"The soil is the great connector of lives, the source and destination of all. It is the healer and restorer and resurrector, by which disease passes into health, age into youth, death into life. Without proper care for it we can have no community, because
without proper care for it we can have no life."
- Wendell Berry
without proper care for it we can have no life."
- Wendell Berry
Final Reflection
I do not think that I would have changed anything about my internship. Even the rainy and/or cold days spent in the field were a wonderful experience. I gained a true appreciation for farmers, and especially organic farmers. In addition I gained some knowledge about growing and nurturing plants that I can take with me the rest of my life. This information will come in handy when I plant my own garden. I have also spoken to the staff at Sweetwater and will be continuing my education with them in the fall. I figure the more time you spend in the “field”, the more knowledge you gain and the more tricks you learn. This experience was perfect for me. I had a high interest in learning the farming process so that I could use it in my personal future. Being out in the field is a very calming, zen-like experience and it is physically challenging at the same time. I would highly recommend participating in this internship to anyone, but I think it is important to remember that it is Florida and it is an outside job where one gets dirty and does plenty of manual labor. I would recommend investing in a pair of gardening gloves, sunscreen and rain gear, especially rain boots. These are invaluable tools in the field. |