Director and Chief Culinarian 

Director of The Yisrael Family Urban Farm, Judith Yisrael is an herbalist, community educator and mother. With a Bachelors in Business, Judith's passion is educating the community to return to the power of nature for physical, emotional, and mental well-being. She was named Emerging Food Leader by Comstock's Magazine and is recipient of the Alpha Kappa Alpha award for Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability. A master soap maker, Judith's handmade soaps and other skin care products are sold at retail outlets in Sacramento. Judith has taught community herbalism, cooking & canning classes, and other homesteading skills for over ten years. She is a community educator and member of the the American Herbalist Guild. Judith's favorite plant to grow is the sacred white sage and when she's not tending to her herb garden, Judith enjoys live theater and strumming her acoustic guitar.

Chief Seed Starter

Chanowk Yisrael, is an urban farmer. Yisrael has traveled across the country on the dime of corporate America before trading in his frequent flyer miles for seeds and soil. Yisrael terms himself as “urban homesteading,” a lifestyle that sustains his family and aids his community of South Oak Park (a food dessert according to the USDA).  Chanowk is Director of Urban Organic Sustainability for Hip Hop is Green, a plant-based hip hop multimedia organization. He also serves as board member for South Oak Park Community Association and Slow Food Sacramento. Chanowk was named Farm Advocate of the Year by the Farmer's Guild & CAFF for his work in raising about sustainable agriculture and building food systems with equity and access. His favorite vegetable to grow is okra. In his spare time, Chanowk plays the djembe and enjoys a good game of tennis.

Education Coordinator

Born and raised in Queens, NY, Gab is a city girl at heart. She moved to California in search for something different and attended the University of California, Davis. She received her Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Agriculture and Food systems with an emphasis in Food and Society. Mostly inspired by the women in her family, who all hold position in health, Gab knew her calling was to work in a field that ensured the longevity and well-being of others (can you say Libra much?). A strong interest in urban agriculture and food justice led her to the Yisrael Family Urban Farm (YFUF), where she began working as an intern in 2016. She started helping with their regular programming, including free cooking classes as well as youth empowerment programs. Her work has grown to encompass a wider framework of art, herbalism and wellness education. Gab enjoys hanging with her cat, making and eating fermented foods, and traveling.