A (non)Farmer in Seattle

My mishaps, musings, and adventures regarding my eight weeks in Seattle with DukeEngage as a farm intern with Solid Ground Lettuce Link

[mika-in-seattle]

farm photo dump

[mika-in-seattle]

08.13.17

DukeEngage Seattle was the BEST way to spend my summer. I feel like I’ve had so much time to reflect, grow, and become more aware of what social/sustainability-related issues the U.S. is facing right now. I’m going to miss Seattle so much--the water, the mountains, the neighborhoods... This city will always feel like a little piece of home for me. I’m also going to miss the friendships from my program. My apartment was this nurturing little bubble that I wish I could carry with me during the rest of my years at Duke. Farewell Seattle, thanks for being my home these past two months!

[2sandmimosas]

08.12.17 | silly photoshoot on the ferry ride back to Seattle

[2sandmimosas]

08.12.17 | enjoying being on the water

[2sandmimosas]

08.12.17 | leaving Seattle behind on the ferry to Bainbridge Island

[2sandmimosas]

08.11.17 | found a strip of public shore perfect for a swim in Madison Park

[mika-in-seattle]

08.10.17

Congrats, you’ve made it to the last of my “last day” posts. Today was my last day at Solid Ground, my last day at Seattle Community Farm. We cleared a bed, planted some radishes, and freed a bed of carrots from the clutches of weeds. SCF is a marker of the difficulties of non-profit work. Solid Ground no longer has the money to maintain the farm, but it’s having trouble finding a non-profit in Rainier Vista to pass the farm to because no other non-profit has the money either. The work on SCF felt a little half-hearted, not because Shanelle, Shailey, and I didn’t care about producing vegetables, but because the farm itself was in a flux. That being said, my days here were probably my most tranquil and meditative. Parting with Shanelle was sad after our many laughs and great conversations. She’s starting her own farm in Seattle called Percussion Farms that will fuse social justice initiatives with organic farming. It’s a super cool project, and I’ve been inspired by her passion and perseverance. Goodbye Solid Ground!

[mika-in-seattle]

08.09.17

Today was my last day in the Solid Ground office. It was a strange feeling trying to tie up loose ends and forwarding important emails to my supervisor, Kathleen. The hardest part about being an intern is the impermanence of it all; you know from the start that you’re not going to be sticking around. I feel like I have to leave Solid Ground just when things are starting to get good. I finally have a groove, I am building relationships with people in the Hunger and Food Resources Department, and I’m starting to develop a perspective on the inequitable food system. I hate leaving things unfinished. Although the Marra farm tour brochure and food demo were my two finished projects for this summer, my time at Solid Ground feels like it was cut off prematurely. I feel so much gratitude for Kathleen and the rest of the people in HFR who made me feel welcome in the office, and took the time to get to know me. A caring, supportive work environment truly makes all the difference.

[mika-in-seattle]

08.08.17

Today was my last day at Marra farm. I can’t believe that my summer here is coming to an end. Here, I’ve learned not only how to farm, but also how to cultivate gratitude and patience. This place has been so rooted in peace and balance for me, which is something I really needed after a whirlwind two years of challenges and change at Duke. I hate goodbyes, so I didn’t say a proper one, pretending instead that I’d be back pulling weeds and washing vegetables in a few days. 

[mika-in-seattle]

08.07.17 | the BEST poke bowl from stop n shop, wallingford

[mika-in-seattle]

08.06.17 | my beautiful, loving apartment gals

[mika-in-seattle]

08.06.17 | golden gardens pt. 2

[mika-in-seattle]

08.05.17 | smoggy skies from forest fires in bc

[mika-in-seattle]

08.05.17

The second-to-last (!!!) weekend began with a work party at the Danny Woo Community Garden in the International District. I thought it was interesting that gardeners had their own individual plots, as opposed to co-oping and sharing the harvest from a massive community garden. The Danny Woo Garden is truly an urban garden, wedged into the historic I-district, and stretching vertically on a hill rather than horizontally. While I felt that the work we did contributed to the garden, I felt disconnected to the actual food-growing process. After the work party, our group got dim sum at Harbor City, which was just a few minutes walk away. First of all, I am obsessed with dim sum, which is actually hilarious because I don’t really eat that much meat. I’m all about the stuffed sweet buns, and boy did I get my fill today. Taro bun, red bean-filled fried sesame balls, coconut buns... it was all divine. I’m thrilled that I was able to experience the community efforts and delicious cuisine of the I-district. 

[mika-in-seattle]

08.04.17 | it's tomato season!

[mika-in-seattle]

08.03.17 | checked out the frye art museum

[mika-in-seattle]

08.04.17

Today was my last day with the Marra Farm coordinator, Rachel. She’s been such a patient teacher to me these past seven weeks, making somewhat of a farmer out of a girl who’s barely gardened. There were no volunteer groups today, so it was just the two of us at the farm. We started out the day by harvesting green beans, tomatoes, carrots, cilantro, and kale. In the afternoon, we weeded, beating the 90-degree heat by running through sprinklers and spraying ourselves down with the hose. (I love farm work, but farm work in the heat is definitely NOT my favorite thing.) We finished off with an education workshop, which Rachel had carefully planned based off some questions about farming that I had given her about four weeks ago. We talked about optimal germination temperatures, cover crops, companion planting, and other farm know-how. Lying under the apple trees in the shade, learning from and laughing with Rachel was a great way to close out my summer working with her. I am grateful for the conversations we’ve had this summer, all I’ve learned from her, and the steady support and care she gave me.