Saplings Lead Teacher

Allegra Ceci

Teacher Allegra has been sharing the magic of nature with students since her first semester at Bard College, where she taught gardening to local students. A lifelong seed planter, she balanced agriculture work and adjunct instruction with a career in the fashion industry as a textile development technician until starting her family. Since then, she has focused her career on teaching environmental education and gardening, with a focus on permaculture, restorative practice, and seed stewardship.

Allegra loves a whole child approach to education, including encouraging emergent, student led, hands-on learning. She is trained in Quaker pedagogy, place-based education, and nature-based teaching. In her free time, Allegra loves hiking, foraging, thrifting, herbology, and farm to table cooking. She enjoys watching Arcane and listening to all kinds of music. Her favorite rehabilitated and released pets include a Leopard Frog and a DeKay’s Brownsnake. Allegra finds her joy in sharing nature with others, especially young people. She is a proud mom to a sixth grader, four rescue cats, and an ever growing collection of house plants.

Market Manager

Becky Corey

Although a Colorado native, Becky comes to Fernbrook Farms from the Central Coast of California where she was involved in the food and wine business for 30 years. Her background is closely tied to agriculture, education, food and art which began with a degree in Agricultural Business, a Concentration in Marketing and a Certificate in Wine and Viticulture from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA.  While at college, she also studied art, graphic design and creative writing, all areas that continue to be lifelong passions of hers.  

Prior to running her own winery, she spent almost 10 years in Public Relations, Marketing and Hospitality with Robert Mondavi Winery at their Santa Barbara County properties. She and her winemaker husband Dave, started a winery in 2001.  They handled all aspects of their operations including vineyard management, winemaking, label design, marketing, wine sales, distribution and curating special events for their customers and community. 

Becky also spent many years as a Culinary and Beverage Instructor at Allan Hancock Community College in Santa Maria, CA working with students in the classroom and on the campus farm.  Her teaching abilities combined with extensive experience in small business operations, food & wine pairing and recipe development helped create a great connection with students.  Whether at work on the farm or with family and friends, Becky is always hoping to inspire people to dig deeper into their relationship to nature and cooking in a meaningful and artful way.

Educator

Carlee Driscoll

Carlee is a New Jersey native and loves all things nature. From a young age she loved to be outdoors, from climbing trees and building forts, to swimming and making mud potions. This love for nature turned into passion to conserve it in high school. After taking a marine science class and learning about the affects of climate change, she knew she wanted to keep following that path. Four years later, she graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies. From there, she worked for Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space as a Land Steward Intern where she restored meadows and forests by tackling invasive plant species. Her next adventure took her all the way to Maine where she worked as an Ecology Educator at The Ecology School. This position awakened her to the world of outdoor education, in which she fell in love with. Now working as an educator at Fernbrook Farms, she is so excited to continue her teaching career, explore a new place, and meet new people! 

Carlee is extremely passionate about conservation and educating about the importance of nature. In her free time she can be found on a hike in the woods, cooking a plant based meal, snuggling with her two cats, or on her hammock reading a book.

President, Fernbrook Nursery

Kevin Fenning

Kevin’s Horticulture career began in 1975, working summers as a maintenance employee for a local landscape company. After a number of years and moving up the ranks to become a supervisor, he was hired by The Williamson College of The Trades in Media, PA, to manage the 200-acre grounds of their campus.

During his tenure at Williamson, he decided to attain a Degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Temple University in Ambler, PA. Upon graduation, he was hired by Cumberland County College as an Associate Professor for the Ornamental Horticulture Associate Degree. Kevin was responsible for the entire contents of the curriculum, as well as student advisement. Over the years he also helped develop articulation agreements with four-year universities in order for the students at Cumberland County to make a smooth transition to pursue a Bachelor Degree.

In 2002, Kevin was hired by Ehrich & Ehrich Nursery in Chesterfield, NJ to head their ball and burlap operation. Although he lacked experience in the nursery industry, with determination and hard work, Kevin grew the nursery into a successful operation.

Eventually, Kevin was wooed by Larry Kuser, owner of Fernbrook Nursery, to become the nursery field manager. In 2022, Kevin was named President of the company.

Kevin enjoys life outside of Fernbrook Farms with his wife Michele and daughters Caitlin and Emma. When any free time presents itself, you may find Kevin fishing, golfing, and or reading.

Saplings Director

Lauren Flesher

Lauren is a lifelong nature lover who grew up chasing butterflies, collecting rocks, and reading every animal book she could find. As a student at Cornell University, she began leading nature hikes for other students and came to realize she had a passion and a talent for environmental education. She soon began working at Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology, teaching families of all ages about the wonders of birds. After earning her degree in sustainable agriculture, Lauren travelled the country for several years as a field ecologist, assisting conservation research for dozens of projects in forests, prairies, and farms.

By 2020, Lauren was ready to put down roots and return to environmental education full-time. When Fernbrook offered her a chance to co-establish a new nature program for preschoolers, she jumped at the opportunity. Saplings began that fall, and Lauren took over as director in 2022. Along the way, she has worked closely with the Association for Nature-Based Education to earn several certification levels in nature-based teaching techniques.

Lauren is deeply passionate about this work and adores working with the preschool age. Her teaching superpowers are her strong sense of wonder and plenty of inner playfulness. She loves helping her students challenge themselves, make new learning connections, and realize how cool nature can be. Her favorite things to do outside are birdwatching and insect catching.

Educator/Animal Barn Manager

Lydia Francis

Born in Morocco as the daughter of a Navy veteran, Lydia came to New Jersey as a toddler. She spent her childhood raising animals and riding horses in Cream Ridge, NJ. After attending Ocean County College, Lydia accepted a position in the banking industry where she managed Money Markets and Certificates for over 14 years.

As an officer in the Pinellas County Homeschool Association, she assisted in the selection of curriculum, the teaching of children from grades K – 7, and the managing of finance for that association.

For the past 23 years, she has been active in various county 4H programs to include:

• Pinellas County Cooperative Extension
• Burlington County Farm Fair Volunteer Recruiter
• Burlington County Sheep Club
• Burlington County Goat Club
• Hunderton County Sheep Club
• Hunderton County Veterinary Club

Lydia maintains a volunteer leadership position with the Burlington County 4-H program, where she holds a seat on the Leaders Council as Treasurer, provides out of school educational experiences for Burlington County youth in grades K through 13, teaching members to learn life skills, explore their world, and learn more about themselves.   Thus, becoming competent, caring, and contributing citizens.

She came to Fernbrook Farms 13 years ago as a Shepherd to the animals. In addition to caring for each of their diverse needs, Lydia also attends to the animal’s varied and individual health requirements, including diet, threat of disease, animal handling, and human – animal contact on a daily basis.

Lydia, also tends the Children’s Garden, assists in educating in the garden and simply enjoys being part of the Fernbrook family.

Saplings Lead Teacher

Anita Garcia-Harris

Anita has a background in organic vegetable production. She began her career at Fairgrown Farm in Hopewell, NJ. When the opportunity arose to be a Crop Production Manager for Rolling Harvest Food Rescue. She couldn’t turn it down. She was able to grow food for donation to our community in need. She worked with countless volunteers, interns and school groups. She loved educating students about sustainability and food systems. Farming taught her so much about herself & her purpose for education.

In 2024, Anita made the decision to return to college and finish her degree in Education Studies. Returning to school and changing careers led to a new position. She became the full time building substitute at Stony Brook Elementary in Hopewell, NJ. She brought her farming background to the school garden. Encouraging students to be a part of the space during Earth Day and helping to run the Green Team club. Stonybrook was an invaluable experience and built her confidence as an educator.

Anita views being a Saplings teacher as such a privilege for her to help little ones build confidence in nature. Anita’s emotional intelligence and nurturing nature make her such a patient and encouraging teacher. She loves tending to our garden, visiting our farm animals, and story time.

Nursery Sales & Office Manager

Tanya Gregory

Tanya’s love for the outdoors sparked her interest in ornamental horticulture at a very young age. When it was time to decide a career path, well let’s just say it was decided without a question or doubt. Her ornamental horticulture education was obtained from Mercer County Community College and Rutgers University. Where she graduated with an associate’s degree in Ornamental Horticulture. Tanya continued to gain knowledge in this industry from past employers, Princeton Nurseries, Rappleyea’s Nursery and at Fernbrook Nursery since 2008. In 2015 she became a CNLP and in 2016 she was named the ‘Young Professional of the Year’ from the NJNLA. Tanya has been married to her best friend, Robert, since May 2002 and they have 2 kids (the 4 legged kind) Sitka and Cooper, Alaskan Malamutes. They love to get out and go kayaking, quad riding, bicycling and walking in their free time.

Business Administrator

Yvonne Itchmoney

Yvonne Itchmoney joined Fernbrook Farms in 2015 and handles many of the day-to-day administrative and financial aspects of operating each of the farms’ businesses.

Yvonne’s background is in journalism. She spent many years in the print journalism industry before taking time off to be with her family. Upon going back to work, Yvonne channeled her management skills into business administration. Yvonne discovered Fernbrook Farms in 2013, when her son began attending the Education Center’s Fiddlehead summer camp program. When an opportunity to become part of Fernbrook Farms presented itself, Yvonne didn’t waste any time! The farm has since become her home away from home.

When she’s not at the farm, Yvonne enjoys spending time with her family. In addition to her coworkers, Yvonne adores her husband, son and Batman. Yvonne’s hobbies include discovering new movies and music, nagging her kid to do his homework and/or chores, macro and nature photography, reading anything and everything, hiking with her dogs, taking long bike rides, celebrating all things Halloween, and caring for her own flock of assorted critters.

Education Director, Summer Camp Director

Brian Kuser

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Brian Kuser, son of Larry ‘Farmer Q’ & Susie Kuser, has been involved in outdoor education since 1996. During his years at Bates College in Maine, Brian spent his summers working at Keewaydin Camps in Vermont where his love of experiential environmental education was founded.

After graduating Bates with a degree in mathematics, Brian started teaching at New England boarding schools while continuing to spend his summers at camp in Vermont. Brian took a couple winters off from the indoor classroom and spent several seasons teaching in the outdoor classroom at Keewaydin Environmental Education Center and Hulbert Outdoor Center where he focused on environmental education and teambuilding activities. He then married Tracy and they moved to Thailand to teach at an international school.

Brian and Tracy returned to the US in 2007 where they began teaching at the Montclair Kimberley Academy. Brian spent 6 years teaching high school math at MKA while spending his summers as the Summer Camp Director at Fernbrook Farms. In 2013, Brian left the indoor classroom for good and joined the year-round staff at Fernbrook as the Director of Education. He truly enjoys being able to share his love of his childhood backyard with the kids as they get to experience the joys of the outdoor classroom at Fernbrook Farms.

Brian and Tracy moved to the farm in 2015 and have introduced two more Kusers to the farm, Mikala (born 2008) and Gemma (born 2011) who can both be seen around campus during camp, after school programs, and more!

Owners

Larry “Farmer Q” & Susie Kuser

Larry ‘Farmer Q’ & Susie Kuser moved to the farm in 1974 and have been actively running the farm since 1982. They have been married for over 40 years, have three grown children and eight grandchildren. Their vocation and avocation are the same: to live close to the earth and share the farm with as many people as possible.

Prior to farming, Farmer Q was a high school math and science teacher and coach. From 1976-1981 he served as Dean of Students for Princeton Day School in Princeton, NJ. Farmer Q has never given up his love of teaching or his involvement in the community. He has been an adjunct teacher at Mercer County Community College, Rutgers University School of Continuing Education and the New York Botanical Gardens. He has given lectures for the Master Gardeners programs and the New Jersey Association of Landscape Architects. In 2014, he was inducted into the NJ Nursery & Landscape Association’s Hall of Fame.

He serves on the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Community Forestry Council, a past member of the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association Board, the Burlington County Board of Agriculture, and past president of the Chesterfield Township Environmental Commission. Farmer Q is a graduate of Cornell University and has a Masters degree in Education from Fordham University.

Prior to running The Inn, Susie ran Wit & Whimsy, a boutique gift store in Bordentown, NJ from 1983-1987 and Princeton, NJ from 1988-1994. Her love, passion, and gift for hospitality have transformed The Inn from ‘Farmer Q’s’ boyhood home into a beautiful place for family and friends to come together to celebrate special occasions.

General Manager @ The Inn

Teri Lands

Teri Lands is one of New Jersey’s premier catering and event specialists. With a comprehensive background in event planning and many years of relevant hospitality experience, Teri is widely recognized for creating and executing some of the most beautiful weddings on the East Coast. Supported by a qualified, detail-oriented team, she has most recently led Main Street Fine Catering’s special events division (Fenwick Hospitality Group), establishing it as The Knot’s Best of Weddings Hall of Fame, the only caterer in NJ to earn this distinction. Teri has perfected the art of executing spectacular events, focusing on an authentic approach to planning. Her creativity and artistic nature allow her to find the perfect way to achieve each client’s singular vision.

Having planned hundreds of unique weddings and events from offbeat to intimate exclusive locations, Teri and her events have been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Style Me Pretty, TheKnot, NJ Bride, Bucks County Magazine, Town & Country Weddings, and many other publications and blogs.

With a firm belief in providing her clients with the very best organic and sustainable foods, Teri is excited to take on her newest role as part of the Fernbrook Farm family as the General Manager at the Inn at Fernbrook Farm helping to continue to host truly amazing, one-of-a-kind events.  Teri has consulted and catered at Fernbrook Farm for over 18 years and is back to work with the team to elevate the on-site events to the next level.

Educator

Erin McDowell

Erin is a graduate of Monmouth University’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program, with a strong foundation in the human-nature connection and a deep commitment to nature-based education. Her academic background is complemented by hands-on experience through internships at OASIS TLC and Monmouth University’s community garden.

At OASIS TLC, Erin supported adults with developmental disabilities in a farm-based setting, assisting with seeding, planting, and harvesting. This role deepened her dedication to inclusive, outdoor learning and reinforced the values of her social work education. Prior to that, her work in the university’s community garden sparked interests in sustainability, organic growing, and the therapeutic value of working with the earth.

Erin has also shared her passion for the outdoors as a certified stand-up paddle-board instructor, leading tours, teaching about marine ecosystems, and running children’s camps.

Outside of work, she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and reading on her deck at home. Erin is excited to share her enthusiasm for environmental education and stewardship as an educator at Fernbrook Farms.

Saplings Co-Teacher

Lin McGee

Lin has always been drawn to the outdoors and all things adventure, from surfing at the shore to snowboarding in the mountains. Her love of animals began early with horseback riding and has grown into caring for her six beloved pets today.

She first pursued marine biology and environmental policy before discovering her true passion for teaching while working at a learning center. This led her to earn a degree in Education, and she is now continuing her studies in Psychology. She is especially interested in connecting education with nature and creativity, helping students find joy and curiosity in the world around them.

At Fernbrook Farms, she is excited to combine her passion for the environment, animals, and teaching in a hands-on, meaningful way. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, painting, and finding new ways to bring creativity and the outdoors into her everyday life.

Director of Homeschool Programs, Director of Young Stewards

Noah Myers

Noah is a NJ native, and grew up exploring all that New Jersey has to offer. It is where his passion for the outdoors grew from a young age. He traveled to the Midwest for his Bachelor’s degree in Biology which he received at Saint Mary’s in Indiana. That passion for the outdoors continued through college. He learned about the wildlife in Indiana while hiking and exploring. Noah has a special affinity for owls whose sounds he can mimic.

School wasn’t easy for Noah with his ADHD, but he learned to cope with it, by being outside in nature. The great outdoors helped him learn focus, how to slow down, and how to appreciate the world around him. He hopes to bring that knowledge, understanding, and adaptability to the children he teaches here at Fernbrook Farms along with the fun adventures, games, and science experiments he’s picked up through his years of working with kids and his own education.

Director of School Programs

Krystal Newhall

Krystal is a New Jersey native with local roots. Growing up in a small town, she spent most of her time outside where she played and explored within the flora and fauna of her local section of the Rancocas Creek. With this being her childhood, Krystal was groomed to become the nature advocate that she is today.

Following a passion for nature, she has a 10 year career in animal education. Her start in educating dog owners/families on how to understand and nurture such a primitive relationship to humankind, led to a more unique experience working and building relationships with various other species of animals. From hoofstock, to birds, to reptiles, to mammals, even to large predators, Krystal has a unique background in teaching the public about animals and their habitats.

Currently, her love for building relationships with the natural world has led her to her newest role in engaging children to learn how to do the same. Being a kinesthetic learner herself, she aims to teach through hands-on interactions no matter the lesson. She also enjoys seeing the benefits of play-based learning and can be quite the storyteller to pique children’s imagination.

In her spare time, you can find Krystal somewhere in Brendan T Byrne State Forest where she hikes with her dog, husband and newest addition, their daughter Beverley.

Saplings Co-Teacher

Shellby Watts

Shellby was born and raised in Southern California, where she developed a lifelong love for the outdoors. As a child she was almost always riding her four wheeler, camping, surfing, riding her bike, or making mud pies in the front yard with her seven siblings! At twenty-six she still does almost all of the same activities, although she hasn’t been in the mud kitchen in quite some time!

Shellby moved to New Jersey with her family when she was ten and has lived in the Garden State ever since! Her favorite thing about New Jersey is its vast biodiversity! She attended Rowan College of South Jersey, earning a degree in Early Childhood Education with a focus on Special Education. Teaching young children has always been her passion, and she is dedicated to creating a learning environment where curiosity, creativity, and confidence can flourish!

When she’s not teaching, Ms. Shellby finds a lot of joy in nature photography! Her favorite things to take pictures of are flowers and bugs. She is super excited to kick off the school year and can’t wait to grow and learn alongside her students!