Jason Plotkin, Executive Director | Jason@ekarfarm.org

Jason Plotkin’s agricultural journey began at the age of 12 on historic Rosedale Farms in the small town of Simsbury, Connecticut. Working summers harvesting corn, beans, and peas, Jason gained hands-on experience with a range of farming practices—from viticulture and underground irrigation to aquaponics and aeroponics. These formative years planted the seed for a lifelong passion for sustainable agriculture and community-centered food systems.

In 2010, Jason earned a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology from the University of Vermont, where he deepened his understanding of ecology and environmental stewardship. He went on to expand his skills in animal husbandry at Flying Pigs Farm in Sushan, New York, and later served as Assistant Manager at Sol Flower Farm in Ancramdale, New York.

In 2011, Jason founded Golden Acre Farm in Golden, Colorado, with a mission to grow food using holistic and sustainable methods while ensuring access for all—regardless of economic status. Committed to fostering gratitude, community, and hard work, he opened the farm to neighbors, volunteers, and aspiring growers.

Jason joined Ekar Farm in 2012 as Director of Operations, playing a key role in establishing its foundation as a nonprofit focused on food justice, hunger relief, and regenerative agriculture. In 2023, he returned to Ekar as Executive Director, bringing with him a deep commitment to local food systems, environmental resilience, and food based community values. Under his leadership, Ekar is growing into its next chapter—expanding its impact and deepening its roots across the Denver metro area.

Sarah Kaplan Gould, Farm Manager | sarah@ekarfarm.org

Sarah was born and raised in Denver, on unceded Arapaho, Ute, and Cheyenne lands. Their first introduction to farming was in 2017, when they participated in the Adamah Farm Fellowship at Isabella Freedman, where they found working with the land, growing food, and being in vibrant Jewish community incredibly meaningful. After several years of teaching in New York City, they eventually returned to Adamah to support the farm at the beginning of the covid pandemic and deepened their skills and knowledge in sustainable agriculture practices and food justice work. Since moving back to Denver in 2021, Sarah worked for two years on Ekar’s farm crew, and is so excited to join the team now as a Co-Farm Manager.

In addition to their farming experience, Sarah has spent much of their professional life in education, both in and outside the classroom, as an English and Social Studies educator and tutor. They love having volunteers of all ages on the farm, and are excited to share their passion for food justice and Jewish agricultural knowledge, and to co-create vibrant, welcoming community spaces. Sarah deeply values working in community to build understanding and power to shift systems of oppression and move towards a world in which everyone has what they need to thrive. 

Outside of their time on the farm, Sarah is a writer, musician, community organizer, and shaliach tzibur, a Jewish community prayer leader. 

Alyssa Campo Bowman, Community Outreach and Programs Manager | alyssa@ekarfarm.org

Alyssa grew up in North Carolina, where her passion for food and gardening began while helping her family cook meals and tend their garden. Early experiences, like discovering the sweetness of homegrown broccoli, sparked her lifelong appreciation for the connection between fresh food, flavor, and the empowerment of growing your own.

After earning degrees in Philosophy and International Studies with a focus on human rights, Alyssa quickly recognized how equitable, community-driven food systems can address critical needs. With over a decade of experience (and counting), she’s built a career spanning gardening, farming, and education—starting as a chef and educator, then managing hydroponic and aquaponic greenhouses and a 2+ acre farm for a Forbes 5-star restaurant.

Her recent work as an Environmental Manager and consultant focused on making food justice and climate resilience accessible to all, leading sustainability initiatives in soil health, pollinator habitats, beekeeping, and community garden programs.

As Ekar Farm’s Community Outreach and Education Manager, Alyssa blends her passion for food, education, and sustainability to create welcoming spaces where communities can connect with the land, grow and prepare their own food, and build resilient futures together.

In her spare time, Alyssa teaches, crafts herbal products, and explores Colorado’s ecosystems through hiking, camping, and fishing.

Emily Fenwick | Director

Emily is a strategist, educator, and longtime advocate for sustainable food systems and community driven work. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Economics, an M.S. in Geoscience Education, and a Master of Public Administration focused on environmental policy. Her graduate work examined environmental education and the role of public institutions in building more resilient communities. Her career has centered on leading cross functional teams and complex initiatives across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in roles with the School for Field Studies, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the University of Colorado, and most recently in the govtech sector supporting parks and recreation departments nationwide.

She believes deeply in the connection between soil health, human health, and economic resilience, and is excited to support Ekar’s continued growth as a space for cultivation, learning, and community. Outside of work, Emily can be found coaching at her husband’s CrossFit gym, experimenting in the garden, or running Colorado trails with a burro or her dog.

Ilan Salzberg | Treasurer

Ilan Salzberg was part of Ekar’s founding team in the 2010 growing season. The twins who were newborns at the time of Ekar’s founding are now B’nai Mitzvahs with a younger brother reaching that milestone in the fall of 2024. They are all farmers and gardeners now in their own right. Ilan has watched as Ekar has grown from a seed of an idea to an established part of the fabric of the Jewish Community with generations of engagement and a professional staff. With his children well into their paths and Ilan well into his path in commercial and residential real estate development and historic renovation in Denver and the Kansas City region, Ilan is jumping back in to get his hands dirty in Ekar’s continued growth with service on the Ekar Board.

Marian (Gottlieb) Pulford | Director (she/her)

Marian Pulford is the Co-Founder and CEO of ArchiCheck AI, a company leveraging AI to streamline architecture workflows. With a strong background in marketing and nonprofit development, Marian brings valuable experience to the Ekar Farm board. She is dedicated to creating social impact and sustainability, while also balancing her roles as a mother, artist, and gardener. Marian lives in Denver with her husband Austin and their 3-year-old son Frankie

Sarah Cohen | Director

Sarah Cohen, MD is an integrative medicine physician, and the founder and clinical director of Resource Medical Center, LLC. She is dedicated to accessible, quality health care grounded in the principle, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Sarah is passionate about the intersection of health, ecological stewardship, and Jewish wisdom traditions.

Sarah cultivates a lifelong awe of botanical medicine and considers herself both a student and a teacher of the cultivation, pharmacology, and clinical application of medicinal plants and fungi.

Anyssa Juarez | Director

Anyssa Juarez works as a Project/Planning Manager with the Denver Housing Authority engaging in and promoting sustainable, community-driven development. Her passion lies at the intersection of soil, environmental, and human health, and she’s inspired by the growing movement of people reconnecting with where their food comes from. Anyssa brings a decade of experience in nonprofit organizations and holds a B.S. in Business Management and an M.S. in Food Security and Development. 

Anyssa has been fortunate to work with and learn from smallholder farmers, educators, and private sector professionals around the world on sustainable farming and microenterprise initiatives. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, snowboarding, baking sourdough bread, and spending time with her partner, Lanka, their two dogs and cat. Her dream is to build a homestead, and she's excited to continue sharing the joy of farming wherever she goes.

Brad Cohen | Director

As a force in Jewish outdoor education, Brad weaves together wilderness experiences with earth-based Judaism to create transformative moments that deepen Jewish identity and connection. As Executive Camp Director at Eden Village West, a Jewish Organic Farm Camp, he leads a community where sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship, and Jewish values converge to create powerful experiential learning. 

Beyond the summer season, Brad embodies the values he teaches, whether scaling mountain trails or engaging in board game sessions with his family. His leadership style reflects a rare combination of educational expertise, outdoor wisdom, and an authentic commitment to nurturing Jewish journeys that resonate long after the camp season ends.  

Jen Posner | Director

Jen Posner is a speech language pathologist specializing in assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). She holds an M.S. from Columbia University and a B.A. from The College of William and Mary. During her day job, Jen provides feeding therapy to children with difficulty eating and sees first hand the impact that fresh foods can have on the health of a child and their family. 

Jen brings a passion for accessibility, cultivating community and enjoying the silly parts of life to the board. You can often find her digging in the dirt in her community garden plot, pointing out brilliant flowers on hikes and hosting backyard gatherings with her husband, Andrew.