Rylee Harbot-rodriguez

At this event, I was shown how to identify weeds from different plants, plucking them carefully to control their spread in the ecosystem and not damage the roots of desired vegetables and flowers. In addition, I was educated on how to make a nutrient-rich liquid compost, feed it to plants that hadn’t been planted in the ground, and then put those plants into the ground in a meticulous pattern that is efficient for growth and health. While I was engaging in my assigned tasks, I observed how the community went about teamwork and problem-solving. Everyone was given a task based on what was needed for the day, and when confusion arose, people went to someone with extensive knowledge and received thoughtful, honest feedback.
This experience has connected with my interest in small-scale farming, understanding how each task on a farm is important, and my goal of understanding how any action affects one’s community. I learned that Rise Up Community Farm maintains a standard of good quality and plays an effective, engaged role in providing fresh vegetables, fruits, and other plants to those in need through the food pantry. This experience shaped my thinking about my future in business through a duality in work-life balance. Community members would take time before or after work to volunteer as a way to decompress and help those in need without sacrificing efficiency at one’s workplace.