Uta Reimnitz

Gardening

Now in her sixth year at YRCS, Farmer Uta brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion to the school’s garden and landscape. With a degree in Environmental Studies from UCSB and over 15 years of school garden experience, she is dedicated to instilling a lifelong love of gardening and nature in future generations. Before joining YRCS, Farmer Uta was deeply involved in grassroots conservation efforts, even co-founding a marine turtle protection project in Mexico. Though her journey to this role was a happy accident, it has become the perfect way to share her lifelong gardening and farming skills with children. She treasures the opportunity to teach students about growing food, caring for the earth, and developing a reverence for nature. Her favorite part of the school day is watching the children run down to the garden, eager to learn and explore.

Originally from the Bay Area, Farmer Uta has lived in Santa Barbara, Idaho, San Diego, and Mexico—where she spent meaningful time working on conservation projects. When she’s not in the garden, she enjoys crystal hunting, mushroom foraging, crabbing, and fishing. A true advocate for sustainability, she and Señora Thomson run a worm farm, transforming local food waste into high-quality castings that help gardens and farms thrive. Her love for the natural world is matched by her enthusiasm for sharing it with others.

Her life motto is simple: “You only live once—make sure it’s enough.” If she could share a meal with anyone, it would be her father, a renowned marine geologist and expert on ice formations and their effects on global climate change. Farmer Uta is grateful to be part of the YRCS community and looks forward to continuing to cultivate a love for nature, sustainability, and hands-on learning in every student she teaches.