The first few weeks of March will be spent scouting the weather forecast for those “in-like-a-lion” cold nights. The resulting frozen ground will allow us to drive a tractor into the fields to start spreading a thick layer of compost. On wet days, we’ll begin broadforking and preparing our high tunnels for hundreds of incoming tomato seedlings. On warm days, we’ll be pulling the last of our parsnips from the ground.
Late last month we transitioned our greenhouse from a winter wash station back to a greenhouse, in which we will start seeding our very first successions of lettuce, chard, kale and beets -- the first crops to be planted in the fields in April. We’ll also be seeding hundreds of tomatoes destined for the high tunnels, plus thousands of flowers, herbs, and vegetable starts for the Plant Sale.
Here to help us with this (and lots of upcoming) work, we have welcomed some new faces to the farm. We’re thrilled to welcome a new Wholesale Coordinator and Foodshare Coordinator, and we’ve got a great group of Fieldwork Interns from Vassar’s Office of Community Engaged Learning.
Read on to meet the newest members of our team!
Erin Moylan, Wholesale Coordinator
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
Fun fact about you: I have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do
This season at PFP I want to… work on pest & disease observation and identification
Someday I hope to… wake up before my alarm clock and switch to tea instead of coffee. I remain hopeful.
Natalie Marshall, Foodshare Coordinator
Hometown: Montclair, NJ
Fun fact about you: I spent the winter in Spain helping to rebuild a ferro cement Chinese junk ship called the RV Heraclitus
This season at PFP I want to... immerse myself in all stages of a full farm season while getting to know the community
Someday I hope to... make a documentary, start a Talking Heads cover band, drive a Zamboni at the Olympics, and sail around the world
Name: Alex, Fieldwork Intern
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Fun fact about me: I am an aspiring sourdough connoisseur
I chose PFP because... I love being outside and working with my hands
As a Fieldwork Intern I want to... learn the process of how food comes from the earth to my plate sustainably
Someday I hope to... safely forage for mushrooms
Name: Eve, Fieldwork Intern
Hometown: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Fun fact about you: I have been to 18 different countries
I chose PFP because... of its mission to provide sustainable, locally grown produce to surrounding communities.
As a Fieldwork Intern I want to... learn more about sustainable farming practices, the lifecycle of produce, and what it takes to successfully run a farm.
Someday I hope to... own my own company/ business.
Name: Georgia, Fieldwork Intern
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Fun Fact about me: I can snap with my left hand and raise my left eyebrow.
I chose PFP because... I want to work outside with a community and watch plants grow and evolve!
As a Fieldwork Intern I want to… learn more about the local plants and the farming process in general.
Someday I hope to... crochet a blanket and run through a field of flowers.
Name: Lucinda, Fieldwork Intern
Hometown: Nyack, NY
Fun fact about me: I brew mead!
I chose PFP because… I want to learn more about produce farming and CSAs, and love working outside on the farm!
As a Fieldwork Intern I want to… learn about water usage in agriculture and under what conditions different crops grow
Someday I hope to.... raise my own chickens and goats!
Name: Mackenzie, Fieldwork Intern
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Fun fact about me: I spent half a year working on a farm in Ecuador!
I chose PFP because… I want to spend more time outside, learning about agriculture, and meeting people who care about the earth and good food.
As a Fieldwork Intern I want to… learn more about planting and harvest seasons for various crops.
Someday I hope to… grow my own food.
We hope you’ll join us in welcoming the newest members of our team, and welcoming the official start to the season!