Organic Farming Internships Thrive

(This article was excerpted from “Turning Principian Thumbs Green” by Ginny Tonkin, staff writer for the Principia Pilot.)

Twice a week, senior Molly Hayes, junior Jenn Odell, sophomore Lulu Mosman, and freshman Emma Lowenberg venture into Elsah, where they learn about organic agriculture as interns on Three Rivers Community Farm. Dirty knees and dusty pants are hallmarks of their work.

Farmer Amy Cloud runs Three Rivers Community Farm [started in 2006] with her husband Segue Lara. Cloud and Lara live with their eight-month-old son Diego on this small-scale, chemical-free operation, which is a form of community-supported agriculture (CSA).

Mosman applied for the internship, inspired by author Barbara Kingsolver’s book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, which records the Kingsolver family’s year of eating only locally or homegrown food. “I love the local aspect of organic farming,” said Mosman. As for weeding, Mosman does not see the task as a chore. “I look at it as ‘eradicating evil from the soil,’” she said.

In addition to biweekly visits to the farm, the internships contain academic components. The intern group meets weekly with Biology professor Mike Rechlin to discuss readings from Michael Pollan’s book Omnivore’s Dilemma, which examines the American food industry.

Interns will also complete an individual project, which allows them to examine in depth a particular facet of organic farming. Mosman brightened as she explained her topic of choice, heirloom vegetable varieties: “They come in all different colors, varieties, flavors. They’re better for the soil, because they use different nutrients than conventional varieties do.” Hayes is exploring how a farmer could actually start and establish [an] organic farm. After graduation, Hayes is thinking about starting her own farm back home in Montana.

Cloud loves the student involvement. She hopes that by participating at the farm, students come away knowing how to care for their own garden. “Our internship is a hands-on learning experience,” Cloud said. “Best way to learn is just to get your hands dirty and do it.”

Read Tonkin’s entire article in the Pilot.

Learn more about Three Rivers Community Farm.