Meet our Board of Directors

Chair

Jonathan Hayden has been farming for nearly 15 years. He and his partner Abby settled in Claremont and started Winter Street Farm in 2020. Winter Street Farm is a small diversified Organic CSA farm intensively managing under 2 acres to feed upwards of 150 members alongside a retail farmstand, compost operation and laying flock. The farm focuses on sustainability and resilience with no-till regenerative farming methods and works closely with the community.

Co-Chair

Shawn Walch is a farmer, community advocate, and lifelong Claremont, New Hampshire resident with a background in healthcare. His work reflects a deep commitment to service, local food, and building strong community connections. He is passionate about supporting small producers and helping strengthen the region’s local food system. Shawn brings a grounded, people-centered perspective to everything he does.

Secretary

Berkley is a textile artist and natural dyer who has worked on organic vegetable and flower farms in northern New England for over ten years. Since moving to Claremont in 2020, she has been active in the formation of the Claremont Growers Collective and more recently has been developing her homestead property to produce food, dyes, and (eventually) fiber. She teaches natural dyeing and textile art classes locally and regionally, and grows or forages all of the color that she uses in her artwork.

Treasurer

Lionel manages the Sullivan County Conservation District and is the Natural Resources Director for Sullivan County, NH. Lionel has worked as a forester for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and as the Administrator of the NH Natural Heritage Bureau at the NH Department of Resources and Economic Development.  He graduated from UNH with an A.A.S in Forest Technology from the Thompson School, and a B.S.F in Forest Science from the Department of Natural Resources.  He has also operated a family farm with his wife Aileen, where they grew and sold blueberries, vegetables, poultry and maple syrup.

Board Member

Gail McWilliam Jellie works with the UNH Extension Food and Agriculture Program in Sullivan County. Her work focus is general agriculture technical assistance, farm outreach and participating in and promoting community partnerships that benefit the local agriculture/food economy.

Board Member

Brittany settled in Claremont with her husband, Ian, in 2020 and soon thereafter launched Carina Gardens. Together, they are creating a thriving food forest complete with berries, orchards, numerous gardens, and livestock. Carina Gardens produces and sells luffa, artisanal soap, and pasture-raised organically-fed poultry.

Board Member

Julia joined the CGC board in 2025 and chairs the events committee. She has a background in wildlife ecology, nature-based education, and agroforestry. Julia manages the livestock and runs the education programs at Dancing Bear Farm (a proud member farm of the CGC!).

Board Member

Board Member

Jon is a Claremont native with a background in raising pigs and poultry through pasture-based systems, focused on building practical, resilient local food systems and staying rooted in the community. He is the owner of 603 Land & Tree, a local business specializing in tree removal, land management, and wood products sourced from local work.

Board Member