Our Team

Jim began farming at Wildflower Lane Farm in 2010 after attending an introductory farming course at the Breeze Farm in Hillsborough. After successfully farming there for a year, Jim converted 3/4 acre of pasture land at his 24 acre farm into a small organic farm.

For the first 7 years, Jim grew organically-certified produce and sold it to local markets, including Whole Foods, Weaver Street Market, Eastern Carolina Organics and numerous restaurants and CSA's.

At the end of year 7, Jim decided to partner with Table to feed local kids who are food insecure. Jim now volunteers 20 hours each week supervising Table volunteers and couldn’t be more fulfilled doing just what he loves, farming and providing fresh produce to locals.

Having attended a Waldorf school, Abigail was introduced to gardening at an early age. Her love for nature continued into young adulthood, making it a priority to volunteer at community gardens near her college campus in Decatur, Georgia. In 2015, she graduated from Agnes Scott College with a BA in public health and a minor in environmental sustainability. This led her to pursue her Masters’ degree in Resilient and Sustainable Communities, focusing on community food systems and restorative/regenerative agriculture. A year prior, she participated in the Fall 2015 Odyssey Fellowship (now the Rising Earth Immersion program) at the Eco-Institute at Pickards Mountain, which developed an interest in permaculture-style farming. She is currently serving on the Leadership & Education team for their Garden Cooperative Program.

My earliest fascination with gardening began during my childhood summers in rural Denmark, where my sister and I dug potatoes for our noon meal with the farmhands. Later, I was inspired by watching my Dad grow a tomato plant in a sunny window of his Manhattan office. As an adult, I have had a little plot of land to grow food almost everywhere I have lived.

After studying medicine in Sweden, where the socialized medicine system ensured the care of all patients, I did my residency in Neurology at NYU/Bellevue and then started working in private practice here in NC. I loved the one-on-one contact with the patients, especially from rural areas but became frustrated when the insurance system dictated care and wouldn’t allow me to treat uninsured patients for free, so I retired early.

I have been volunteering for TABLE at Wildflower Lane Farm ever since I moved to NC. Working with plants feeds good health in body and soul. It’s a great feeling to deliver a car full of fresh vegetables, knowing that they will be distributed to needy families.

Ariana is a retired family physician with a degree in nutrition. In April 2020, she was looking for a way to serve her community during the pandemic. TABLE seemed like a good fit. As a lifelong gardener, volunteering at Jim Sander’s farm seemed like a good way to help out. Being able to provide nutritious food to people in need, while learning about sustainable agricultural practices from Jim and the other volunteers, has been a joy and a blessing.

Jack of many trades, Master of Library Science, the computer guy. Cats, dogs, women, sunsets, surfing, flowers, jigsaw puzzles, crostic puzzles, live music, helping people, building, making, and fixing things.