By: Emilio Carrión, senior, Agricultural Sciences, Leadership Development
Hi! My name is Emilio Carrión, I am an international student from Ecuador. It has only been four weeks since I started my summer internship at the farm, but I have already experienced new and exciting things. This has been an opportunity for me to learn about sustainable agriculture and how it benefits the environment, our health, and the community.
One of the things that I have experienced from the farm is the amount of work dedicated towards having a good soil quality. Much of the work done is oriented towards having a soil that can: drain well, be loose, and be high in nutritional content. Raised beds are the basis of the farm’s cropping system. There are many benefits of having raised beds, like better drainage, loose soil, higher yields, no need for a tractor, among others. The ideal source for working on raised beds is a two-wheel tractor, which we have at the farm. During the first few weeks, I was able to learn how to use the two-wheel tractor for the first time! One of the reasons of why this tool is the ideal source is because the handlebars are able to turn 180 degrees, which allows us to walk without stepping on the beds. It is also small and light, making it a suitable selection of machinery for cultivating.
A group of farm interns use the tractor to prepare beds. Photo: Carissa Heine
Another new experience was planting two cover crops together: soybeans and buckwheat. The goal of having cover crops is to add organic matter and nutrients to the soil. Soybeans and rhizobia, a soil bacteria, form a symbiotic relationship to make nodules on the soy bean’s roots to capture nitrogen from the air and add it to the soil. So, to make sure that the soil had enough rhizobia, we covered the soybean seeds with inoculant. The buckwheat provides carbonaceous organic matter.
Besides the work at the farm, I have also been assisting in the planning of two events that we are going to have this summer, which are the “Summer Solstice Celebration” and “Art on the Acre”. I am looking forward to these events that will bring the community together.
Farm intern, Emilio harvesting radishes for the Student Farm CSA program. Photo: Alyssa Gurklis
I am happy to be a part of this internship that has already, in just four weeks, taught me many things and has allowed me to meet wonderful people!