My name is Joanna, and I am a third year Environmental Resource Management student with minors in Watersheds and Water Resources and Wildlife and Fisheries Science. Through this internship with the Student Farm, I hope to expand my knowledge on sustainable agriculture and learn ways to spread more sustainable practices into food systems worldwide. So far during the class, I’ve enjoyed learning about Community Shared Agriculture and getting my hands in the soil to grow food for my community.
My interest in the world of agriculture did not start until I was 14 and traveled outside of the country for the first time. I was in Peru with a travel program and for the last couple days of our trip, we stayed at a remote village off Lake Titicaca, where we helped the community build roads and learned about their culture. The family I stayed with were farmers, and they were talking to us about the way they farm and how they use most of their biproducts in other ways to avoid waste. This conversation set me in an entirely different direction for my interests and future education, leading me to the Student Farm to continue this education.
This internship is my first real step into the agriculture field outside of the classroom. Last year, I studied abroad to Costa Rica through an embedded program learning about Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources. During the week we were there, we visited several types of sustainable farms, including a cocoa farm, a vegetable farm, and farms with livestock and other animals to learn about ways they practice sustainability. It has been interesting comparing the things I learned in Peru and Costa Rica to the things I’m learning and doing for the Student Farm! My experience with this has opened a new interest in International Agriculture and sustainability, which I may pursue in the future.
So far, my favorite thing about the Student Farm is how community-based its systems are. Before the class, I was oblivious to how corrupt and unsafe many food-systems were across the globe. Giving students such big roles within the farm operations and outreach helps give leadership and field experience that is hard to come by. The partnership between campus food and housing and other local and PSU markets really makes the farm feel like it’s done for the community, which is rewarding to all involved for a better and safer food market.