2012 Staff

Dressed for work?

Jillian Metcalfe

After recently graduating from Warren Wilson College with a degree in Sociology, I wanted to engage in meaningful work in the Western North Carolina area. Much of what I learned throughout my college career examined the intersection of many systematic inequalities prevalent in our country. To be honest, I was frequently frustrated with sitting in a classroom and learning about these inequalities; I wanted to actively change the inequalities within the systems I was learning about. I wanted to begin empowering the systematically oppressed. Food seemed like one of the most basic places to start. Everyone needs to eat! I feel that one of the most empowering things a person or a community can do is learn how to grow food together.

The Lord’s Acre, then, seemed a perfect fit. The Lord’s Acre combines in-the-dirt experience with the personal experience of connection, community, and a genuine love for the land we have been given. We nourish the soil; we nourish each other. At TLA, I interact with people from all walks of life. I am most passionate about working with children, engaging them in explorations of food and gardening. My love of working with children stems from their endless energy and sense of wonder. It is my hope that if we cultivate this wonder for growing food in our children, we may begin to see our relationship to food change dramatically in the next few generations. When I’m not playing in the dirt, you can find me listening to music, reading, playing piano or guitar, singing, writing poetry, hiking, and taking part in general merriment.

Jessica Molina

Hi I’m Jessica coming to you from Brooklyn, NY! After working in the Culinary industry a little over 3 years, I decided I wanted to learn how to grow the food I’d been working with. Last year I made a trip to Asheville during the summer and fell in love with the vibe. This prompted my search for host farms near the Asheville area. When the opportunity to apply to work at The Lord’s Acre crossed my path, I jumped at it.

My experience here has been extraordinary! Learning how to grow food has been just a fraction of all the things I’ve learned in my time here in Fairview. Above all, I’ve learned so much more about myself (gardening will do that to you!). Best of all, I’ve found something I’m passionate about.

My aspirations are to use all I’ve learned at The Lord’s Acre about growing food and building community to either take part in or start up a non-profit farm to table restaurant in the Asheville area where everyone, despite circumstances, can enjoy a great meal. If the opportunity presents itself to you to visit The Lord’s Acre, I strongly recommend it. It’s an experience like no other!

Emily Chiara

I’m Emily and I’m from Northampton in Western Massachusetts. I’ve been passionate about gardening for years, but it wasn’t until later on that I realized where much of our food comes from and how it is grown. I spent a gap year volunteering with Heifer International’s Heifer Ranch Learning Center in Arkansas where I started to learn more about food security issues facing communities throughout the country and the world. Since then, I moved to beautiful Asheville where I am currently studying Global Studies at Warren Wilson College. I am very passionate about sustainable agriculture and food security and had the unique opportunity to study traditional Himalayan agriculture in India last fall.

I first heard about The Lord’s Acre through my work with the Service Program at WWC and was fascinated by the unique and meaningful resource that TLA provides for Fairview. I love TLA’s model of not only growing food for those in need, but also building community around a shared love for food and a healthy environment. I’m thrilled to be working with at the garden this summer and have enjoyed getting to know the Fairview community. I’ve continued to glean new and interesting gardening skills that I plan to use in future community gardening endeavors in WNC and Western MA

Owen Grooms

My name is Owen Grooms and I hail from Birmingham, AL. I graduated in May 2012 from Warren Wilson College with a degree in Global Studies and a Thematic Track in Peace and Social Justice. I am interested in starting a community garden someday and organizing people through and about food justice and other social justice issues.