Programs
City Sprouts offers workshops and classes, online learning tools for educators, educational programming, and more to educate the community about gardening and healthy lifestyle choices. Click on our programs below for more details!
Programs
City Sprouts offers workshops and classes, online learning tools for educators, educational programming, and more to educate the community about gardening and healthy lifestyle choices. Click on our programs below for more details!
growing gardeners workshops
The Growing Gardeners Workshop Series is a collaboration between City Sprouts and The Big Garden. We work together to offer four seasons of hands-on workshops that feature skills and techniques for every gardener and urban farmer: growing, cooking, preserving and eating healthy local food. All workshops are free and open to all ages.
Our workshops are broken up into three main tracks: Urban Ag School, Herbal Medicine Cabinet, and Culinary Workshops. We also have smaller workshops attached to various community events that we have throughout the year. Check out all of our workshop offerings on our Growing Gardeners website.
We love having guest teachers from our community lead workshops! Are you knowledgable about a subject that you'd like to share in a workshop? Reach out to our Education Manager and explain what skills you'd like to share.
growing gardeners workshops
The Growing Gardeners Workshop Series is a collaboration between City Sprouts and The Big Garden. We work together to offer four seasons of hands-on workshops that feature skills and techniques for every gardener and urban farmer: growing, cooking, preserving and eating healthy local food. All workshops are free and open to all ages.
Our workshops are broken up into three main tracks: Urban Ag School, Herbal Medicine Cabinet, and Culinary Workshops. We also have smaller workshops attached to various community events that we have throughout the year. Check out all of our workshop offerings on our Growing Gardeners website.
We love having guest teachers from our community lead workshops! Are you knowledgable about a subject that you'd like to share in a workshop? Reach out to our Education Manager and explain what skills you'd like to share.
meet the team
City Sprouts continues to grow due to the commitment of our dedicated staff and Board of Directors, community partners, and volunteers.
our staff
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Carol Blood
Executive Director
Carol Blood has dedicated her career to serving the community with passion and commitment. Born in McCook, Nebraska, and raised in rural Adams County, she has deep roots in the state.
As a Nebraska legislator from 2016 to 2024 and a Bellevue City Council member from 2008 to 2016, she has been a strong advocate for positive change and decades of volunteerism.
In 2005, Carol founded Blood Communications, where she helped businesses thrive by providing business plans, feasibility assessments, provided corporate training and strategic planning. Carol's decades of experience in non-profit work and community volunteerism highlight her dedication to making a difference. Beyond her professional life, Carol has a deep love for learning about and growing native plants and enjoys growing and sharing her own vegetables in her spare time.
Shannon Kyler
Manager of Community Programs
Shannon manages the City Sprouts community garden and programs, and coordinates all volunteer projects and events. If you are looking to volunteer, teach a community workshop, tour the garden, or partner on community programs, please reach out!
Laura Simpson
Co-Manager of Urban Farm Initiatives - Farm Operations
Laura is the Co‑Manager of Urban Farm Initiatives – Farm Operations at City Sprouts, where she leads production planning, community partnerships, and hands‑on education across the organization’s urban farm sites. A lifelong Omahan whose love of growing food began in neighborhood gardens, Laura brings experience from the Big Muddy Urban Farm residency, the Aspiring Farmer Program, and a past conservation fellowship with the Center for Rural Affairs. Her work centers on expanding access to culturally preferred produce, strengthening local food systems, and stewarding City Sprouts’ Sherman neighborhood farm as a hub for community learning and sustainable agriculture.
Ingrids Mata
Conservation and Soil Health Program Manager
Ingrids supports education and outreach around soil health, conservation, and sustainable growing practices. With a background in agronomy and agroecology, she helps gardeners and growers understand how caring for the soil strengthens our food systems and communities. Originally from Honduras, she’s passionate about connecting people and the land through learning and collaboration.
Habib Nikzad
Co-Manager of Urban Farm Initiatives - Outreach & Education
Originally from Herat, Afghanistan and moved to the United States in 2023. He holds a Master’s degree in Agriculture and brings more than 20 years of experience in community development, agricultural research, business development, and economic recovery. Now based in Omaha, he brings his expertise and commitment to supporting sustainable, thriving communities.
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Jenny Gilbert
Urban Farm Specialist - Outreach & Education
As one of our Urban Farm Specialists, Jenny leads education and outreach efforts that connect community members with hands‑on growing experiences. Originally from Omaha, she is committed to building food equity through collaborative learning and accessible programming. Jenny works closely with interns, volunteers, and the Farm Team to cultivate spaces where people can grow food, skills, and confidence.
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Natalie Yocum
Urban Farm Specialist - Production & Distribution
Natalie Yocum comes from Montana, where she earned her degree in environmental science. Over the past three years, she has worked in natural resource management and habitat restoration for nonprofit organizations, gaining hands‑on experience in ecosystem health, conservation practices, and community‑based stewardship. She also brings practical agricultural experience from working on two organic farms, where she developed skills in sustainable production, soil care, and day‑to‑day farm operations.
Combining this background, Natalie is excited to step into an Urban Farm Specialist role focused on production and distribution. She is eager to contribute to a sustainable, community‑centered food system and to support the farm’s mission through both her technical knowledge and her passion for resilient agriculture.
Jared Haynes
Community Education Assistant
Jared supports community outreach and education efforts, helping to make the garden a vibrant, inclusive space for learning and connection. Jared also plays a key role in maintaining the garden campus, supporting volunteers, and helping organize seasonal events that bring the community together.
Anti-Discrimination Policy
City Sprouts is committed to providing an environment free from all forms of discrimination and conduct considered harassing, coercive or disruptive, including sexual harassment. Actions, words, jokes or comments based on an individual’s sex, race, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, pregnancy, leave status, [mental, emotional, or physical] ability/disability, military status, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic or status, will not be tolerated.
our board of directors
Our Board of Directors consists of community volunteers, who help provide strategic oversight and direction for City Sprouts.
Executive Board
Angela Lindstrom, President
Health Center Association of Nebraska | Director of Communications
Randy Vyhnalek, Vice President
Conagra Brands | Scrum Master
Maria Pauley, Secretary
Community Volunteer
Liz Tipton, Treasurer
Union Pacific Railroad | Director Finance, Budget and Administration
Board Members
Sonita Buddi
Brighten Our Future Learning Center | CEO
Kelly Favara
ConAgra | Human Resources Director
Meghan Kallhoff
Union Pacific | Attorney
Shanda Ross
Nebraska Medicine | Director of Engagement, Outreach, and Belonging
Taylor Daniels
Aradius Group | Director of Marketing
Emily Ramelb
Communications + Development Manager, DEIA Practitioner
Emily joined the City Sprouts team in Spring 2021. She oversees City Sprouts branding, marketing strategy, fundraising and organizational development. Graduated from Rockhurst University, she has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentrations in marketing and communication, and the Helzberg School of Management's Undergraduate Award for Distinguished Leadership. When Emily isn't working, she's in the kitchen whipping up something colorful and delicious, or kicking back with friends and family.