Steve Eigsti
Steve Eigsti, Youth Programs Coordinator
Started at GGI: 2010
What I Do at GGI: My role at Gateway Greening is to expand gardening in St. Louis by assisting and implementing education focused gardens. I provide technical gardening support, garden based curriculum assistance, and other advice to a variety of educators in the St. Louis public schools, child care providers, youth service providers, YMCAs, and other community organizations. Additionally, I work to increase the availability of safe and nutritious food in schools, child care facilities, and other organizations that serve youth. I also enjoy writing articles for Gateway Greening publications about the successes and positive stories I hear from teachers, students, and garden leaders.
Background: Having grown up on a farm in a rural area of north central Illinois I have had the opportunity to do a variety of outdoor and agricultural jobs, such as detasseling corn, picking strawberries at an organic farm, and being a camp counselor. After high school I received a degree in History Education from Goshen College. After graduation I remained in Goshen, Indiana and taught seventh grade social studies and coached a variety of middle school sports.
In 2008, I joined the St. Louis Mennonite Peace Center and began working with the Columbia Peace and Hope Garden at Columbia Elementary School in St. Louis. I was drawn to the opportunity to explore a new city, while working with a combined school and community garden. During the garden’s off-season I taught restorative justice and conflict resolution classes with Community Conflict Services in two St. Louis Public Schools.
Presently: Gateway Greening staff provided great support when I was a garden leader with the Columbia Peace and Hope garden, so I am excited to be part of a staff that I know first-hand is committed and passionate about improving communities and schools through gardening. I thrive on having different types of work to look forward to, and Gateway Greening provides great opportunities to learn new skills, work with a wide variety of people, and make use of both my mind and body.
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