Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprenticeship

The LEAF Project

Farm stat: Helped feed over 2,000 people through Farm Share during Summer Program
Favorite farm task: Planting!
A story or memory that stands out: The rush of planting right before the rain, and the joy when the rain comes down and I saw all the baby plants it was watering.

 

“When you’re learning, the best thing to do is to ask questions. It helps you grow and keeps you engaged in the work by creating a conversation out of a task.”

 

What’s next? “I plan to pursue higher education and seek opportunities to support and engage in agriculture, even if it isn’t my main career focus.”

Dickinson College Farm

Farm stat: Record-breaking watermelon harvest of more than 700 pounds in one day
Favorite farm task: Washing crates
Least favorite farm task: Using the BCS mower to till and mow fields.
Favorite beneficial creatures: Mycorrhizal fungi!

 

“This experience broadened my horizons on what farming could be.

Because of how challenging it was, I grew tougher each day. I was constantly surrounded by people with the hardest work ethic Ive ever seen, which pushed me beyond what I believed I was capable of.”

 

What’s next? Looking for jobs within organic agriculture or permaculture.

Monocacy Farm Project

Farm stat: 0 tractor safety incidents
Favorite farm task: Trellising
Least favorite farm task: Preparing irrigation header lines
Favorite beneficial creatures: Bald-faced hornet (dolichovespula maculata)

 “I think I learned to trust myself more, and am leaving this pre-apprenticeship feeling like I am more capable than I previously thought.

The moment that setting up and operating the Tilmor cultivating tractor finally clicked for me and I felt confident enough to do it on my own stands out! It is the skill I am most proud of mastering during my pre-apprenticeship.”

 

What’s next? Shelby will be working full time for Monacacy Farm Project.

Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprenticeship
The LEAF Project

Farm stat: 250 pounds of slicers harvested in one shift
Favorite farm task: Grafting tomatoes or cover cropping
Least favorite farm task: Trellising

Isaac not only learned about farming through his pre-apprenticeship with The LEAF Project, but grew his personal and communicative leadership skills as well. They documented their experience through photos and videos and cannot wait to share it with future generations!

Isaac will continue studying at Dickinson College with a double major in Environmental Studies and Earth Science.

“Take every opportunity and learn from the people who have carved out the path for you! Enjoy the hard work.” 

Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprenticeship
The LEAF Project

Farm stat: Helped over 2,000 farm shares reach families in the community
Favorite farm task: Trellising–especially with peas and pepper plants
Least favorite farm task: Weeding after a rainy day

Ella explored various farming skills and business strategies at The LEAF Project. One of her favorite memories was learning how to operate the BCS tractor, as well as learning more about the mechanical system. Her creativity and humor brought lots of fun to the farm crew!

After graduating, she will pursue a fellowship with The LEAF Project and continue to share her knowledge of farming with the incoming youth crews.

“Turn to your coworkers and staff team for help. Always ask for and explore new ideas.”

Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprenticeship
Truelove Seeds

Farm stat: An innumerable and growing number of seeds and seed stories
Favorite farm task: Seed cleaning and collecting
Least favorite farm task: Weeding
Favorite beneficial creature: Mantids

Sarah participated as a pre-apprentice at Truelove Seeds, where they stewarded Korean crops at the acreage–one of which was Korean cosmos, their grandfather’s favorite flower.

Sarah plans to continue farm work with Truelove and, as an artist, hopes to merge their experience in agriculture with an environmentally-focused creative practice.

“It’s truly about the people you work with and the community and solidarity you build with them.”

Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprenticeship
Bucknell University Farm

Farm stat: 5 acres of soil microbes prioritized
Favorite farm tasks: Wheelbarrowing compost, broad forking, weeding carrots, harvesting potatoes
Least favorite farm task: Washing greens
Favorite beneficial creature: Praying mantis

Theresa worked at the Bucknell University farm as a pre-apprentice, learning to lean into curiosities and better grasp the ‘why’ questions in the work they do, as well as the importance of a community that prioritizes the growth of one another. In their work, they aim to have a holistic understanding of the systemic obstacles of food insecurity and food access beyond production. Theresa finds beauty in the ordinary–while trellising cherry tomatoes one day, Theresa found comfort and encouragement in realizing that there is no one way to farm regeneratively or complete a task. Different farmers will approach the problem differently. 

Theresa will continue in their position as a Food Access Coordinator at AmeriCorps and hopes to work in regenerative agriculture afterward.

“The more knowledge and experience I gained, the more I realized how much I still had to learn. This sounds intimidating but is actually exciting. I became more aware of where the gaps in my knowledge were and eventually more equipped to know which questions to ask.”

Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprenticeship
Ross Student Farm, Penn State

Farm stat: 80 pounds of potatoes in one afternoon
Favorite farm task: seeding and transplanting
Least favorite farm task: Moving tarps
Favorite beneficial creature: bumble bees

Grant participated as a pre-apprentice at Ross Student Farm, Penn State, where he learned the basics of vegetable farming and the value of hard work. As someone who is mechanically inclined, Grant has always been fascinated by and willing to help assemble tools, which came in handy for farm and agricultural work. It didn’t surprise us that the first time he operated a BCS tractor was an especially memorable one filled with thrill and fright–eventually, he became comfortable and even familiar enough to repair it!

Upon graduating from the program, Grant hopes to conduct research in a weed science program at Penn State and save money along the way to start his own farm.

“Putting in hard work and careful planning at the beginning of the season will pay off later. Setting yourself up for success by organizing tools and equipment helps improve the workflow, especially in the peak of the busy season.”

Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprenticeship
The LEAF Project

Farm stat: Best carrot crop in 2021
Favorite farm task: Greenhouse harvest
Least favorite farm task: Fine-tune hand weeding
Favorite beneficial creature: Golden Orb Weaver spider

Jared participated as a pre-apprentice at The LEAF Project, where his unique work ethic and willingness to learn made for a transformational experience. Through his tenure, he was able to find his voice in leadership roles, gain confidence in public speaking, and connect with the local community. 

Upon graduating from the program, Jared will continue studying forensic biology at Waynesburg University.

“Say yes to any opportunity that comes your way, even if it looks scary. It will let you grow and soar to new heights you did not think were possible.”

Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprenticeship
Lafayette College

Farm stat: Harvesting 500 ears of corn in 15 minutes
Favorite farm task: Harvesting
Least favorite farm task: Prepping beds
Favorite beneficial creature: Ladybugs

Madison stewarded the Lafayette College farm as part of her tenure as a Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprentice, acquiring more farming skills that she will take with her moving forward. Her interest in food and farming began when she started her plant-based journey in 2010. She thoroughly enjoys spending time with volunteers on the farming!

Upon graduating, she will be pursuing jobs where she can teach others the importance of farming, whether it be as a farmer or an environmental educator.

“Farming is the ultimate learning experience. The learning process is never quite complete, leaving something new to learn every single day.”

Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprenticeship
The LEAF Program

Farm stat: Probably pulled 10,000 weeds
Favorite farm task: Harvesting either green beans or kale
Least favorite farm task: Folding and unfolding tarps
Favorite beneficial creature: Mycorrhizal fungi

Jonah worked as a pre-apprentice at the LEAF Project, learning new technical skills and knowledge as they relate to different agricultural issues. Through this program, they were able to see how hands-on farming interacts with business and marketing, as well as understand how farming fits into the larger ecosystem of plants, animals, and microorganisms. 

Upon graduating, Jonah will continue his education in food studies at Chatham University.

“Always ask questions. Anytime someone offers to teach you something new, take them up on it.”

Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprenticeship
Dickinson College Farm

Farm stat: Hundreds of pounds of potatoes harvested
Favorite farm task: Harvesting
Least favorite farm task: Sorting tomatoes
Favorite creature: Lactobacillus

Carlie worked at the Dickinson College farm as a pre-apprentice, gaining core leadership skills that were applicable as she guided students and volunteers with ease. Prior to her work with Dickinson, Carlie worked with an environmental non-profit, where she encountered community gardens and learned the importance of sustainable food systems. She remembers the time she scoured the field to harvest melons as an especially memorable one, feeling like a true farmer!

After graduation, she hopes to become a core part of the team at her next farm, where she can learn the land and implement the knowledge she has gained across multiple farming seasons.

“Not everything will be perfect, no matter how hard you try. It is a very rewarding job, and you cannot dwell on your mistakes or the things you cannot control because things are bound to happen. You’ll solve them as you go or improvise and move forward. It’s a task of knowing how to prioritize, and it will all be okay.”

Diversified Vegetable Pre-Apprenticeship
Lafayette College

Farm stat: Managed and mentored eight farm workers
Favorite farm task: Harvesting brussel sprouts
Least favorite farm task: Repairing holes in drip-tape irrigation
Favorite beneficial creature: Worms

Abigail joined the Lafayette College farm as a pre-apprentice, learning new farm-related responsibilities and methods of multitasking while on the field. She approached this work through an intersectional lens, creating a safe space for all identities to have dialogue, expression, and understanding amongst each other. Abigail’s first memory of thinning carrots was an especially memorable one because she learned an essential farm trick that will carry on in her future endeavors.

They are currently interning at their city’s community garden program through coordinating volunteer events, setting up workshops, and developing educational opportunities. They are also working on completing their undergraduate degree in environmental studies and hope to continue their involvement with community organizations focused on local food and farm initiatives.

“I found it incredibly helpful to take time at the end or start of every week to make a list of tasks that needed to get done and with what urgency because so much of farming is time-dependent.”