Our Staff

Founding Director

Molly Rockamann is a St. Louis native but felt the coastal pull for college and remained in warm tropical climates until she decided her heart was in the heartland and returned to her family’s roots in North St. Louis County. While away, she worked with mushroom producers in Ghana, organic rice farmers in Thailand, veggie farmers in Florida and California, and sugar cane farmers in Fiji. She has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Eckerd College, a Certificate in Ecological Horticulture from UC-Santa Cruz and a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies from the University of the South Pacific. (But the land and other farmers have been her greatest teachers.) Finding inspiration in Caroline Mueller, a life-long organic farmer, she is dedicated to preserving farmland and to celebrating the culture in agriculture. She is proud to be a Ferguson, Missouri, resident, and loves to dance and hula hoop. Molly Rockamann was listed on Mother Nature Network’s ‘40 Farmers Under 40‘ list in 2009, received a 2009 Kick-Ass Award from 52nd City, was named one of 10 Most Dynamic St. Louisans by Ladue News in 2010, and in 2011 was the first recipient of the Young Food Leader category of the Natural Resource Defense Council’s  Growing Green Awards. Rockamann feels that her greatest reward is witnessing the transformation that takes place when individuals spend an entire growing season farming in community.

Farm Manager

April Shelhon was born into a rural farming community on the outskirts of Duluth, MN.  Her homesteading grandparents lived just across the dirt road and grew a variety of crops on their 160 acres.  Her parents grew and preserved much of their own food, practiced subsistence hunting and fishing, and also collected and ate wild plants off their own 40-acre property.  The first vehicle April’s father taught her to drive—at age 8!—was indeed a tractor.  It took April a long time to realize the impact of these experiences.

April has a long-standing passion for plants, land stewardship, and community.  In her career, she has found several ways to express these interests including habitat and wildlife conservation, landscaping, horticulture, market farming, CSAs, community gardening, selling at farmer’s markets, wholesale buying from local producers, and managing a retail food co-op.

Since her childhood in Minnesota, April obtained an A.S. in Environmental Science in Connecticut, a B.S. in Wildlife Biology in Colorado, and landed in St. Louis in 2008. In addition to home gardening, April has eight years of horticultural experience and four growing seasons of managing or assisting in small farm operations split between Colorado and Missouri.  In 2010, April completed the EarthDance Organic Farming Apprenticeship program and was recruited to be Farm Manager for the 2011 growing season. Reflecting on her “freshman farmy” experience, April says, “At EarthDance I gained knowledge, experience, and a community.”  Working in local food systems is meaningful and rewarding, and April feels the farm manager position is an exciting opportunity to grow and share these rewards with others.

Farm & Community Education Coordinator

Rachel Levi first observed the magic of growing food as she watched her mother tend the family vegetable garden at her parents’ home in Ferguson.   After residing in Chicago for the past four years, she is excited to be back in her hometown, helping EarthDance grow food, community, and farmers.

She joins EarthDance as a VISTA, or Volunteer in Service of America, a branch of Americorps.  Learning and teaching in one capacity or another are a constant for Rachel.  During her teens and early twenties, she worked as an arts camp counselor, Ethical Society Sunday School teacher, and tutor.  After earning a B.A in English and education from Webster University in 2006, She has taught English to high school students, yoga to adults, and play-based fitness classes for children. In Chicago, she pursued her passion for creative writing at The University of Chicago, where she earned an M.A. in the humanities and wrote a memoir, Killing Fixie Prairie.

Her appreciation for natural foods developed while working at Wild Oats Market, and it was further inspired by books like Nancy Todd’s A Safe and Sustainable Planet, Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and Food Not Lawns by H. C. Flores.  For the last several years, Rachel has been actively investigating urban farming: She learned to keep pet worms for composting, helped to install several community gardens, tended her own veggie plot and taught a group of high school freshmen about organic gardening.

Rachel’s diverse interests continually lead her toward new insights and situations.  Wherever her path may lead, she hopes to leave her campsite in better shape than she found it in.

Fund & Resource Development Coordinator

Mandy Brooks originally hails from Phoenix, Arizona, but has called St. Louis home for the past five years. Mandy obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts in 2001, and pursued her theatre career before finally finding a home within the publishing industry. There she worked in sales and marketing for seven years. In 2010, Mandy decided to return to school in pursuance of a degree in Dietetics. She is currently in the Dietetic Technician program at St. Louis Community College in Florissant Valley.

Mandy’s interest in nutrition began slowly, over five years ago while still living in Phoenix. A book that theorized why Americans are so much more overweight than the rest of the world prompted her interest in the topic, and that spark has grown over the years. Her passion is now learning all she can about nutrition and how to give everyone access to clean, safe, and healthy food!

Mandy first became acquainted with EarthDance in 2009 when she saw a presentation about the program at the St. Louis Science Center. She began volunteering with the organization because she believes that education, community outreach and community support are the best methods for tackling the obesity epidemic in this country, and particularly with our kids! She is excited to be a part of the mission of EarthDance to not only provide clean, safe, and healthy food, but to show people of all ages that veggies and farming aren’t boring – it’s super fun!

Assistant Farm Manager

Evan Winkler grew up in Ohio Amish/Mennonite country where he first learned to appreciate land stewardship, self reliance, and sustainable living. Although he did not grow up on a farm, his family always tilled a large garden, picked fresh berries, and canned vegetables, enjoying the benefits of growing your own food.

Like many young people farming never occurred to him to be a realistic career path. Instead, Evan attended Virginia Tech where he earned a Bachelor’s in Landscape Architecture and then went on to Ball State University where he earned a Master’s in Urban Design. While in school, agriculture and farmers markets emerged as a common focus, leading to his current pursuit…farming.

Evan has experience working for both rural and urban farms. He was greenhouse manager and farmhand assistant for a ten acre organic flower and produce farm in Danville, Indiana. He also volunteered with Oakleaf Mennonite Farm as farm coordinator for a one acre plot in Atlanta, Georgia.

Evan is looking forward to this season playing in the dirt, promoting land stewardship, and new adventures with EarthDance.

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Laura Lamorette has always had a passion for art and food. Her passion for art led to a degree in Visual Communication from Truman State University in 2003. Her passion for food, namely vegetables, led her to discover the local and organic food movements. She is delighted to be able to combine these passions in support of EarthDance as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator through Americorps VISTA this year.

As someone whose only knowledge of vegetables is eating them, Laura is looking forward to learning about the farming process and what her favorite vegetables look like when they are growing in the ground. She is also looking forward to discovering new vegetables to add to her ‘favorites’ list.

In addition to art and food, Laura is passionate about music, and enjoys the local music scene St. Louis has to offer. She also sings back-up vocals for a Pink Floyd tribute band. Laura’s other hobbies include watching old TV shows on Netflix and finding delicious recipes for things she’ll rarely ever have time to make. She likes to sew and uses her sewing skills to make old thrift store finds “new” again.

Saint Louis has been her home for the last seven years. A native Floridian, Laura considers herself ‘bicoastal’ – if you count the Mississippi River as a “coast”!

Website Manager

Bredon Jones is a “musician with a cubicle addiction.” Originally from the Chicago area, Bredon enjoys being a part of sustainable community projects in the St. Louis area. He is a proud patron of local organic farms and is a producer of soap.