Theresa Dollar

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.”