Introducing Cait, Community Gardens Coordinator/ Farmers Market Ambassador

Our newest teammate Cait will take on a dual role at Petaluma Bounty. Cait will split her time between serving as the new Community Gardens Coordinator and as Farmers Market Ambassador. She will also assist with Nutrition Incentive work. Read her blog post to learn about her unique background and say hi to her next time you see her at a park, a market, or at Petaluma Bounty!

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I am thrilled to be joining the incredible team at Petaluma Bounty! In my role, I will be supporting the organization’s Community Gardens Program and advocating for programs at local farmers markets to improve access to nutritious, fresh, locally grown food in our community.

Background in public service and nonprofit work

I’m arriving at Petaluma Bounty with a background in public service and nonprofit work. Over the last 15 years, this work has taken me to San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Barbara, Johannesburg, and Washington, DC, before bringing me back to my Sonoma County roots.

Throughout my career, I’ve led legislative efforts, managed local campaigns, and spearheaded a wide variety of efforts for organizations focused on addressing inequality through housing, employment, small business development, criminal justice reform, and youth empowerment.

Prior to joining Petaluma Bounty, I worked as a Legislative Assistant at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for Board President Norman Yee. Before that role, I served as a Corridor Manager in the Portola neighborhood in southeast San Francisco, where I worked closely with community organizations and neighbors, city departments, and small businesses to implement economic development and community building projects. I hold a Masters in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where I studied housing, employment, service provision, and access to public space in global cities, with a particular focus on inequality in urban contexts.

A passion for growing food — and joy

Across my life, growing food has been a common thread that has sustained me, brought me joy, and connected me with my community. I first fell in love with growing food as a child in my grandfather’s vegetable garden in Hayward. I remember picking green beans, bringing in zucchini, and hunting for bright red strawberries under the leaves in his little strawberry patch. My grandfather’s enthusiasm for growing food in his backyard, and his happiness when sharing with his neighbors and friends, was infectious. Since then, I’ve always found ways to grow food, even while living in big cities. I’ve grown tiny food gardens on window sills and balcony railings. I’ve filled concrete patios at apartment complexes with planters full of veggies to share with neighbors. And I’ve walked miles a day to be able to tend to veggies I’ve grown at community gardens.

When I moved back to Sonoma County in 2020, I seized on the opportunity to learn more about growing food. I completed the UC Master Gardener training program in 2022 and spent a year working on the Farm Crew at Santa Rosa Junior College’s Shone Farm while studying sustainable agriculture.

I couldn’t be more ready and excited to throw my energy behind Bounty’s work ensuring healthy food is accessible for everyone in our community.

How to Join a Petaluma Community Garden

Community gardens serve so many important functions in our neighborhoods! These gardens provide fresh, nutritious food, improve quality of life and public health, bring us together, and uplift our spirits! Petaluma Bounty provides support for several community gardens on city property including: