established in 2018
Long before taking an academic dive into the world of agriculture, I was playing in the dirt and eating every vegetable on my plate. I would listen to my grandma talk about the farm she grew up on in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and I would run around my grandpa’s barn chasing the birds. I used to walk down to the horse farm near my parents’ house and feed the horses any apples and carrots I could find in the fridge. I’ve always had a strong affinity toward nature, and it’s that same affinity that led me to agriculture.
Like many other young and spunky college students, I wanted to make a difference in the world and help people. I often worried about the future and questioned the systems we, as a society, had in place, but I never could quite figure out the root of the problem. Spoiler — I still haven’t. In hopes of achieving my goal of global impact, I pursued the pre-med track at U of M and decided to double major in International Studies and Spanish. I chose the Global Environment and Health sub-plan to coincide with my International Studies major, which led me to taking an interdisciplinary course about food systems. That was it. I was hooked.
Fast forward to graduation. My world views had evolved, or so I thought, and my concern for global environment and health was at the forefront. I dodged every question about medical school and kept my internal dilemma to myself. I packed my car and moved to Connecticut in hopes of finding a job in the Big Apple. As my indecisiveness lingered and my bank account dwindled, I accepted an administrative position at a plastic surgeon’s office on the Upper East Side. I was relieved to find a mentor in the medical field, and it was that same mentor who helped me recognize that medical school was not the way I would make a change in our system.
After reading book after book about agriculture and ecology, I decided to apply to the Youth Farm Urban Agriculture Certification Program located in Brooklyn, NY. I quit my job, and I told my parents that I was going to be a farmer. Repeat — I told my parents I was going to be a farmer. That went probably just as well you would imagine, but I continued with the program and graduated in November of 2016.
A few months later at a rather fortuitous time, I was connected with the owner of this beautiful property in Chilmark. One year later, I presented my ideas and Milkweed Farm was established. Though the project list remains endless, we have transformed this more than 200-year-old property into a fully functioning fruit and vegetable farm. I feel honored to be growing on Martha’s Vineyard, and I am glad I chose to grow nutritious food as my way of influencing the many systems that make up our world.
I hope to see you on the farm soon.