So it begins.
My name is Christina and today marks the beginning of my internship here at Farm Aid. My internship will last six months as part of Northeastern University's 'co-op' program, which allows students to take a break from classes, work like a grown up and boost their resumes.
I know I am not the first and, hopefully, not the last Northeastern student to tackle the tasks awaiting me over the next few months, but I hope to bring a unique and personal perspective to the projects I take on and the challenges I must confront.
The first thought that ever occurred to me when I sent in my resume to Farm Aid, was 'If I ever meet Neil Young, I might faint.' That is probably a bit of an exaggeration, but not too far off. It is hard to believe I am working for an organization with a
board of directors with such great musical talent and great contributions to their fellow man. I was raised listening to Neil Young and now you can find songs from Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews floating around on my iTunes.
After my initial mental freak out I settled down and tried my best to focus on what Farm Aid does. I knew the basics. My older sister first introduced me to the concerts when I was in middle school and we would watch them on CMT. I knew they helped farmers but was unaware to the extent.
I come from a small town in Connecticut and have seen family farms and stables slowly go under giving into the high costs of living and the inability to make ends meet. This is the first year that there seem to be no farmers markets around. As the economy continues to recede, gym memberships and nights out on the town are the first to go, but they are shortly followed by healthy food. A fast food menu is cheap and easy when everyone is working all the overtime they can manage.
I was raised to eat healthy food and have spent many summers in my grandfather's garden stealing tomatoes, still warm from the sun, and eating then on the spot. I have sat with my grandmother shelling peas for what would always seemed like hours after crawling around the garden to pick them. I love Boston, but I am a walk around barefoot in the grass type of girl.
But I digress. I have only been here for less than a day and I already cannot wait to do more. The idea and the possibility to help family farmers and ensure safe and healthy food for the masses is something I can truly stand behind.
Well, we can't reveal that quite yet, but it will be revealed soon! In the meantime, our lucky followers on Twitter, are getting a hint each day for the next week about this year's concert location. To give you a headstart, here's today's clue:
Writer and photographer Lisa M. Hamilton focuses on food and agriculture, particularly the stories of farmers. Her work has taken her from castration time on a Wyoming sheep ranch to a meeting of radical plant breeders in Iowa; from dairy farms in the highlands of Bavaria to sacred rice paddies along the coast of Japan.
Carolyn Mugar, Executive Director of Farm Aid, was there to speak about Farm Aid's work advocating for dairy farmers, who are being paid less than half the cost to produce milk. In honor of Dairy Month, we had a milk tasting where we sampled three different varieties of milk from New England dairy farmers. Chef Peter Davis of Henrietta’s Table at The Charles Hotel provided delicious pig-shaped cookies! Read more about Lisa M. Hamilton on her website and catch up on Farm Aid’s work on the dairy crisis here.
Last week Farm Aid had the opportunity to meet with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. The USDA shares many priorities in common with Farm Aid and so far has demonstrated a commitment to family farms and recognition of their importance to our nation's economic recovery.
President Obama's rural plan starts with ensuring economic opportunity for family farmers, with goals to guarantee a strong safety net for family farmers, prevent anticompetitive behavior against family farms, regulate factory farms, encourage organic and sustainable agriculture, encourage young people to become farmers, and support local and regional food systems among other things. In its first six months, the USDA has made tremendous strides on these goals, from assisting farmers struggling with tight credit markets with direct farm operating loans (which went to 2,636 farmers, about half of whom were beginning farmers!) to demonstrating a commitment to integrate organic throughout the USDA, to instituting Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) to help consumers understand from where their food comes, to committing to resolve the black farmers discrimination lawsuit that has plagued the USDA for years.
Here at Farm Aid, we're getting ready for our meeting on Thursday, June 18th, with Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack. We'll be taking along the more than 7,000 petitions we've collected that call on the Secretary to step in and set a fair price for milk that reflects the increased cost of production our dairy farmers are facing. If you haven't already signed our petition, please do so now! Our dairy farmers--and our safe, fresh, local milk supply--depends on you!
Depending on which route you choose, you’ll visit urban farms in Roxbury and Dorchester, CSA (community supported agriculture) farms in the Blue Hills Reservation and surrounding communities, and Boston's oldest commercial farm. You’ll also get a chance to sample fresh, locally grown food, discover the benefits of local agriculture, and learn how you can actively support these efforts.
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