About Us

The roots for Grow2Zero took hold in October 2016 when former high school classmates Judi Gregory and Leif Kemp reconnected over a shared vision of community resilience.​

After serving in the US Marine Corps and working in the commercial sector, Leif had founded Semper Fi Growers, a nonprofit organization aiming to help fellow veterans establish their own independent vertical farms.

In parallel experiences, Judi served in the US Army National Guard and then founded her own company, Go2Zero Strategies, LLC, which consults on Zero Waste and Sustainability projects throughout Southern California.

Judi and Leif seized on urban farming as a practical means of making healthy food accessible and affordable in underserved SoCal communities while also diverting organic material away from landfills and promoting carbon sequestration.
After finding the corner lot, Grow2Zero officially made our home in the west side Long Beach community of Irie Park. Funding from Prologis as part of the Santa Fe Corridor Business Grant enabled us to begin the process of beatification and building out a neighborhood farm in the midst of the 2020 COVID-19 health crisis.

Judi Gregory
Co-Founder & Executive Director

Judi Gregory, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Grow2Zero Farms, and owner of Go2Zero Strategies, LLC, has worked in the recycling and solid waste management field for more than 30 years. In 2013, Go2Zero was awarded Small Business of the Year by the California Small Business Administration. Senator Portantino’s Office recognized Judi as a 2028 Woman in Business Honoree in Environment & Sustainability.

Her experience includes work in various industry sectors with a strong focus in solid waste operations, Zero Waste planning, and educational design & development. Judi has an extensive background in operations and management of waste hauling and recycling firms, and from 1998 through 2012, owned a Los Angeles-based hauling firm, Global Waste Recycling. She built recycling programs at some of the world’s largest motion picture studios including Paramount, NBC, ABC, CBS, and Warner. From 2005 through 2013, Judi served as the Interim Executive Director and Certification Manager for the California Resource Recovery Association.

Leif Kemp
Co-Founder & Farm Manager

Leif Kemp is a United States Marine and combat veteran who served tours in Desert Storm and Somalia. Following his deployment, Leif enjoyed a successful 15-year medical device sales career. Recognizing the opportunity to make a big difference and pursue his passion for health and wellness, Leif focused on investing in veterans and others who find healing through regenerative agriculture. In 2014, Leif discovered Alegría Fresh, a regenerative organic urban farm company operating in Irvine, CA. In 2017, Leif earned his certificate as a Sustainable Resource Management Professional & Consultant through San Jose State University.

Leif is most compassionate about the veteran community and connecting with other vets to educate and assist them in transitioning their military leadership skills into a meaningful relationship within the communities they live. Leif believes practicing a zero-waste lifestyle, combined with consuming healthy, nutritious food using regenerative agriculture practices provides a strong foundation for vets to address some of the difficulties they face today. Leif promotes the powerful therapeutic benefits from creating healthy soil and nurturing plants to reduce the emotional and physical trauma many vets live with, and he is committed to making a difference through continuing to serve the veteran community.

Leif is an accomplished athlete (basketball, football, track and field) and an ocean lover. He dreams of one day traveling the country, seeking out the finest rivers and streams to perfect his fly-fishing stroke.

Erin Harris
Farm & Garden Program Director

Erin has planted, maintained and harvested gardens throughout Los Angeles County, on behalf of Heart Beet Gardening, Grant Elementary School, Palos Verdes School Gardens, Vanguard Community Garden and Lawndale School District. She is a certified Master Gardener through the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperative Extension.

Her passion for the last 10 years has been garden education, and she has developed garden curriculum tailored to students of all ages, placing an emphasis on practical skills, regenerative practices, healthy food preparation, and composting organic waste.

Erin is the lead instructor for the introductory Future Urban Farmers Academy program, and program developer for the hands-on training program.

Kirsten Kelley
Farm Associate

Jessica Medrano
Program Manager

Jessica has worked in the parks and recreation sector as well as with water districts, Audubon Societies and nonprofits throughout Los Angeles and Orange County. She has professionally pursued her passion in environmental science through habitat restoration, fruit tree plantings, composting workshops and more. 

She acquired her Future Urban Farmers Certificate in 2023 and has been a Composting and Recycling Ambassador in Long Beach since 2022.

Shadow
Farm Dog

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