Heather Szaro

Farm Coordinator

What is your role at TLC? My role as Farm Coordinator is broad and ever-evolving. I work with our current farmers at the Williamson Preserve to provide them with equipment and facilities and facilitate collaboration with their fellow farmers and the greater community. I also help find future farmers to farm the remaining land at Williamson. But an essential part of the job (and the amount I take the most seriously) is to dream of ways TLC can be at the forefront of intersecting conservation and agriculture.

Favorite TLC Preserve? I might be biased, but my favorite is the Williamson Preserve! It not only has some great biking and walking trails, but I think its blend of preservation and farmland brings a unique perspective to TLC’s commitment to conservation and combating the climate crisis.

Heather Szaro joined TLC as the Farm Coordinator in December 2021. Originally from Kernersville, NC, Heather went to Appalachian State University, where she studied Sustainable Agriculture & Agroecology. During her time in Boone, she worked on several small organic farm operations with cut flowers, specialty herbs, veggies, goats, and poultry. After graduating from ASU (go ‘Neers), Heather moved to Paraguay, South America, as an Agriculture Peace Corps Volunteer. She lived and worked for two and a half years in a tiny community working with small-scale agriculture, agroforestry and reforestation, nutrition, and health concerns. After she finished serving, Heather moved to The Triangle in the summer of 2019 to manage a small urban farm in Raleigh. She most recently came to us from Juniper Level Botanic Garden in Garner, NC, where she was the IPM & Plant Health Specialist. Heather is proud to work for TLC and excited to help grow such a good part of the program.

Find a TLC Nature Preserve Near You