Caty Poole, Neighbor

I am the innovator behind Caty’s Creations. After over 20 years in the life sciences industry, I obtained my degree in communications and pursued a career in the nonprofit sector. My passion for equitable food access led me in 2012 to Massaro Community Farm in Woodbridge, CT.

Created to serve the wider community with a diverse offering of vegetables, fruit, herbs, honey and eggs, Massaro is the place where my passion met my curiosity. In my 11 years as executive director, I expanded my knowledge from simple backyard gardening to the study of nutrition, beekeeping and wild crafting. Establishing a roster of farm-based educational programming allowed me to tap into my own personal family farming roots and exercise creativity.

To further expand my knowledge, I have also completed numerous courses in cooking instruction (including vegan-based), herbalism and wild foraging and have obtained a Master’s level certificate in Sustainable Nutrition from The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition. As of spring 2024, I will be certified as a Master Beekeeper.

In spring of 2023, I made the big decision to step out of my full-time role as executive director of Massaro Community Farm. This allows me to dedicate my energies to provide cooking classes that rely on local food and support a healthy lifestyle and a healthy planet. I also lead workshops on natural remedies, beekeeping, organic gardening and other wildcrafting.