the Gather Farm Team

David Durstewitz

David got his start growing vegetables in 2011 in abandoned lots around Chicago, where he led the development of several farms and gardens aimed at food access and keeping green spaces lively. At the Urban Canopy he helped lead big growth of compost collection, local food aggregation, production and processing along with a 2-acre urban CSA farm. David has been an integral part of the development of Gather Farm since 2023 and after a few years back in the northeast working with orchards and larger-scale farms, David is happily settled in Providence where he can bike to the beach, catch some kora music at the market and feast on the world’s best fish and chips all in the same day!

Rebecca Foster

Rebecca is a mindfulness meditation teacher, hatha yoga instructor, conscious dance facilitator and lifetime laughter-yogi. She presently teaches Mindfulness Based Emotional Intelligence at the Men’s & Women’s Correctional Facilities in Rhode Island and is the lead Yoga Instructor at the Men’s Correctional Facility for Brown University’s “Peace of Mind and Body” research project. Over the last 15 years Rebecca has taught a unique blend of mindfulness, movement, laughter and play in diverse settings ranging from yoga studios to hospitals, pre-schools to nursing homes and city forests to state prisons. She has also lived and worked in Africa, Asia and Latin America, is a member of the Grace Note Singers (hospice choir) and currently resides on the farm with her family. Rebecca adores Gather Farm and is excited to explore and cultivate embodied aliveness and wellbeing with Gather Farm members and friends.

Farmer Dan

Dan Penengo comes to Gather with 20+ years of formal teaching experience in K-12 independent schools in Florida and Rhode Island instructing English, Philosophy, Religion, Ethics, and outdoor experiential education classes and trips. His approach has always leaned toward an ecological framework where people gather together around what matters most: nature, food, and community. His passion for sustainable food systems built around thriving communities led him to design the layout for Barrington Farm School while volunteering as a farm educator there from 2015-2019, in his “spare time.” Farmer Dan joins the Gather Farm team to cultivate the education and wellness programming at Gather Farm and brings a wealth of farming and education skills along with an unbounded energy for life and community well being. He lives with his family in his “Little Uruguay” homestead in Barrington, RI and commutes to and from the farm most days by bike.

Addy Kerwin

When Addy started volunteering at her school’s farm in Atlanta, Georgia, she immediately loved how the farm served as a space for both movement and learning. She has been working at farms ever since, and believes that localized food systems and sustainable farming have the potential to increase equity, strengthen community, and foster healthy environments. Addy will be graduating from Brown University this May, with a degree in Science, Technology & Society with a focus in sustainable food systems. At Gather Farm Addy has been an integral part of the CSA production team since 2023 and loves to join Farmer Dan at farm camp. This season, she is excited to continue helping grow food for the CSA and the education programs and start her job as Gather’s Community Engagement Director.

Steve Moody

Steve has always had a passion for the culinary world. His curiosity has given him the opportunity to work in kitchens around the globe including Nantucket Island, Canada, France, Italy and Thailand. His fondness for sweet treats led him down the path of making ice cream. He loves mixing in ingredients hand picked from Gather Farm, and partnering with other Rhode Island vendors to add local flavor to his creations. Sharing his love of ice cream is his little way of spreading good vibes out into the community. When not at the farm or in the food studio, Steve works in marketing, helping food manufacturers, distributors and operators optimize their supply chain.

Andrea LaFazia

Meet Andrea, a hospitality queen with over two decades of experience bringing food joy to Providence and beyond! With a passion for flavor and a knack for event management, Andrea's been a staple in Rhode Island's food scene for years. From crafting delicious eats in Rhode Island's funnest kitchens to orchestrating unforgettable events in Providence's coolest spots, Andrea's done it all – and she's just getting started! With her infectious enthusiasm for food, every meal becomes an adventure. You'll catch Andrea at Gather Farm, where she's excited to share her love of all things local. Whether she's teaching techniques and recipes to elevate your CSA membership or hosting one of our Super Secret Supper Farm Events, one thing's for sure – wherever Andrea pops up, it's gonna be a deliciously good time with food and friends!