Full Belly Farm

Jamie has a J.D. from the University of Oregon, Knight School of Law with a Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law. Before deciding to attend law school, Jamie was farming on Nantucket Island at Bartlett's Ocean View Farm, where he was responsible for the organic greenhouse vegetable production. During law school, Jamie helped co-found (with Vice-President of the Board, Lance Long) the University's first, Good Food Club. It was during these weekly meetings that Jamie envisioned starting a small, non-profit farm that would grow organic fruits, vegetables, and flowers and provide them primarily to families and individuals of limited means within the community. Jamie hopes to make fresh, organic foods a part of all San Juan County residents' lifestyles. Jamie also believes that natural farming is the future of sustainable food production and is excited to begin experimenting with no-till, organic farming and edible forest gardening. Jamie, his wife, Christina, and their 16-month-old son, Oliver are passionate about good food and ensuring that the community is well fed.

Lance Long is an Associate Professor of Legal Skills at Stetson University College of Law. He serves as faculty advisor for the Stetson Law Go Green Committee and teaches Research and Writing II – Environmental Law, which focuses on persuasive writing and oral advocacy in the environmental law context. He taught legal research and writing for nine years at Brigham Young University and the University of Oregon before joining the Stetson faculty, and he previously  practiced law in California and Utah in the areas of intellectual property, contract and construction law.  He is interested in bicycling as a serious alternative to fossil-fuels transportation, intensive reuse and recycling programs, voluntary simplicity, and creating a sustainable, low- or no-growth, economic model for the United States. Lance met Jamie at the University of Oregon and hopes to follow him to a farm sometime in the future.

Vatnak works in Business Development at Pfizer Oncology, supporting the development of drugs for cancer patients. His background includes healthcare investment research and information technology, and he hopes to bring this experience to help Full Belly Farm achieve its goals as a nascent non-profit. Vatnak has an MBA from the New York University School Stern School of Business and an undergraduate degree in biology from Harvard. He is excited to embark on this journey with such a talented and motivated team and hopes to make a meaningful impact on the San Juan Islands community.

Leigh is a project manager at Brooklyn Bridge Park, an 85-acre sustainable waterfront park being constructed along Brooklyn’s East River shoreline. As a project manager for the park Leigh oversees construction progress, manages grant opportunities and advises on operational and community relations. The park project utilizes trailblazing sustainability measures in its construction and operations, from re-purposing existing infrastructure and reusing salvaged materials to integrating stormwater retention and energy conservation systems. Leigh holds a Master of Urban Planning from New York University's Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, where she specialized in economic development and infrastructure.  Leigh is thrilled to be helping Jamie build a sustainable farm operation that will provide organic food and education to people of limited means.

Mark has been a director at Full Belly Farm since the organization's founding. His love of nature was crystallized at a young age when he attended a semester with the National Outdoor Leadership School, which emphasized a Leave-No-Trace camping philosophy. This experience imparted a deep respect for ecosystems and through that-- an interest in biodynamic farming. Additionally, Mark feels that farming will become an increasingly important facet of U.S. growth as arable land remains a key comparative advantage in a global economy.