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About ReTreeUS

Since 2012, we've planted 100 school and community orchards throughout the Northeast.

Our Mission

To inspire generations of food growers, environmental stewards and problem solvers through experiential education in orchards and gardens. 

Our Vision

A fruitful educational garden in every community.

Our Core Beliefs

  1. Young people are powerful.

  2. Small actions can create big results.

  3. We can create food security in our communities.

  4. Reconnecting to the earth is essential to human and environmental health.

  5. Experiential education in gardens and orchards provides students with meaningful learning opportunities.

Why We Plant Orchards

ReTreeUS 
Staff

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Richard Hodges

Richard is the Founder and Program Manager of ReTreeUS. He became inspired to create orchards in schools through many experiences as an outdoor educator and farmer in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, California and Costa Rica. He is dedicated to empowering the younger generations to grow their own food sustainably and care for the environment. Richard has a degree from the University of Vermont, a certified Permaculture Designer, Master Gardener, and graduate of Maine’s Sustainable Food System Leadership Institute.

Prisca Hermene
Prisca Hermene
Rachel Lyn Rumson

Rachel Lyn is Regional Program Manager at ReTreeUS. She has a deep commitment to ecological education. She has collaborated with schools across Maine to integrate agroforestry into learning, and eating, fostering sustainable practices and environmental stewardship. With a master’s in Applied Behavioral Science and advanced certifications in Permaculture Design and Soil Food Web, Rachel brings expertise in participatory action research, holistic orchard management, and resilience-building to her role. She is passionate about empowering communities to take collective action for a sustainable future.  

Prisca Hermene
Prisca Hermene
Rebecka Dykstra

Rebecka is the Communications Coordinator at ReTreeUS​. For the past 10 years, the heart of her work has been designing mission-led outreach and communications strategies, building fruitful community partnerships, leading events and programs, advocating for Maine's outdoors, and crafting impactful stories that drive meaningful change – all while keeping her hands in the soil in orchards and gardens both personally and professionally. A lifelong gardener/food grower, she is passionate about ecology, food sovereignty, and environmental education.

Prisca Hermene
Prisca Hermene
Prisca Hermene

Prisca is a Community Orchard Steward at ReTreeUS. She is Congolese-American, and recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in History and International Political Economy. Prisca has previously worked with the Youth Conservation Corps and the National Forest Service. Previous to her work with MobilizeGreen, she worked as a Linguistic Support Specialist at Garfield Elementary Community School in Boise, ID. In addition, she served as an AmeriCorps Basic Needs Coordinator for Boise State University (BSU),  providing resource referrals for students, ensuring food security, and other student basic needs. â€‹

Prisca Hermene
Prisca Hermene
Sean O'Connell

Sean is a Community Tree Steward with ReTreeUS. He’s originally from Brooklyn, NY, and has a B.A. in Urban and Regional Studies from Cornell University. Before ReTreeUS, he was a gardener in New York City working for Flo’s Gardens and served as a board member of The Brooklyn-Queens Land Trust. 

Prisca Hermene
Prisca Hermene

Advisory Committee

Willie Grenier
Executive Director - Maine Agriculture in the Classroom


Jonah Fertig
Community Partner, Food Systems - Elmina B. Sewall Foundation​

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Daniel Feller

AI Program Lead - Rhino Healthcare

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Stephanie Cesario

Program Officer - Maine Community Foundation

C.J. Walke

Organic Orchard Educator - Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)

 

James Ford

Family and Community Support Coordinator - Lewiston Public School


Ryan Parker
Maine Program Associate Director - FoodCorps

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Mark Sprackland

Executive Director - Independent Retailers Cooperative

National Partners

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Our Supporters

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