2020 Apprentices begin their season
By Kate Anstreicher, Program Coordinator
Although life for many of us has come to a standstill, nature is forging ahead with the beautiful--and sometimes dramatic--unveiling of spring. Trees have begun to bud out, their fragrant blossoms carrying sweetness in the breeze. Rain has again soaked the soil, accompanied by sweeping winds that have (on at least one occasion) cut Putnam County power lines. We’ve seen a thrilling wave of new life at Glynwood: chicks, lambs, goat kids, seedlings, tubers, flower bulbs, migratory birds, and fresh pasture, to name a few, have burst into being in the past few weeks alone.
With this hectic season comes a need for additional help on Glynwood’s farm. There are unwieldy weeds to unearth, beds to prep, stubborn kids to corral, and chicken tractors to build. Over the past month, we have been lucky enough to welcome three new apprentices to the Glynwood farm crew. Although Ashanti, Ellie and Joanna each had to self-quarantine onsite for two weeks, they are now farming full speed ahead alongside our second-year vegetable apprentice, Christina. The apprentice cohort is being guided and supported by our full time farm team: Senior Director of Glynwood’s Farm Lynda Prim, Director of Farm Stewardship Dave Llewellyn, Vegetable Production Manager Jarret Nelson, Herd Manager Nicole Scott, and Farm Marketing Coordinator Emily Lupico.
We feel very fortunate to have such an amazing farm team working the soil this season. Not only will they be growing food for our Glynwood Grown and Grazed CSA, but they will be integral in helping coordinate the donation of our farm fresh product to people in need in our region all season long.
A little about the apprentices:
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Ashanti is our 2020 livestock apprentice. Originally from the Bronx, Ashanti started farming when she was five--her parents are the founders of Taqwa Community Farm, an urban foodscape that produces approximately 10,000 pounds of food for sale and donation every year. Ashanti loves putting up fencing and moving livestock (both tasks that require a lot of patience), so we feel VERY lucky to have her on the team this season! When she’s not herding cows, sheep or goats, Ashanti loves watching movies, learning to play banjo, and rocking out to Chaka Khan or the Punch Brothers.
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Christina is our second-year vegetable apprentice and crew leader. Hailing from Virginia, Christina previously farmed in her home state and in the Catskills of New York before joining us in Cold Spring. This year, Christina is leveraging her background in design to help Glynwood execute a new fertility management plan and pick-your-own flower garden. When she’s not picking her favorite crop (fairytale eggplant), you can find Christina foraging along the trails of Fahnestock, practicing yoga at the boathouse, or learning the intricate art of indoor mushroom growing. So glad she stayed on for a second season!
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First-year vegetable apprentice Ellie began farming in 2017. Originally from Syracuse, New York, Ellie studied art photography in college--so we have high hopes for veggie documentation this season! When she’s not out in the fields harvesting bunches of herbs (her favorite farm task), Ellie likes to hike, cook, and explore her surroundings. Catch her eating lots of tomato sandwiches this summer; it’s her favorite way to eat her favorite vegetable.
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Last but not least is first-year vegetable apprentice Joanna. Joanna grew up in Ohio and Michigan. After studying sociology in school and working in restaurants for many years, Joanna decided she wanted to explore the other side of the food industry: production. This is Joanna’s fifth season farming but her first in the northeast. She’s hopeful that the squash harvest will be good this year--it’s her favorite chore during her favorite time of year on the farm. When she’s not farming, Joanna is most likely baking, reading, camping, or writing letters.
