Our Staff
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.
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.
Erin Harris, Farm & Gardens Program Director
Erin Harris is a certified Master Gardener through the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperative Extension. She maintains her status by volunteering at school and community gardens for 25 hours per year in addition to 12 hours per year of continuing education.
As a Master Gardener, Erin has planted, maintained and harvested dozens of gardens throughout Los Angeles County, on behalf of Heart Beet Gardening, Grant Elementary School, Palos Verdes School Gardens, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Lawndale School District, and Netiya. Her passion for the last seven years has been garden education, and she has developed garden curriculum tailored to students of all ages, placing an emphasis on practical skills, healthy food preparation, and composting organic waste.
As part of the LA County Smart Gardening program, Erin teaches residents throughout the greater Los Angeles area about the importance of reducing food waste, composting, and employing the principles of organic and regenerative gardening.
