Harris after setting row cover over summer squash.
Not many people can say that they are right in the middle of two worlds and bringing them both together, but Samuel Harris can. A resident of St. Mary's County in Maryland, Harris didn’t grow up on a farm, but he has an immense appreciation for farms. This appreciation made Harris want to study Sustainable Agriculture at the Institute of Applied Agriculture at the University of Maryland. With that, he recently completed a 3-month internship at The Farm at Sunnyside in Washington, Virginia, as a seasonal farm worker.
Harris seeded, weeded, harvested, and sold vegetables, in addition to caring for 400 laying hens. Harris was asked to continue working for the farm throughout the fall season where he will continue selling the farm’s goods at the DuPont Circle Farmer’s Market. As Harris said, “I am specifically interested in the immediate interface between farms and consumers.” So he finds it important to do the actual farm work as well as selling the product. Harris plans to spend time on other farms with a similar mission of conservation and high quality products for the consumer.
Harris learned a lot about managing by working directly with the farm managers Stacey and Casey. Stacey Carlberg said, “We loved having Sam on the farm and wish that he could have stayed longer. He fit right in with the rest of our team and was really a caring and conscientious team member. Plus, he has a great sense of humor--which can be very important when you're picking tomatoes for hours in 100 degree heat.”
Harris walked away from his internship with greater farming knowledge and plenty of stories to tell. For example, one day on their way to a farmer’s market, the truck carrying produce broke down, leaving them with only their tables and a part of their load of produce. But, another farmer at the market sent their truck to transport the produce from the broken-down truck to the market. This act of kindness from the other seller impressed Harris and he says it shows the community that is often found among farmers.
While spending many hours on the farm this summer, Harris gained new knowledge, appreciation, and friends, as well as a clearer direction for his future. If Harris finds himself on a farm one future day, he will be better prepared with the skills he learned from this internship such as efficient harvesting and transplanting by hand. Harris will be graduating from the IAA in December.
Happy hens having an afternoon snack on oats and field peas.
