Volunteer Guest Blogger

Hello! My name is Cayla Rodney, and I am a journalism major at East Carolina University. While home for the summer I will be volunteering at Burkett Farm and will be a guest blogger. I hope you enjoy my posts, and happy farming!

Rocket Science - Farming Edition

When you think of a farmer, what do you visualize?

I always imagine the stereotypical tractor riding, tobacco chewing and terrible tan line-wearing farmer. But when I met Jamie, the farm manager of Burkett Farm, she certainly did not meet any of those expectations. Instead, I met a former journalist who decided that the farming life is the life for her. But as I have learned, it is not all that simple because farming is far from simple work.

In fact, farming is an intricate science. Making sure the plants do not develop diseases as numerous as those a human could contract. Or rotating the crops to ensure the phosphorus and nitrogen that was exhausted from the earth can be replenished. And dealing with the ultimate dictator - Mother Nature. Farming is a theory in science that has been revised and rewritten for centuries. Burkett Farm has learned to embrace these intricacies and has created a place where the community can become educated on growing their own food.

Working on the farm with Jamie for my first day was exciting because I began to see the endless benefits of sustainable farming. I also saw an overwhelming sense of generosity from Jamie and the founders of Burkett Farm as they strive every day to feed the hungry in the Triangle.

As a volunteer, I am thrilled to be able to be a part of this mission, and I cannot wait to share everything I learn about growing produce sustainably. I will be posting updates on what we are working on as well as tips on how to get started at your own home. It is time to shed the stereotypical image of a farmer and replace it with an image of you!