Freesia (2010)
An internship at The Lord’s Acre is not merely an internship; it is a whole community experience. In the spring, I signed up to learn how to grow food in a non-profit context, not knowing that I would enter one of the best jobs of my life. Throughout my xperience, the staff and supporters of the garden supported me everyday in our shared pursuit of growing food and hanging food systems. Very often we remarked that the friendships made at the garden would not have been possible in any other way–I met so many people I would not have otherwise encountered, but with whom, in fact, I shared much in common. Living in community was one of the most beautiful parts of the internship. Sharing a meal at the end of a long day or a potluck during a work night enriched our relationships intentionally.
Additionally, the opportunity to attend board meetings and write grants made me feel that I was not just a short-term intern, but a valued part of the organization. The partnerships I was able to build personally and professionally with food pantries and other partner organizations will carry on to future endeavors. I am grateful to The Lord’s Acre and the individuals associated with it for a positive time rich with knowledge and good fun. I would recommend the internship to anyone interested in an experience that just begins at growing food.
Mallika (2010)
I had an amazing experience as an intern this summer at the Lord’s Acre community garden. First of all, I learnt so much about how to plan, cultivate and run a beautiful, healthy garden from the Sides. Susan and Franklin are incredibly dedicated and they have a wealth of knowledge about gardening. They always made sure that the interns and volunteers felt a sense of ownership and pride in the garden we were helping to create. I am grateful for the opportunity this internship provided for me to become more comfortable working with kids in the garden and taking a leadership role to assist volunteers in the garden.
I gained valuable insights into the realities of the nonprofit world as I was able to attend The Lord’s Acre board meetings and other organizational meetings for the garden. I also got an inside look at some of the food banks and other nonprofits in the area. Aside from the actual work at the garden, living in community with the Sides family and Kelley and Freesia, the other interns, was completely lovely and harmonious. The hours at the garden were flexible enough to allow for outside odd-jobs, hobbies and adventures in beautiful North Carolina. I also felt totally inspired by the strong community ethos of Fairview and very lucky that I was so warmly welcomed into it and was able to attend community events like potlucks, dances and other celebrations. Any one with an interest in organic gardening, nonprofits and hunger issues could learn a lot from this internship. It was honestly one of my best summers ever!
