Our Team
Nicola Shirley-Phillips
Nicola Shirley-Phillips, Ambassador for the Natural World, embodies a profound commitment to sustainability through her multifaceted roles as a Permaculture and Regenerative/Organic Agriculture Consultant, as well as a Community Economic Development Specialist. With a steadfast dedication to her value statement, Nicola's purpose is: to reconnect each individual with the fundamental source of sustenance—the earth beneath our feet.
Currently, Nicola is engaged in several agricultural projects, each contributing to her overarching mission. At The Source Farm Ecovillage, she has played a pivotal role in establishing an intentional community that serves as a living embodiment of innovative appropriate technology, guided by Permaculture principles. Since leading the Jamaica Sustainable Farm Enterprise for the USAID program, where she collaborated with farmers from diverse regions of the island, imparting knowledge and practices in organic and regenerative agriculture, while simultaneously establishing resilient food systems, her work has expanded exponentially.
As a trailblazer in the realm of sustainable food production, Nicola is the driving force behind the Ujima Natural Farmers Market, Jamaica's premier sole destination for organic and natural produce.
Her concept and vision to restore Jamaica’s soil health after centuries of extractive colonial agricultural practices, the JENESYS Soil Fertility Project recently launched in partnership with the Jamaican Government to educate and transform soil health via best regenerative practices with micro training sites across the country.
As a founding director of the GWG Organic Research Station—a 370 acre site that is officially designated an International Botanical Sanctuary by the United Plant Savers, she has multiple conservation projects underway including The People’s Seed, Jamaica’s first heritage seed bank. GWG is also a repository for Indigenous Plant Medicines that are being studied for their nutraceutical properties and future product development in partnership with the University of the West Indies. Additionally with UWI, a fungarium is being established for pioneering DNA sequencing of mushrooms from the Blue and John Crow Mountain ranges.
A Masters degree in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University has served her well and Nicola is now pursuing a PhD in Agricultural Public Policy at Tuskegee University.
Nicola not only champions ecological stewardship but also fosters thriving communities centered around sustainable living practices. With her profound expertise, Nicola Shirley-Phillips continues to inspire positive change and shape a more sustainable future for generations to come.
Colleen Williams
Colleen Williams has been involved in the financial aspects of real estate and home acquisition for nearly 30 years. Her focus is now on shaping the places we call home in a sustainable, enduring way, whether by renovations or renewable resources. She’s passionate not just about the buildings that we call home, but also about the planet we call home, the home she wants her grandchildren's grandchildren to inherit and enjoy. She is involved with a number of projects that align with her passion for healthy food, healthy homes and a healthy planet.
Colleen currently serves as GWG’s Board Secretary, and up to late 2022, she performed a similar role at the Jamaica Organic Agriculture Movement (JOAM). She has a proven track record in general management, as well as excellent communication and organisational skills, and an outstanding work ethic.
Her work experience is complemented by her educational qualifications. Colleen holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Manchester Business School, as well as a Bachelor’s (Honours) degree in Language, Literature and Mass Communication, in addition to professional certification in Project Management, Supervisory Management and Marketing.
David Picking, PhD
David is a Senior Research Fellow at the Caribbean Centre for Research in Bioscience (CCRIB) (formerly the Natural Products Institute), at The University of West Indies (UWI) in Jamaica. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry from The UWI, and BSc (Hons) and Graduate Diploma from the University of Westminster’s School of Integrated Health, where he graduated as a naturopath and medical herbalist. David’s research interests include pharmacognosy, ethnopharmacology and ethnobotany. A primary aim of the research being undertaken at CCRIB is to support the development of a strong evidence base for safe medicinal plant use within the Jamaican healthcare system and to support the development of a successful Jamaican natural health products industry. He has published peer reviewed articles, book chapters and books and presented at national, regional and international conferences. He is a regular contributor to the Caribbean-wide TRAMIL network (Traditional Medicines of the Islands) and online pharmacopeia (www.tramil.net), having completed and published Jamaica’s first TRAMIL survey in 2011.
Simone Baker
A Native Jamaican, Simone is a lover of all things nature. She enjoys travel and the outdoors. She currently lives in NYC and is a hairstylist and women’s relationship coach. Her interest in permaculture practices led her back home in 2021 where she met Nicola and was thrilled to hear about her vision for preserving the islands natural resources through sustainable farming practices to uplift the lives of Jamaicans. She is excited by the mission of GWG and The People’s Seed and humbled to be part of this community.
Allison Hollies-Cummings
Allison Hollies-Cummings is a dedicated community leader and advocate with a passion for organic farming and sustainable living. As the President of the Community Development Committee (CDC) for the Wilmington District, she has played a pivotal role in fostering community growth and development. Her work focuses on enhancing the quality of life for residents by promoting sustainable practices and community-driven initiatives.
Allison's entrepreneurial spirit shines through her business, Busch Laiife, where she specializes in organic farming and the production of organic products. Her commitment to sustainability extends to her personal interests, where she loves fabric dyeing using natural plant dyes from Jamaica, particularly indigo dyeing.
A self-taught crochet and knitting enthusiast, Allison enjoys creating handmade items in her spare time. Her creativity and love for natural processes are evident in her beautiful, unique creations.
Beyond her professional and creative endeavors, Allison has a deep love for dance, finding joy and expression through movement. Her diverse interests and unwavering commitment to community and sustainability make her a passionate and important member of GWG
Alex Kalish
Alex is a committed environmental advocate and dedicated member of The People's Seed initiative and the GWG Conservancy. He originally connected with The Source Farm in 2019 while living in a neighboring community as a Peace Corps volunteer, and immediately felt a deep connection with the community based stewardship mission and the amazing group of people making this a reality. Alex brings a background in conservation, regenerative agriculture, and environmental stewardship. Though he lives in California, Alex has been supporting the organization's mission by developing and managing the website, enhancing its digital presence, and making its resources more accessible. Alex also supports with grant writing and organizational development, and spearheaded the creation of The Seed Keepers of Jamaica, a children's book that underscores the importance of agricultural heritage and environmental conservation in Jamaica.
Sydney Williams
Sydney Williams, a proud Jamaican currently residing in the United States, has been an integral part of Source Farm and People’s Seed since 2017. Her roles have spanned grant writing, research, partnership-building, administrative support, and project management. Sydney recently graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Sustainable Development and is now pursuing her master’s in Environmental Management at Duke University. She is passionate about food sovereignty and climate justice, believing that everyone deserves access to growing and having their own healthy, sustainable food. Sydney is dedicated to finding solutions for adapting to climate change, with a focus on prioritizing vulnerable communities facing food, water, and energy insecurity. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, taking long walks, and listening to music.
Shireen Noort
Shireen, originally from the Netherlands, found her love for Jamaica during her travels in 2011 and her stay at The Source Farm. The Caribbean vegetation kept bringing her back. She loves to work with trees, plants, and flowers, and is learning to connect deeply with plants and work in relationship with them. Shireen prefers building new systems and new ways of living, honoring the earth and indigenous wisdom. It’s her dream to work in cooperation with healing plants to bring a high quality product to the people who need it. Her love for the island and the shared vision led to her involvement in the GWG project and Shireen has been a key part of building The People’s Seed.
