Hello! My name is Amber Bowman, and I am a Student Farm intern for the 2023 growing season. I transferred to Penn State this fall as a junior and am majoring in Plant Sciences with a focus in Horticulture. Prior to transferring, I had no idea what I wanted to do with a biology degree. I knew that I wanted a career where I would be outdoors most of the time, and I knew that I wanted to have my own business one day. Millersville offered a botany program, but I was trying to avoid taking physics and organic chemistry courses, so when I saw the requirements for a horticulture degree, I knew that it was something I would really enjoy learning about.
Growing up, I was always outside and exposed to various forms of agriculture. I lived across from a horse farm, spent the summers working at my uncle’s dairy farm, and helped my mom with the garden. It wasn’t until I got my first job that I realized how much I loved working with plants. When I was 15, my friend’s mom told us about a local hydroponic farm that was hiring, and we both started working there within a few weeks. I had no idea what hydroponics was when I started, and little did I know that I would end up working there for the next 4 years. I was able to learn so much about sustainable agriculture, organic market gardening, IPM, and varieties of vegetables I didn’t know existed. I honestly don’t know if I would have even considered majoring in plant sciences if it weren’t for this opportunity, so I am beyond grateful for it. Although agriculture is obviously a necessary field, I think I considered gardening more of a hobby before I had first-hand experience of the potential of market gardens.
As I learned more about different growing systems, the importance of soil health, and plant diseases/pests, I completely took over the home garden. Cooking is another passion of mine, so I love being able to watch my food grow from a seed and turn into a delicious and healthy meal. I am excited to continue learning about sustainable ag and farming as I transition from the training course to more work on the farm. The Student Farm and my previous job both valued sustainability but operated differently in terms of the business and education side of things. It is really cool to see what both farms do similarly and what they do differently. As I continue to acclimate to Penn State, I hope to get more involved in both the Student Farm and other clubs/opportunities.