KRISTEN JONES
Upstate Program CoordinatorÂ
Born and raised in Columbia County, Kristen has 9 years of experience as a landscaper, and is also the co-owner of the floral design company Roots and Stems. In addition to her work as an urban gardener and floral wizard, Kristen has a B.A. in journalism from Purchase College and is a Certified Nonprofit Professional through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance at LSU Shreveport. Kristen first dipped her toes into community service as a youth, when she spent 6 years as a 4H member. Since then, she has volunteered and worked for numerous local non-profit organizations, and in 2009, spent a year of national service with AmeriCorps NCCC. Kristen has worked with a wide variety of youth, including teaching a Summer-long journalism class at Camp Manitou in Maine, and providing direct care for at-risk teens through Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth. For the past few years, Kristen has served as an after school educator for Kite’s Nest, running their Roots and Rebels garden program. Having worked on a vegetable CSA farm in Maryland and an organic dahlia farm in California, she is excited to get back to her roots and put her experiences and knowledge to work, paying it forward to the youth and families of Columbia County. Kristen has a deep connection and love for the Hudson River, and currently resides in Coxsackie, where she enjoys working in her vegetable garden and using its bounty for cooking, canning, and preserving. In her free time, you can find her snuggling with her cats, traveling, catching live music, journaling, kayaking, camping, and cross stitching.
