In the summer of 2017, I was given the opportunity to work at the Colgate Community Garden and it was hands down one of the best experiences of my Colgate career. Working in the garden is by no means easy, but it is an incredibly rewarding experience.
Summer Garden Interns Camila Loke '19 and Mak Bridge '20 at the Colgate Community Garden
Each summer, two interns are hired to maintain the garden with the help of the garden manager, Beth Roy. I worked roughly 40 hours a week, whether that time be spent weeding, planting, or harvesting for our weekly farm stand. I loved being able to see the entire agricultural process from start to finish. Working at the garden is one of the only opportunities students have to get involved with agriculture, and as Colgate is set in such a rural environment, I think it really helps to give the interns a sense of place.
I grew up on a dairy farm, but still managed to learn so much about vegetable farming and organic practices through my job at the garden. As part of the internship, I was also able to take a course facilitated by John Pumilio who is the Director of the Office of Sustainability at Colgate. Through this course I was able to engage in conversations about sustainability at Colgate with faculty members, while also learning how my role in the community garden plays into sustainability initiatives on campus.
The Garden Interns engage with the local community through the weekly farm stand
The Colgate Community Garden is searching for interns to hire for the upcoming summer season. I cannot emphasize enough how cool it is to learn and observe first-hand where your food is coming from and how it is produced. Furthermore, Beth is such a great resource and was able to teach me so much in such a short span of time, so there’s no need to worry if you don’t have previous experience with farming or gardening. Don’t miss out on this unique and amazing opportunity!
Apply for this year’s summer internship by sending your resume and one page cover letter to garden manager, Beth Roy (eroy@colgate.edu). The application deadline is March 23. More information.