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My goal for summer 2021 was to work on a farm, and through many applications, interviews, and determination I have had the opportunity to work as a garden intern at Turner Farm. For the past two months I have been working on this organic farm learning how to cultivate food for market, care for livestock, and use farm equipment. This experience is greatly impacting my professional goals because my dream is to create my own homestead while educating farmers on how to grow food in a way that works with and for the environment. I work alongside a group of strong women, spending hours in the elements, and strengthening my understanding of what it is like working in the agricultural field. I have learned how to plant in succession to ensure that there is always a crop in the ground to continually make an income and protect soil health. I now know of organic ways to deal with pests and what pests target certain plants. Not only am I learning how to grow food organically, but I am also developing as a person.
Farming has empowered me. I have grown confident in my decisions and realized my physical and mental strength and endurance. I am better able to prioritize tasks and change plans on a whim. My perfectionism has subsided which has improved my mental health. When I first started to weed beds, I had to get every single one, within the next week all the weeds were back again. Witnessing this, I understood that it is important to get the big weeds that will impact the plants growth rather than focusing on the small weeds. I can reflect on this in my personal life and with schoolwork. Instead of trying to do everything perfectly, I can prioritize what needs my attention right away and prevent myself from burning out trying to give everything my energy. This internship has advanced my knowledge about farming and my personal health.
My goal for next year is to continue learning about other environmentally conscious ways of farming which include permaculture and agroforestry. I can accomplish this by working on a different farm that incorporates these practices so that I can learn more about how to cultivate food in a sustainable way. An internship I am interested in for next summer is to work as a research intern at Greenacres. This way I could learn the science behind growing food in a biodynamic way. Another option is to enroll in the WWOOF program. This is an organization where people can find different farms across the world to work on and receive food and housing in return. This option interests me the most because I want to travel to see how different foods are cultivated in different environments. While in school, I am continually working on my home garden. I am incorporating the organic practices I have learned at Turner Farm and I am learning how to can, store, and cook with the food we grow. I would also like to complete the permaculture certificate at the Cincinnati Permaculture Institute to further understand how that method comes into fruition.
With this internship I have grown a substantial amount of food to heal people and the planet while also expanding as a person. I am grateful for the experience and it has inspired me to further pursue my career in the agricultural field.
This is a picture of the other interns I work with. The sheep were lambing so there were many new members of the herd that were too cute not to hold! From left to right: me, Katelyn, Annika, and Emily.
This shows our field of brassicas, one of the many fields we cultivate in. We harvest these two times a week! Under the plants, the soil is covered with leaf mold to protect it from eroding, hold in moisture, and build upon the organic matter.
Here is the flerd, a nickname for when cattle and sheep are together. These animals graze the land and spread their manure which adds nutrients to the soil while providing an income for the farm. These animals are rotated daily to ensure they are getting the best food and to prevent the land from being destroyed. Every four years the pastors are turned into crop fields so that the nutrient rich soil can be used to grow healthy plants. This is an agricultural practice that integrates livestock with growing food.
These are the pigs that play a critical role on the farm. They act as our garbage disposal! The vegetables that are not fit for sale or have bolted, like this lettuce, goes to the pigs. This ensures that there is no food waste and acts as a closed system of nutrients.
Here, I am planting peppers that will grow to feed the community. I am happiest in the sunshine with my hands in the soil!
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