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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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College Students Dig Farm Internships

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(Newser) – Liberal arts students are ditching traditional summer internships of office coffee-fetching for life on the land, reports the New York Times. As part of a generation well-versed in Michael Pollan's attack on industrial agriculture and interested in social change, these students see organic farm work as a political statement. "Everyone eats, and everyone has a vested interest in this," said one intern of his decision to spend summer down on a farm.

But the students may be in for a bit of a culture shock. The hard labor can be a strain, as can the clash between farmers and their politically correct interns. In one case, an intern in Florida threatened to report her boss for using antibiotics, a rather routine matter for the operation. For some farmers, the interns are just not worth the trouble. "They need structure. We need farmhands," said one.

A greenhouse reveals how food is raised on one of the few vegan organic farms in the US.
A greenhouse reveals how food is raised on one of the few vegan organic farms in the US.   (AP Photo/Courtesy of Don Bustos)
Judith Redmond works on her Full Belly Farm in Guinda, Calif., earlier this year. Full Belly has had three times as many applicants for internships as last year.
Judith Redmond works on her Full Belly Farm in Guinda, Calif., earlier this year. Full Belly has had three times as many applicants for internships as last year.   (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Students pick insects off pepper plants in an organic garden. Environmental concerns and a local-produce trend are inspiring gardens and farms at schools that haven't focused on agriculture in years.
Students pick insects off pepper plants in an organic garden. Environmental concerns and a local-produce trend are inspiring gardens and farms at schools that haven't focused on agriculture in years.   (AP Photo/Gary Emeigh, File)
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By actually waking up every day and working in the field and putting my principles into action, I am making a conscious political decision. - Alex Liebman, organic farm intern

These are kids who are not used to living in a small trailer or doing any kind of work. Most of them are privileged and think they want to try something new. They need structure. We need farmhands. - Kristie Knoll, farmer

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environmentalism • student activism • Michael Pollan • internship • organic farming

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