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 48