Our Team

Across continents, our hearts beat in unison. Healing By Growing Farms isn't just a farm, it's a vibrant tapestry woven by a diverse team of passionate individuals. From California sunshine to Connecticut soil, Ohio fields to Puerto Rican shores, our voices resonate from Mexico to Bangladesh. Some call the farm home, others join remotely, but our shared purpose binds us closer than any border. Together, we're more than colleagues, we're a family, nurturing a community of inclusivity and growth, one person at a time.

The team:

• Anne – Onsite Farmhand (Connecticut, USA) 🇺🇸

• Rachel – Onsite Farmhand (Connecticut, USA) 🇺🇸

• Julia – Research Assistant (California, USA) 🇺🇸

• Kiarah – HBG Healing Gardens Alliance Partnerships Program Coordinator (California, USA) 🇺🇸

• Sajal – Graphics and Social Media Coordinator (Bangladesh) 🇧🇩

• Crystal – Conference and Special Projects Coordinator (Connecticut, USA) 🇺🇸

• Carie – Director of Operations and Community Development (Ohio, USA) 🇺🇸

• Dr. Ivette Ruiz – HBG Founder; Farmer; Disability, Equity, Culture, and Accessibility (DECA) Consultant (Connecticut, USA) 🇺🇸

A Life Dedicated to Service

For over three decades, Dr. Ruiz dedicated herself to public service, health, academia, and social justice. Her diverse background spans disability integration, healthcare, education, emergency management, marginalized communities, leadership development, and even ministry. She has worn many hats, from executive coach and consultant to international speaker and trainer, leaving a trail of positive impact wherever she goes.

Healing Through Growing

Today, Dr. Ruiz's passion lies in Healing By Growing Farms, a space that nurtures not just crops but also hope. This demonstration experiential sub-urban farm serves as a beacon of learning and healing for survivors, urban farmers, BIPOC communities, veterans, and aspiring growers; offering a platform to learn diverse agricultural practices and maximize the potential of small and large spaces.

Championing Accessibility and Equity

Dr. Ruiz isn't just an advocate for accessible food systems – she's a force driving its evolution. For over 20 years, she's dedicated herself to research, presentations, consultations, and impactful partnerships with organizations like the National Young Farmers Network, Yale, and the USDA NRCS. Her tireless efforts to champion inclusivity have reached diverse groups like Cultivemos, Agrability, Food Animal Concerns Trust, and Northeast NOFA, pushing for a more equitable agricultural landscape for all. This passion extends beyond agriculture; Dr. Ruiz serves on the boards of both the Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI), challenging systemic food injustices, and HAVENLY, empowering refugee and immigrant women. Her dedication transcends words, leaving a lasting impact on individuals and communities alike.

A Beacon of Inspiration

Dr. Ivette Ruiz's story is one of strength, resilience, and unwavering dedication to creating a better world. Healing By Growing Farms stands as a testament to her vision, a vibrant community where everyone can learn, grow, and thrive. Dr. Ivette Ruiz is a bilingual and bi-cultural 3rd generation beginning farmer. Her background lies in diverse areas and platforms around Disability Integration, Marginalized Groups, Holistic Coaching, Leadership Development and Organizational Development. For over three decades she worked in Public Service, Health and Human Services, Higher Education, Disaster Relief and Faith Based Organizations; as an Executive Coach, Consultant, Advocate, International Speaker, and Trainer. 

Dr. Ivette Ruiz thrives by educating others about accessibility for aging farmers, veterans, disabled and the marginalized. By offering coaching and consultation services in an effort to educate and train on issues of disabilities, food justice, equity, diversity, integration, aging, socially disadvantaged farmers and beginning farmers.

The Healing By Growing Farms space serves as a demonstration site for Urban, BIPOC, Veterans and Aspiring farmers and growers  seeking to learn diverse agricultural practices while maximizing small and large available spaces to grow.

Dr. Ruiz tirelessly fuels the movement for accessible agriculture. Beyond research, she elevates awareness through local and international presentations and consultations for diverse audiences like the USDA FSA, University Extensions, AgriStress Response, Common Ground, and Yale Health. Her influence transcends borders, leaving a lasting impact on agricultural organizations and communities seeking a more inclusive future.

Fiduciary

Dwight Hull at Yale University