the Gather Farm Team

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.

Dan Penengo

Farmer Dan 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.

Aidan Simmons

Aidan is a multi-generational farmer who spent her life raising dairy animals with her family on Simmons Farm. In 2020 Aidan moved back to her family farm once realizing farming was her true passion and began to run the farm alongside her parents doing goat hikes, raising the goats, and making the cheese until Simmons closed in 2024 after almost 400 years of family farming. Now Aidan manages her own herd at Gather Farm while being a part of the local music scene and sharing the passion and love of her goats with anyone who will listen.

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 creating magic managing Gather Cafe and also making cameos 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 farm dinners, one thing's for sure – wherever Andrea pops up, it's gonna be a deliciously good time with food and friends!

Benjamin Giguere

Benny is a master glassblower and the creative force behind Gather Glass since 2007.

The Stone Family

Elisabeth and Matt have been building out the farm since 2013 - trying to continue the legacy of this special property that has served its community for over a century. They are working to preserve vulnerable farmland so close to the Providence city line, support community resiliency and health, and provide a space for nourishing activity and meaningful experiences. All while chasing two farm kids and four backyard chickens.