About the Foundation
The Sobremesa Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a holistic approach to improving human, social, and ecological health through agriculture. We connect philanthropy to education, research, and events to support regenerative agriculture in South Central Indiana.
We also operate our own initiatives to develop skills and awareness in our local community.
Furthering climate focused initiatives and regenerative agriculture through education and practice is at the heart of the Foundation.
Our Mission
"Sobremesa Foundation creates and advances earth-conscious farming, education, and workforce development initiatives centered in South Central Indiana."
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Our Values
Our mission supports ecology and biodiversity, a wisdom spectrum that sees plants, animals and people as part of an interconnected community.
We support agricultural initiatives for marginalized individuals and provide Exodus refugees with meaningful employment at Sobremesa Farm, a place to feel connected to the earth and to heal.
Our Story
In 2013, Robert Frew and Juan Carlos Arango founded Sobremesa Farm with the idea of providing organically grown farm fresh fruit and vegetables directly to the local community. Because sustainability was important to them from the start, they chose a permaculture approach for its flexibility, variability, and regenerative models directly in the growing system. They also sought to create community connections by creating events, educational programs, farm to table gatherings, and collaborations with other conservation organizations.
Along the journey, they realized that many people of color and refugees were cut out of the farming equation, so they made efforts to bring equity to the local food system through fair and equitable employment practices at the farm. In 2022, when Exodus Refugee began relocating refugees from around the globe to Bloomington, Indiana, Frew and Arango realized they needed to expand their reach to find ways to give meaningful employment and opportunity to refugees. That realization lead to the creation of the Sobremesa Foundation, Inc.
The Foundation now provides the ability to seek private and public sector funds as a way of “growing more farmers” through trainings and collaborations with other organizations invested in regenerative agriculture and the regional economy. We are excited about our initiatives and the vison of a future that benefits Hoosiers.
Our People
Learn about the people behind the operation.
Board Members
Co-Founder
Juan Carlos Arango
Born in Colombia, Juan Carlos' primary field was music, receiving his degree in oboe with Vaclav Vinecky at the University of Brasilia UnB, Brazil and studing dulcian with Michael McCraw at Indiana University's Early Music Institute.
After meeting Robert Frew, he started to explore nature as a volunteer for the National Wildlife Federation. Through the Center for Sustainable Living he helped train organizations in Bloomington, Indiana how to establish a wildlife habitat. From there he began to learn about how to create an edible landscape and now he considers Sobremesa Farm a laboratory, allowing him to experiment with many different practices and techniques.
He has had many mentors and teachers such as Jairo Restrepo, Lucille Bertuccio, Keith Johnson and Peter Bane, and received his Permaculture Design Certification in 2015.
Co-Founder
Robert Frew
Native to Indiana, Robert's passion started with language and interpreting. He received a B.A. in Spanish from Indiana University, an American Sign Language national certification from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, and founded the Central Indiana Interpreting Service.
In 2004 he and Juan Carlos trained to become Backyard Habitat Stewards for The National Wildlife Federation working as volunteers installing backyard habitats at schools, churches and businesses.
In 2014 he and Juan Carlos decided to open a small scale farming business after buying 18 acres of land in Bloomington, IN. He received his Permaculture Design Certification in 2015 and continues to build collaborations with various environmental and food justice organizations.
Trustee
Pam Weaver
Pam Weaver's professional background has been in marketing, communications and web technologies in US and Asian markets. Pam's mom and many generations of her mom's family were farmers, so she grew up eating seasonal foods purchased directly from farmers, and listening to conversations about how farm practices were changing. Interests in healthy growing practices, getting people access to healthy foods, and food insecurity have led Pam to support Mother Hubbard's cupboard and serve on the Bloomingfoods Board.
Pam is a Bloomeranger. While living for three years in Seoul she met a woman from Columbia who, when Pam mentioned she was moving back to Bloomington, told her to look up her friend Juan Carlos, who had a farm there. And that small world encounter is how Pam found Sobremesa Farm, and made two new friends completely committed to practicing and advocating for sustainable, healthy growing.
Trustee
Mary Weaver
Mary Weaver is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Healthcare Management and Policy at Indiana University while working in healthcare. While her career is focused on improving health through healthcare, she also believes that healthy communities begin with access to nutritious food, sustainable agriculture, and strong local connections.
Mary became involved with Sobremesa Foundation three years ago through her family's longstanding friendship with founders Robert Frew and Juan Carlos Arango. Growing up with her mother, Pam Weaver, she developed an appreciation for supporting local organizations and the people behind them, making the Foundation's mission a natural fit.
She supports the Foundation through social media and marketing, helping share its story and connect more people with its work. She is proud to serve on the Board and to support Sobremesa's commitment to regenerative agriculture, community education, and creating opportunities that strengthen both people and the environment.
Advisors
Nathan Davis
Nathan Davis has a background in arts and education leader and as accomplished classical musician (cellist) who was a tenured and full professor of music at Minnesota State University Moorhead from 1990-2005. Davis concurrently held appointments as director of the university’s performing arts series, 1996-2000, and provost of a higher education consortium (which included North Dakota State University and Concordia College) from 2000-2005. In this time, Davis developed many externally grant funded initiatives: a service-learning based outreach program connected to K-12 string education, many regionally-based artist residencies (including projects with theater and dance companies as well as orchestras), a community arts organization (youth symphony); and, as provost, public policy programs connected to natural resource management, healthcare, and the criminal justice system.
In 2005, Davis accepted a governor’s appointment to be Executive Director of an executive branch agency in Minnesota state government devoted to arts education (Perpich Center for Arts Education). He led the multifaceted organization (with an on-campus residential arts high school and statewide extension programs) and worked extensively in arts and education policy, as well as leading a statewide strategic planning initiative. After leaving state government, Davis served in consulting roles as an interim executive director at a major dance company and charter school, as well as in fundraising at an institute dedicated to jazz great, Dave Brubeck. In his earlier career he earned a Ph.D. from New York University; and was a free-lance musician in New York City included performing in the American Symphony and traveling to Atlantic City to back-up artists such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Gladys Knight.
More recently, Davis was an adjunct lecturer at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University, visiting scholar at the University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs and consultant with the Indiana State Arts Commission.
Toni Gray
Following a robust corporate career of 36 years, Toni chose to move to Bloomington as an Indiana University Kelley School alumna and IU Varsity Softball player.
She began her career post-graduation with the Quaker Oats Company in Sales, Marketing, Business Development, Recruiting, and Sales Training roles residing in four states and 10 cities over the course of ten years. SC Johnson (SCJ) based in Racine, WI was her next career adventure for another 18 years. She enjoyed many entrepreneurial opportunities at this privately owned family led company including Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, IT, Recruiting, Business Development and Division Leadership. She deliberately chose “turn-around” and “start-up” projects and leadership roles at SCJ to add to her General Management experience. She gained synergistic skills due to the challenges, creativity, consulting, legal negotiations, agency management, problem-solving, staXing, teamwork, and training required to deliver the results the company expected. During the final 8 years she enjoyed independent roles of consulting for a government contractor in operations and project management. Followed by more independent consulting roles in sales, marketing, HR, and project management.
Returning to Bloomington after all these years represents her opportunity to give back to the university and the town which help launch her career/life. Since 2021 she happily volunteers with the Indiana University Athletic Department Leadership Development team led by Lisa Winters, Toni assists Student/Athletes with resume development, interview prep, strategic internship/job searches, networking, and grad school applications. She considers it both a privilege and an honor to work with these student/athletes as they represent our future!!
Prioritizing her health, she always wanted to work/volunteer at an organic, permaculture, regenerative farm. So in May of 2021 when she emailed Sobremesa about volunteering, she started the next week!! She learns more every year at the farm and enjoys helping Robert and Juan Carlos with the projects and challenges they face daily at the farm.
Joseph Wynia
Originally from Michigan, Joseph earned a BS in software engineering and worked in the automotive industry for nearly ten years. During that time, an increasing awareness of the harmful impacts of human activity lead to a complete transition to sustainability advocacy with a focus on composting.
Joseph arrived in Bloomington, Indiana in 2020 following an agricultural apprenticeship in the area, and discovered Sobremesa Farm. He has supported the farm and its initiatives in various capacities over the years since, and values its contributions to the community.
Now, he operates a collective composting program in Monroe County, Indiana to provide composting equipment and training to multi-family housing properties as well as other collective organizations.
James Farmer
Dr. James Farmer is a dairy farmer at Twin Springs Creamery and scholar at Indiana University- Bloomington. He currently conducts research on the forces impacting small and mid-size dairy farms and the communities in which they are positioned. Specifically, Farmer is interested in learning from farmers about ways they are pivoting to maintain their operations and bolster their viability for the future. His research centers on people and communities in the Midwestern region of the United States.
Relatedly, Farmer directs the new Food and Agrarian Systems Program at the Ostrom Workshop, as well as co-directs the IU Campus Farm. Personally, Farmer is a small-scale dairy farmer. He milks a small herd of mostly Jersey cattle and offers Grade A Pasteurized Milk from the farm and in and around Monroe, Lawrence, Greene, and Owen Counties, in the Indiana Uplands region of the state.