About us
Community Farmers is a grassroots initiative committed to helping Virginians build food sovereignty within their own neighborhoods. By putting the power in the hands of regular people, we hope to mobilize communities in the Norfolk area to take control of their own food through growing and sharing
their abundance with gardening kits, food stands and community gardens.
Why Choose Us?
Community Focused approach
Our goal is to help build a sense of community within neighborhoods through the sharing of food.
Self-Sufficiency
By giving out gardening kits and building local gardens, we aim to help community members feel a sense of resiliency and pride in growing their own food and being able to share excess food with their neighbors.
Sustainability
We ensure that each of our gardening kits are filled with supplies made with recycled and donated materials.
our board
Aeron Novotny
Founder and executive director
Aeron is passionate about food sovereignty and believes everyone deserves access to healthy, pesticide-free food. Concerned by food insecurity, food deserts, and the environmental and health impacts of industrial agriculture, he set out to help create a more resilient food system—one rooted in community, education, and self-sufficiency. That vision led to the creation of Community Farmers, where he brings people together to learn how to grow their own food and build stronger, more connected communities.
For the past five years, Aeron has been dedicated to growing food and continually expanding his knowledge of sustainable agriculture. He is currently pursuing an Associate of Applied Science in Horticulture at Tidewater Community College after completing a Sustainable Urban Agriculture Certificate through Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia State University. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development from the University of California San Diego in 2022.
When he’s not working with Community Farmers, you’ll likely find Aeron tending his garden, foraging for wild edible plants, experimenting with new recipes using homegrown ingredients, preserving seasonal harvests, or sharing fresh produce with friends and neighbors. He also enjoys traveling, hiking, camping, and biking with his son and two dogs.
Through Community Farmers Aeron hopes to see a world where abundance is shared and hunger is history. .
Caroline Nosbisch
Co-founder and Secretary
Caroline is an Omaha, Nebraska native who has spent her career dedicated to helping those around her. She has professional experience in Homeless Case Management, Community Outreach at the largest Habitat for Humanity in the country, and currently works at the largest non-profit in Nebraska dedicated to helping incarcerated individuals re-enter society. She hopes to continue to expand her reach to areas outside of the Midwest.
She currently lives in Omaha, with a goal of eventually moving to the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys spending time with her husband, cat, and friends. Caroline’s hobbies include anything a retired-aged grandmother would enjoy, such as baking, crocheting, reading. You can usually find Caroline playing DND or Magic the Gathering, trying new coffee shops, or at home with a good book.
Nele Vandeginste
Co-founder and Treasurer
Nele is a New York City based artist, entrepreneur, and community advocate who believes creativity can be a powerful tool for making a difference. She earned her bachelor of science degree in Psychology at Arizona State University in 2017 and has always been passionate about finding ways to bring people together and create positive change.
As the founder of Enviable Dreams, she combines art and technology to support nonprofit causes that matter and encourage conversations around important social and environmental issues. She is especially interested in using creative projects to make philanthropy more accessible and engaging.
Serving on the board of Community Farmers gives her the opportunity to support an organization that’s making a real impact through sustainable agriculture, food access, and community involvement and education. She’s proud to be part of a team that’s helping build healthier, stronger communities by creating chances for people to connect with the food they grow and eat.
In her free time, Nele enjoys visiting museums, writing, painting, cuddling her two cats, and hiking in parks with her partner. Being in nature is one of her favorite things to do, and she is thankful that Community Farmers allows her to be more connected with the Earth and all it gives us.