Officers

Aaron Bembenek '12 - Grounds Manager

Aaron Bembenek has the good fortune of hailing from the charming town of Concord, Massachusetts. He is a Classics major. He enjoys gardening because he loves the outdoors, he thinks plants are pretty cool, and he finds it all to be very grounding.

Laura Hamm '12 - Events Coordinator

I have a passion for gardening that cannot be satiated.

Lily Akerman '13 - Harvesting Manager

Lily Akerman: I'm in Forbes, and I'm from New York City. I study dance, theater, creative writing and comp lit. I like being outside, especially with vegetables.

Sarah Simon '13 - Events Coordinator

Sarah Simon is a sophomore from Wellesley, Massachusetts. She was destined to garden from birth because her middle name, Joella, comes from a gardener named Joel that her parents met once in the Bahamas (apparently they had a really good conversation?) During high school she worked at several farms in the Boston area, and spent last summer gardening in France. She is really excited to work and play this year in the beautiful Forbes Garden!

Naomi Zucker '14 - Treasurer/Grant Writing Coordinator

Hey there! My name is Naomi and I'm from Montreal, Canada, though I spent a couple of years at school in the oh-so-lovely rainforest by the sea in British Columbia and the better part of last year in Brazil traveling, wwoofing, volunteering and frequently making a fool of myself trying to speak Portuguese, play capoeira, dance samba and successfully cook beans to Brazilian standards. I like books, making things, being outside and going on adventures, and am thinking about studying anthropology or politics. I also really, really love gardens.

Clare Gallagher '14 - Apprentice to Grounds Manager

Hello! I'm from outside of Denver, Colorado, and have a large garden at home. Last summer we grew over 600 squash! My family also raises chickens and quail in our backyard. At Princeton, I run cross-country and track. I'm interested in EEB and am currently on the pre-med track. I hope to get a certificate in Environmental Studies and Global Health Policy. Spaghetti squash easily excite my taste buds!

Gaya Morris '14 - Apprentice to Planting Manager

Hi! I'm Gaya, I am a freshman and I am currently from Hingham, MA although I was born in Puerto Rico, grew up in New Jersey, Italy, Switzerland, and I went to boarding school in Connecticut, took a gap year in Senegal, and am now back in New Jersey! Needless to say I love to travel. I also love to make things, especially edible things, which is why I am excited to tune up my gardening skills with the Princeton Garden Project. I firmly believe that growing our own food, or at least becoming involved in the ways our food is grown is essential to a sustainable future.