Hope Kelley
Hope Kelley comes to Costa Rica from coastal Rhode Island, on the northeastern edge of the US. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in environmental journalism with a focus in natural resource management, and has worked extensively in regenerative agriculture, farm-to-table initiatives, environmental nonprofits, and advocacy work.

Over the past five years, Hope helped to launch a food forest initiative in Boston, Massachusetts called the Boston Food Forest Coalition, which builds community-owned public edible parks in urban neighborhoods. Her role here was varied, helping to build the organization from scratch, expand on-site agricultural education programming, and lead narrative strategy and storytelling. During this time she also wrote extensively for local publications on food systems, community development, climate resilience, and food access.

In 2023, Hope visited Rancho for the first time on a trip around Central America and was instantly drawn to the ethos and values of the space and the community. She’s thrilled to get to spend one full year immersed in the ranch and is most excited to gain skills and knowledge in tropical agroforestry and rural food systems. She also looks forward to living in community and exploring the invisible systems that make a healthy community tick.

Hope is an avid ocean swimmer, surfer, writer, artist, birder, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend. Her dog, Mae, joins her at the ranch this year too. Mae is a terrier mix who enjoys running, chasing sticks, cuddling, and laying in patches of sun.