Working with Local Food Systems in Maine

I spent this summer working for Phil’s Farm in Bowdoinham, Maine. Phil runs an organic vegetable farm that grows produce for a CSA and a wholesaler, with the mission to grow a diversity of healthy veggies for the community and to be part of the movement to create and support more small farms in the state. ​

As an intern, among other things, I…​

• Transplanted, weeded, harvested, washed, and packed produce for the CSA​
• Ran the Tuesday CSA pick-up at Bunker Brewery in Portland​
• Researched no-till practices on organic farms and developed a plan to transition several vegetable beds into no-till production next year​
• Wrote a newsletter about how farms are adapting to the changing climate

The summer was a fabulous opportunity to learn from Phil and other local farmers and to meet lots of CSA members invested in local food systems in Maine. I loved chatting with people at the Portland CSA and was struck by the care and love all these people have for growing, preparing, and eating food in sustainable and sustaining ways. I hope I can continue to do similar work while exploring its intersection with food security and food justice; I’m particularly excited about farms and organizations working not only to produce culturally relevant, healthy food but also to get it to folks without the means to buy a farm share. ​A huge thank you to Phil and to my coworkers Noah and Joe, as well as to the farmers at Tender Soles Farm. 

Internship funded by the CXD Internship Fund​.