Staff
Rob Reiman, Executive Director
rcreiman@gmail.com
Rob is a devoted environmentalist and serves as the Executive Director for the Giving Grove. He retired from Deloitte Consulting after nearly 30 years of implementing technology systems and associated organizational improvements. After having provided consulting services to many of the largest companies in the world, Rob is now engaging in environmental policy, social justice programs and projects that support a more ecological, healthy, equitable and sustainable world.
Matt Bunch, Horticulturist
matt@kccg.org
As the horticulturist for the Giving Grove, Matt selects the fruit and nut varieties, consults with new sites, and advises Giving Grove site stewards on the best practices for growing fruits and nuts biologically in the Kansas City area. Matt has been in the horticulture profession since 1994, but his love for plants and gardening grew from the gardens of his parents and grandparents. Schooled as a history major, Matt has worked in horticulture in retail, municipal, and public garden capacities. From 2004 to 2013 Matt was with Powell Gardens (Kansas City's Botanical Garden), first as a Native Plant Landscape Specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation Discovery Center, and later as the Horticulturist for The Heartland Harvest Garden, a 12 acre edible landscape featuring over 2000 distinct edible plant varieties; fruits, nuts, berries, vegetables and herbs. Over the years Matt has written for The Best Times and the Missouri Gardener and has spoken at many Master Gardener gatherings, the Great Plains Growers Conference, Growing Power, The National Green Centre, Grow Native Workshops and more. Work follows him home where he grows mainly natives and edibles with his wife and two children in Kansas City, Missouri.
Amanda Lindahl, Community Engagement Coordinator
amanda@kccg.org
Amanda joined the Giving Grove team in the fall of 2015 as the Community Engagement Coordinator. Her role is to assist sites in bringing together the neighborhood around the edible tree garden harvest. Previously she has worked with the Kansas City Community Gardens in the Schoolyard Gardens Program. In addition to growing vegetables at schools, Amanda has worked in nutrition education with K-State Research & Extension and Harvesters. , Amanda graduated with her Masters of Horticulture degree with a specialization in Urban Food Systems at K-State Olathe in December 2016. Amanda gets excited about fermented foods, preserving the garden’s harvest, baking sourdough bread in many forms, exploring the city on her bicycle, and sitting around campfires with friends.
Justin Lark, Horticulture Assistant
justin@kccg.org
Justin is from Northern New Mexico where he was first inspired by his mother’s garden and authentic cooking. As a farm-to-table chef in Sante Fe, he gained a passion for environmental stewardship, health, and the community. Wanting to preserve this way of life for future generations, Justin returned to school and landed in Kansas City to complete an individualized degree, Sustainable Horticulture and Nutrition. Justin joined the Giving Grove team in October of 2016 as Horticulture Assistant. His role is to maintain the Giving Grove nursery, assist the community during planting and provide horticulture support to our volunteer stewards. You can find Justin foraging for native edibles, jogging around the neighborhood, growing chili, or attending a soccer game with his family.
Kathy Jenkins Hart, National Development
Kathy was raised as a Missouri farm girl and enjoys learning about sustainable agriculture. She earned a Master of Public Administration degree with an emphasis in nonprofit management from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Missouri. She joined The Giving Grove team in 2016, previously serving as Development Coordinator for Kansas City Community Gardens, and has now transitioned to the National Giving Grove Organization. Kathy serves as a board member of the Platte Land Trust and became passionate about conservation, social and environmental justice issues after studying abroad in Western Australia and visiting Standing Rock Sioux Reservation during an Alternative Spring Break experience as a college student. When not working, she can be found writing stories or hiking and exploring nature with her family.
