Our Team
Andrew Linker
Becky Phillips
Jennie Inglis
Mallory Pendleton
LeAnn Rutledge
Scarlett Fuller
Emily Lewis
Lindsey Mann
Rachelle Howie
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Contact: Board@GMFN.ORG
Becky Phillips, Board President. August 2023 - Present
After spending some time farming and experiencing first-hand the reality of the hard work and long hours it takes, Becky developed a deep passion for supporting local farmers. She acknowledges the benefits of having fresh, local food for herself and her family and was a natural fit to become a part of Georgia Mountains Farmers Network. Whether it's exploring the farmers market, visiting local farms, hiking, or gardening, Becky tries to spend as much time in the outdoors with her children as she can!
Jennie Inglis, Board Treasurer. August 2023 - Present
Jennie’s journey to local food began when discovering a food cooperative and continued when she moved to Northeast Georgia. She fell in love with the Sautee Transition Initiative, meeting others interested in creating a resilient future. That led to volunteering and working with the Northeast Georgia Farm to School program in Habersham County, attending Farm to Cafeteria, Georgia Organics conferences, and other similar initiatives. Jennie and her husband tried gardening and shifted to buying more food locally. Jennie is also involved with the Sautee Nacoochee Center, making the world better through culture and community.
Mallory Pendleton, Board Secretary. August 2023 - Present
Mallory spent most of her childhood around the freshwater lakes and meandering rivers in the south, which sparked her interest in the great outdoors. Mallory works at Chattahoochee Riverkeeper where she has seen how farming practices can impact water quality for better or worse. She enjoys being on the GMFN Board of Directors to help share the importance of practicing and supporting water-wise farming practices and meeting local farmers.
LeAnn Rutledge, Board Member. November 2023 - Present
LeAnn has a strong interest in how ecosystems work and has served in various nonprofit roles, as a youth educator, and within the conservation sector. She is based in Gainesville, GA and is Executive Director at Oconee River Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) with a B.S. in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Her free time is spent volunteering, enjoying national parks, reading, and playing tennis.
Scarlett Fuller, Board Member. August 2023 - Present
Scarlett grew up beneath the pines and between the rows of corn, cotton and peanuts of South Georgia. Seeing and tasting the vast difference between the moonscapes of monoculture, industrial farming and small scale, holistic farming, she journeyed into the world of homesteading, local organic farming and permaculture and has never looked back. She enjoys spending time outdoors growing food and caring for her horse, goats, chickens, ducks and pigs. Scarlett believes the garden can heal people, hearts, and the world. She is passionate about local food systems and supporting our local farmers through Northeast Georgia Locally Grown market. “How do we save the world? One garden at a time. It begins in our backyard. What if… everyone grew gardens instead of grass?”
Emily Lewis, Board Member. February 2024 - Present
Emily was raised by a family of gardeners and loves growing, cooking, and sharing food with others. She is an aspiring market gardener and enjoys making nature inspired craft products. Her 1-year-old son is her favorite garden buddy!
Lindsey Mann, Board Member. April 2024 - Present
Lindsey Sita Mann has been stewarding ecological landscapes for nearly 20 years, via her firm Sustenance Design! Her expertise in perennial food and medicine systems, native plants, responsible water management, and meadowscaping serves diverse communities and individuals. Lindsey is the owner of Stellar Roots Herb Farm in Tiger, GA, where she grows Biodynamic medicinal herbs and offers classes along with on-farm experiences.
STAFF, KEY CONTRACTORS, AND VOLUNTEERS
Andrew Linker, Executive Director
Contact: Andrew@GMFN.ORG
With a decade experience in nonprofits, environmental education, and agriculture, Andrew is a dedicated advocate for more sustainable, equitable, and local food systems. He enjoys learning how to grow food for market at Humble Vine Farm in Cleveland, GA while also tackling the greater needs within the farming community. Andrew has a B.S. in Environmental Studies from University of North Georgia.
Rachelle Howie, Bookkeeper
Contact: admin@gmfn.org
Rachelle is based in Gainesville and has over a decade of nonprofit finance experience and a passion for local food and sustainable living.
April Alexander, Northeast Georgia Locally Grown Site Manager
Contact: NGLGmarket@gmail.com
Rabun County Site Manager since August, 2021. With experience in retail, farming, marketing, and farmers markets, April manages weekly operation of Rabun County Grower Dropoff and Customer Pickup and has been an true asset in building community in Rabun County!
Current Program Volunteers! (updated 2/24/24)
Chuck and Amy Mashburn, Susan Caster, Janet Fleming, Carol Hershey, Melinda Oliver, Diana Hollingsworth, Annaclair Kiger, Helen O'Brien, Cassie Tamblyn, Connelly Tomasovich, Brigitte Hoarau, Blaire Michal, Ming Scafidi, Katherine Meyers
Service Area
Georgia: Hall, Habersham, Rabun, Jackson, Madison, Banks, Franklin, Stephens, Towns, White, Lumpkin, Dawson, Forsyth South Carolina: Oconee and North Carolina: Macon. Watersheds - Upper Chattahoochee, Tugaloo, Broad, Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, Etowah, Toccoa, and Upper Oconee
Georgia Mountains Farmers Network
contact@gmfn.org | 770.530.3287
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1765, Clarkesville, GA 30523
Physical Address: 109 W Morgan St, Clarkesville, GA 30523 (by appointment only)