Our People

Cara Loriz relocated to Shelter Island 10 years ago after teaching environmental science and geology in California, Utah and Ohio. She quickly became enmeshed in community activities and joined the staff of the Shelter Island Reporter newspaper, where she served as editor for 5 years. Cara embraced the opportunity to build community through the programs and preservation efforts at Sylvester Manor, and has led those efforts as Executive Director since May of 2011.
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Sara Gordon was the conservation planning project manager for Sylvester Manor at Peconic Land Trust, where she worked from 2007 to 2013, facilitating the 2012 sales of development rights on the Manor's 83.5 acres of protected farmland and the 2009 conservation easement on the north peninsulas. She moved to Long Island from the Hudson Valley in 1998, worked in land planning on the South Fork, and coordinated sustainability and service learning programs at Ross School and in the Sag Harbor schools. Sara served on the Sylvester Manor Educational Farm board of directors from its inception until joining the Manor staff. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, has spoken widely on climate change, and is an avid swimmer and fiddle player. She lives in Sag Harbor.
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Bennett Konesni is the founder of Sylvester Manor Educational Farm. In 2007 he began working with his Uncle Eben Ostby- the recent heir to Sylvester Manor- to craft a vision for the place going forward that would ensure its good stewardship for generations. Since those early days their vision to preserve, cultivate and share the place has been made real through the hard work of hundreds of volunteers, a small and reliable group of staff, and family support.

As Founder, Bennett’s main role today is one of vision-keeper: he oversees our strategic planning process and advises and leads special projects throughout the organization. These include Directing the annual Plant & Sing Festival, public speaking on behalf of the Manor, fiddling at island contra dances, and teaching a year-long immersive worksong workshop for our farm crew.

Bennett is a 2004.5 graduate of Middlebury College and was a recipient in 2005 of the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, focusing on the worldwide study of worksongs. He and his wife Edith Gawler spend part of the year at Sylvester Manor, and the rest of the time they spend on the road with one of several bands, or at their home in Belfast, Maine: Allemande Farm.
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As an associate at a boutique consulting firm in Manhattan, Melissa worked with dozens of nonprofit clients including Big Brothers Big Sisters, The New York Pops, and the National Academy Foundation.

Now Melissa is back on the island year-round for the first time since graduating from Shelter Island High School in 2006. In addition to her work at the Manor, Melissa volunteers for Mashomack Preserve and the Joseph J. Theinert Memorial Fund.
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Edith Gawler is a farmer, musician, and designer from Maine. She developed her architectural thesis at Syracuse University, which looked to draw on the principles of the local sustainable food movement as a model for a new architecture. In 2008, she met Bennett Konesni and began living at Sylvester Manor on a regular basis, helping out wherever help was needed while the non-profit was first getting off of the ground. Now she joins the staff as the Design Coordinator where she produces web, print, and art & design materials for the organization. As a duo, she helps Bennett lead the worksong efforts here on the farm, which seeks to put the culture back into agriculture, and — as legions before them have done -- find the joy to make hard labor feel more meaningful.
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Upon graduating from college, Hilary moved to Florence, Italy for four years where she worked for a Private Investigator and became fluent in Italian. She then moved to New York City where she worked as a Italian Production Manager for high end fashion companies. She moved to Shelter Island full time with her husband in 2001, where they are now raising their 3 children. Since relocating to Shelter Island, she has had the opportunity to work at Bay Street Theatre as well as with a local sweater designer, and volunteer for a brief stint as an ambulance driver for the Red Cross. She is currently Treasurer of the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church Preschool.
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Julia loves farming. All of her choices in life surround that love. She has worked on farms ever since she was seventeen. She earned a degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Maine in Orono.

Julia has consciously chosen farm work as a lifestyle and an occupation. She love the work, the pace, being outdoors, and growing wholesome food for herself and others.

Julia most recently came from a diverse farm in the Hudson Valley growing 20 acres of vegetables and marketing them both locally and in New York City.

Julia’s house is full of seeds, mason jars, and sheep veterinary books.
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Fox grew up in the Midwest amongst grain fields, hog farms, and heavy equipment. Fox’s knowledge and experience of farm lifestyle and equipment stretches back to his boyhood. They literally let you drive the combine when you can see over the steering wheel. The feeling of a true farm community is one that stays with you throughout your life.

Fox has worked as a traveling farmer for many years. Along the way, he have amassed a small wealth in farm skills. He dabbles in all the necessary trades to sustain a working farm: mechanics, carpentry, welding, fencing, irrigation, plant cultivation, and animal care.

Soil and metal are his mediums of choice. Farming is both his art and his passion.
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Ben grew up in the tidewaters of Virginia, where he cultivated his love for the outdoors. After studying Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at Applachian State, he moved to the southwest United States where he worked with a diversified livestock and vegetable operation. After baking in the desert sun one too many times, Ben decided to return to the east coast. He is excited to join the Sylvester Manor team, where he hopes to “dive in” and contribute to the burgeoning sustainable food movement on the East End.
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Lev hails from California, this being his first venture to the East Coast. He spent last year working on a farm and a ranch in a range of roles, but still considers this to be his primary introduction to growing food. His background in biology has taken him to several countries to work as a field technician with a variety of wildlife, but ultimate interests in sustainability have directed him towards land stewardship and mindful agriculture.
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Susan is thrilled to join Sylvester Manor as a farm intern for the 2013 season. After graduating from Brandeis University with a B.A. in International and Global Studies and minor in Environmental Studies, she moved to Washington, D.C. for a fellowship with the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, where she worked on public policy issues related to climate change and the environment, voting rights, and campaign finance reform. Seeking a more holistic understanding of the American and global food system, she left D.C. for the golden hills of Tuscany, Italy to work on an organic farm, vineyard and agritourismo. Now at Sylvester Manor, Susan is excited to spend a full season learning the ins and outs of farming on the East End.
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Megan is passionate about food and farming. After spending her years at Emory University studying psychology and competing in policy debate, she gave a job at a law firm a chance, and decided it was not for her. In June 2012, she moved to northern California and worked as a cook on an organic farm. She loved providing local, seasonal, organic food to others, and wanted to learn how it was produced and distributed on a larger scale. Megan is excited to continue developing her love of food, music, and simple, sustainable living at Sylvester Manor.
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