FARM INTERNS SPEAK…in this category I will present the writings of interns on the farm. Here, Jordan shares her experience. She’ll keep you posted again soon on how her farming experience continues through the two weeks that she spends with us.
Jordans Farming Experience
For my two-week senior project, I could have chosen anything in the world to do. My friends are painting furniture, the other two are cooking together, and two others are traveling to New York to restaurant hop. All though all of these things sound interesting, I decided I wanted to live and work on a farm. Why? Because no matter what we do in life, everything still revolves around food; food that comes from a farm. I want to strive to be as environmentally conscious as I can be, and I think that starts with immersing myself in farming and learning how to get my hands dirty and be around food without having to go to a grocery store to get it. This is my two-week experience of a suburban raised teenager who hates bugs going to live on a farm.
Day 1: Worked from 12-6 (with breaks of course)
I got dropped off here at 12 noon today. This is a culture shock already, but a lovely one. The farm was thriving with rows and rows of vegetables, and wonderful animals like cows, chickens, and goats. There is even a huge greenhouse here for the seedlings and other plants. When I got to the farm, I was sent to pick strawberries with Noah and Jonah. This was really fun, and a great way to get to know the kids. After that I was sent to help weed potatoes. This might sound easy, but it was hard for me. I wasnt used to all the bugs around me, bending down for a long time, or the heat of the sun. Needless to say, I got sunburn on my shoulders. Even though it was difficult, I really enjoy the experience. I was able to relax, ease my mind, and get into a weeding rhythm. At the end of the day Ilene took me to yoga class, which was great because I was definitely sore and tired from weeding all day. Even though it was difficult at first, I became even more excited about this challenge and the beautiful farm.
Day 2: Worked from 7-6 (with breaks)
This was an exciting day, because it was the first night I slept over. I woke up early to help Phil with the chores: we moved the chickens house, got eggs, watched a goat being milked, and spent around an hour or hour and a half watering the plants in the greenhouse. At first this was fun, but then got a little tedious, as it was really hot out. Even still, it was nice to clear my mind once again and relax by having this routine. I really enjoyed being around the plants. After breakfast I went to pick some more strawberries so we could freeze them, which was nice because I ate some while picking. After all the morning chores Ilene dropped me off at her friends farm because she had errands to run that day. It was really nice to get a whole other farms perspective and to see how not all farms are the same. I really enjoyed working on this farm as well, but was excited to get back to Ilenes and be with her family. I was exhausted when I got back, and once I was in bed I fell right asleep. That was a tiring day!
Day 3: Worked from 8-4 (with breaks)
This was a quieter day. I woke up at 8 to watch (and try myself) a goat being milked. I cant get over what an amazing experience this is. I love the animals here! Afterward, Phil brought me into the field to pick 30 pounds of garlicscapes. That was a lot of hard work, because I was in the fields for around three hours, and had to keep going back to the veggie shed to empty the bucket I was given. This was a challenging day because I was sore from the previous two days, and the heat was almost unbearable. I somehow managed through all the picking and ended up really enjoying my alone time. I find that even though farming is hard, it is also relaxing. The one thing I have noticed the most though about farm life, is that even though there are many chores to be done, I never feel rushed or chaotic. Everything here moves in a slower pace compared to the city, and I think that is one of the reasons I am so attracted to this lifestyle. So far I can say that my time on the farm has been a worthwhile experience and that I already feel like a different person.