mountain in her hometown of Nyack, NY with New Settlement. Since then, she has worked in a variety of organizations including The Farm Education Collaborative, School Sprouts, Equal Exchange, Gardening The Community and the Pioneer Valley Workers Center, which she co-directed for seven years. In addition to starting up Sapling School, she sells her ceramics through the Artisans Cooperative, freelances as a cooperative business developer and interpreter. Gabriella has a BA in Environmental Science & Policy from Smith College, and an MA in Labor Studies from UMass Amherst. Sapling School takes place at Gabriella's familiy's home on the Valley Community Land Trust.