2018 CIIP Program Book CIIP Booklet 2018 | Page 49
My time at Strength to Love Farm has been an enlightening experience. Every day I spent on the
farm was an opportunity to learn something new. Through Strength to Love Farm, I have had the
pleasure to meet fantastic people that are doing everything they can to contribute to the com-
munity. The foundational principle upon which this organization operates is compassion. I have
consistently witnessed beautiful moments of compassion and generosity from my coworkers to
the community. Whether it be gifting a plot of land to a local resident, giving local children the
invaluable opportunity to learn about the process of urban farming, or offering free produce to a
passerby, there is no other way in which the people at Strength to Love Farm could be any more
accommodating of their community.
The work I have had the privilege of doing on the farm has been physically taxing. The summer
heat in Baltimore is merciless and being located in the middle of a maze of asphalt only exac-
erbates the issue. I continue to be impressed by the unflagging persistence of my coworkers in
these adverse conditions. They would work to the point of exhaustion and beyond. I admired
how much they were willing to sacrifice for the wellbeing of the farm. Their intense dedication to
the farm has inspired a mirrored sentiment within myself. I have grown to feel connected to the
farm and, in a larger sense, the community that it affects because of the example set and welcom-
ing dispositions of the individuals that I have worked with throughout this summer.
By far my favorite part of working on the farm has been reaching out to people in the community
and promoting the healthy and delicious fruits of our labor. Working at the market is definitely
one of my favorite jobs because it provides a window into seeing exactly who we are working
so hard for. I loved being able to discuss the healthy benefits of our vegetables, and what made
selling produce all the better was knowing that what I was giving these individuals was going to
make them happy. I do not believe I had one customer leave my vegetable stand without a smile
on their face. I have everyone that I worked with to thank for providing me with such a wonderful
opportunity to learn and not only grow food but also grow closer to the city of Baltimore in the
process. Thank you.
Community Partner: Strength to Love 2
Intern: Scotty McGaugh
Site Supervisor: Denzel Mitchell
What is Strength to Love 2?
Strength to Love 2 is a community based
program in west Baltimore’s Sandtown- Win-
chester community that uses a 1.5 acre farm
to offer employment to citizens returning to
the community form incarceration. The farm
also helps to address the food desert issue in
and surrounding our neighborhood.
• Managed and maintained the health of
crops and produce via weeding, irrigation,
fertilizing, humane pest remediation strat-
egies, or use of organic pesticides
• Seeded and planted new crops for future
harvest
• Harvested and prepared produce for sale
• Marketed to and personally interacted
with client base at the Waverly Farmer’s
Market
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