Sara Jean (SJ) Peterson

Farm to School Coordinator, New York City

NYC Dept of Education office
Long Island City, NY

cell 929-895-2257
email Sara Jean (SJ)

Sara Jean (SJ) has a dynamic background in food systems work. She co-founded an e-commerce-based vegetable farm in Vermont, seeking to make farm-direct food more accessible to her community. With a Housing First program in Vermont, she established a community garden and supported clients in accessing federal nutrition benefits. Additionally, SJ worked with Vermont FEED to support Farm to School work in the state. She currently serves as the board co-chair of Slow Food NYC. 

SJ has a B.A. in Food Systems from the University of Vermont and is currently enrolled in a M.A. program at New York University where she is engaged in Food Studies.

SJ is located at the NYC Department of Education office in Long Island City, working with Department of Education staff to increase consumption of NYS grown foods in school lunch programs.

Medicinal Farm Plants Workshop

August 2, 2026
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Staten Island, NY

Join Snug Harbor for a hands-on workshop with Urban Garden Specialist, Karen Guzman, as we explore medicinal plants growing on the farm! You'll get to see, smell, taste and learn how to grow and use them safely at home. 

Urban Farming from the Ground Up

August 10, 2026
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Bronx, NY

Join CCE Harvest NY Specialist Karen Guzman to turn a community center into an urban farm! This is an open volunteer event.

Rochester Soil Health Day

September 1, 2026
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Rochester, NY

Join Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY, New York State Soil Health, and Foodlink for interactive activities focused on soil health and an opportunity to get your garden soil screened for lead (reservation required).