Hello friends,
Today I will post my final entries about my internship with
Rogue Farm Corps! You’ll get some
updates on Rogue Farm Corps, my future plans, and some extra photos.
Rogue Farm Corps
updates:
RFC throughout Oregon:
RFC recently received grant funding to expand its programming to other parts of
Oregon. This coming season will be the
first year for the Southern Willamette Farm Corps. The Southern Willamette Valley (which
includes the towns of Eugene and Springfield) is host to many sustainable farms
and ranches, as well as many individuals interested in trying their hands at
farming! RFC also plans to expand its
trainings to other parts of Oregon (Northern Willamette Valley and Central
Oregon) in following seasons.
Continued training:
Next year RFC will also be launching its
FarmsNOW internship.
(I completed the FarmsNext program, which a
season-long immersion for people with little agricultural experience.)
FarmsNOW will be a two-year commitment for
people with at least two years of farm experience.
It will focus on building the planning,
business, and management skills needed for running a diversified vegetable
operation.
Interested in the
program?
Applications are now available
for the 2014 season.
You can read more
about the programs on
RFC’s website and get other updates on their
facebook page.
Personal
reflections:
The value of an
immersive internship: I went into the internship thinking I may want to be
a farmer. I learned pretty quickly that
I don’t want to be a commercial farmer, at least in the traditional sense. However, it’s not like I’ve left the farm and
will never use the knowledge I gained. As
cliché as it sounds, I really did learn a
lot this summer. One of the benefits
of a program like RFC is that it is truly an immersive experience, exposing the
intern to all aspects of work and life on a farm.
Back in Portland:
Even though I am back at home, I am using what I learned during my RFC
experience every day. I am even pickier
about which farms I buy my food from at the farmers market. I like seeking out the smaller farms that may
not come to the larger markets in the city.
I’m thinking about what plants I want to grow in the garden next year
that will fit the Portland climate, can be easily managed, and that taste good. I try to give our backyard chickens happy
lives so they can make good eggs.
Lastly, I am trying to be an advocate for sustainable farmers and food
by following what is going on in the political system and by supporting local
non-profits, NGOs, and social enterprises.
What’s next? I
have a lot of unknowns for what I’m going to be doing next. I have the privilege of having many options
and opportunities. When my next
adventure begins, I hope to write blog updates.
Thanks as always for stopping by to learn and see what I’ve been doing!
