Volunteer at Rise Up Community Farm

During my time volunteering at Rise Up Community Farm, I helped with several tasks around the farm. I started by using a sickle to cut down weeds, then moved on to pulling apart and removing weeds that were growing around the asparagus plants. After that, I helped wash seed trays so they would be ready for future use. I had never done any gardening before, so these were all new experiences for me.

I volunteered alongside a couple other students, and we worked together to clean up the area where the asparagus was growing. There were also two employees helping us and giving instructions. Everyone worked well together, and having someone explain what needed to be done made the process easier. Since most of us were unfamiliar with the work, having clear directions helped us stay organized and complete our tasks.

This experience connected to my values of teamwork, responsibility, and helping others. Although gardening isn't something I've done before, I enjoyed trying something new and knowing that my work was contributing to a good cause. I also appreciated that even simple tasks like removing weeds and cleaning trays could help the farm operate more efficiently. It reminded me that every task has a purpose, even if it seems small.

I learned that Rise Up Community Farm grows chemical-free produce that are donated to local food pantries. The farm also provides students with opportunities to volunteer and contribute to the community. One thing that surprised me was how small the farm was compared to what I expected. Despite its size, the area was well maintained, and it was interesting to see how the space was being used to support people in the community. It showed me that an organization doesn't have to be large to make a positive impact.

This experience helped me understand the importance of leadership and communication, especially when working with people who are unfamiliar with a task. Since I had never worked on a farm before, I relied on the employees in charge to explain what to do and how to do it. Their guidance helped me feel more comfortable with the work and understand what was expected of me. I think this applies to business because effective leaders need to provide clear instructions and support their team members. As someone pursuing a career in accounting, I know there will be situations where I need guidance when learning something new or where I may eventually need to help others. This experience reinforced how important teamwork and good leadership are in any workplace.

At the farm, I helped harvest and weed crops such as carrots and oregano. I also cleaned and stored tools and materials so everything was organized for the next volunteers.

I noticed that everyone worked together naturally. The farm staff gave clear instructions, and the volunteers divided the work, helped each other, and moved to new tasks when one area was finished. When a problem came up, people talked about it and solved it quickly.

This experience connected to my values because I care about teamwork, responsibility, and helping my community. My background in hospitality and outdoor instruction taught me how important it is to work well with others, and I saw the same idea here.

I learned that small local farms depend heavily on volunteers to grow fresh food for the community. Without this support, much of their work would be very difficult to complete.

As a business student, this experience reminded me that every organization depends on its people. In the future, I want to be a leader who communicates clearly, values hard work, and appreciates the tasks that often go unnoticed but keep everything running.

At Rise Up Community Farm, my primary duty during my volunteer shift was to weed the crops that were choking on weeds. Weeding ensures that there is enough space for the plants to survive. I was also folding and cleaning the tarps.
The activity was totally different from my usual activities. Being outside working and interacting with the other volunteers helped me connect to nature and observe that we shared things and responsibilities easily.
I found out that the mission of the farm was to "plant hope" through the cultivation of land and the community, nurturing neighbors who are facing food insecurities, and educating the locals both young and old. The importance of the basics of maintenance in order to feed people became apparent.
This experience made me realize that it is important to serve others and that being a good leader means doing things for a common goal.