our people

New to the team in 2023 at Sylvester Manor Arielle Gardner joins with enthusiasm and gratitude.

Farmer Arielle has experience in chemistry, hospitality, viticulture, enology, vegetable and flower production, animal husbandry, education and entrepreneurship. She is excited and committed to farming the land at Sylvester Manor with respect to its History and Heritage. 

Her prior experience working with three Michelin starred restaurants (and non-starred restaurants alike) instilled a love for food, ingredients/produce; in particular their origins and with respect to the people who farm, raise and reel them in for a living. 

She had a blended experience working in the culinary garden and kitchen of The Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa Valley. While there a deep love of specific and locally grown produce to plate was realized. After working in the gardens, she found her passion and next career choice. 

Being in the heart of wine country and having a desire to move forward with farming, as well as a studied interest in wines and wineries, she made a transition from the dining room floor to the vineyard floor. 

Arielle has spent time working in vineyards and for wineries that incorporated vegetables, livestock, heritage and biodynamic practices. She has worked with Hudson Vineyards, Harlan Estate, Bedrock Wine Company and Littorai Winery, in California. She also spent a harvest at Elisabetta Fordori’s winery in Alto-Adige. 

Arielle has additionally worked alongside the team at Amber Waves Farm, in Amagansett and for a pruning season with Bedell Winery, in Cutchogue. She then started a small-business helping families grow vegetables and spreading joy through flowers for weddings, events and the community of Shelter Island.

In her free time she volunteers as an EMT, takes long walks at sunrise at Reel Point with her dog Cannubi and enjoys cheering on the Golden State Warriors basketball team, from a cozy spot on the couch. 

She hopes that you’ll come by the farm this season to dig into what’s ‘growing on.’