About

Mission

The Agro-Eco Project grows nutritious food through regenerative and agroecological farming practices and distributes it to food insecure households across Central Massachusetts. Through ecological stewardship, food access initiatives, and community education, we work to build healthier and more resilient local food systems.

Team Bios

Giulio Caperchi

Founder & President

Giulio Caperchi is the founder and president of The Agro-Eco Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing nutritious food through regenerative agriculture and improving food access for underserved communities across Central Massachusetts. His work centers on the belief that healthy soils produce healthier food, stronger ecosystems, and more resilient communities.

In addition to leading The Agro-Eco Project, Giulio is the founder of Seven Hills Farmstead, a culinary education company that celebrates traditional foodways through hands-on cooking classes, with a particular focus on handmade pasta and regional Italian cuisine. Together, the two organizations reflect his passion for connecting regenerative agriculture with the kitchen, demonstrating that the way we grow food is inseparable from the way we prepare, share, and enjoy it.

Drawing on years of experience in regenerative farming, agroecology, and culinary education, as well as graduate studies in Gastronomy at Boston University, Giulio is committed to creating healthier local food systems through ecological stewardship, food donations, public education, and community engagement. Whether working in the field, teaching a cooking class, or speaking about sustainable agriculture, his goal is to inspire a deeper appreciation for the connections between food, ecology, culture, and community.

Katie Greger

Farm Manager and Head Culinary

Meet Katie Greger, our Farm Manager. Katie has been with the team for 9 years. She has been an integral member in contributing to the farm's growth. She has utilized her bachelor's in biology and studio art and her permaculture certificate to help transform the farm from a small 1–2-acre market garden to 12 plus acres of food forest. Her role, beyond growing food for donations, has additionally moved to the kitchen where she makes value added products with produce grown on the farm. She enjoys making pies for the holidays and looks forward to cooking more throughout the season. She has enjoyed being a part of something great from the ground up and looks forward to the many possibilities such a diversified farm has to provide. Beyond her love of farming, plants and cooking she spends her free time with her Husband Jasper and their horde of animals on a small-scale homestead. She loves to make art and has contributed her talents to the farm.

Pieter Vanderbrug

Community Outreach Coordinator

Meet Pieter VanderBrug, our Community Outreach Coordinator. He grew up on an organic CSA farm in Michigan called "Trillium Haven," which is where his passion for sustainable agriculture and strong community started. Pieter joined the Agro-Eco Project in spring of 2023 for an internship on the farm where he helped with day-to-day operations while finishing his degrees in political science and environmental studies. Pieter fell into his new role while completing his master's in Public Administration, with a concentration in non-profit management. He has enjoyed fostering new connections with local universities, schools, food pantries, and other non-profits through farm visits, volunteer days, classes, and community meetings. With the farm's food forest expanding into an additional 12-acres he looks forward to spreading awareness about the benefits of regenerative agriculture practices and creating a strong community throughout Central Massachusetts. In his free time, Pieter enjoys rock climbing, cooking, and educating himself on local ecology.

What We Do

Food Production & Community Partnerships

The Agro-Eco Project believes everyone deserves access to fresh, nutritious food. We grow vegetables, fruits, herbs, and perennial crops that are donated to local food pantries and community organizations across Central Massachusetts. Using regenerative growing methods without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, we aim to support both environmental and community health.

We also collaborate with regional food pantries, chefs, meal programs, and local food networks to expand access to fresh produce and prepared meals throughout the year, helping strengthen healthier and more resilient local food systems.

Food Pantries we Donate To

How We Produce: Agroecology & Perennial Agriculture

Our farming practices are rooted in agroecology—working with ecological systems to build healthier soils, resilient landscapes, and sustainable food production. We use regenerative methods including no-till farming, composting, cover cropping, agroforestry, and perennial agriculture to reduce synthetic inputs and improve biodiversity.

Alongside annual vegetables, we continue expanding perennial plantings such as fruit trees, berry bushes, nut trees, and long-lived crops that help create more stable and ecologically resilient food systems.

Education, Events & Culinary Experiences

Education and community engagement are central to our mission. Through volunteer farm days, workshops, cooking classes, farm tours, shared meals, and seasonal events, we create hands-on experiences that connect agriculture, ecology, nutrition, and community health.

Our programs invite participants to engage directly with regenerative farming while exploring seasonal cooking, traditional foodways, low-waste practices, and ecological stewardship in welcoming community spaces.