Farm Crew: Where Are They Now?

Our students may not be on DCF soil, but they remain committed to food systems work. Click below to see how they're growing and learning about food this summer. 

Beginning this month, Floey Zhao, '22, will be interning at Pocono Organics, a 380-acre regenerative organic vegetable and fruit farm in Long Pond, PA. She shared that she’s “particularly excited to learn about their side operation growing and researching industrial hemp!”

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Kendall Jefferys, '21, has been working with the Rachel Carson Council (RCC) this summer, an organization founded in 1965 to carry on the work and ethic of environmental and social revolutionary Rachel Carson. Kendall has been writing for a new edition of Rachel Carson's book Under the Sea-Wind and helping the organization develop an oceans-focused campaign. Her visual artistic talents were also showcased in honor of Earth Day! Be sure to check out her art entitled “Finding Strength”, as well as RCC’s Special Report: What’s in Your Food? 

Julianna Rennie, '21, has now spent a full month apprenticing at Full Sun Farm, an organic produce and flower farm in Leicester, NC. She shared, “Everything I learned at DCF definitely helps me pick up new concepts and tasks quickly here. Most importantly, I always think about moving around the farm in an efficient, intentional, communicative, and loving way, which is something Leslie and Emily taught me!” 

Garrett Corwin, MEM/MBA '21, has been conducting research for us this summer around farm improvement projects. He’s temporarily relocating to Boston for the remainder of summer to begin an internship at Freight Farms, a leading manufacturer of container farming technology working to empower anyone to grow food for their community. 

Emily McNamara, MEM '20, has been working back home on her family's farm in California since graduating in May. “The knowledge and experience I gained while attending the Nicholas School and working on the Duke Campus Farm, translate directly to my current role on my family’s organic walnut farm," Emily shared. "Now more than ever, it is clear that farming is not solely about creating a commodity for mass production, but instead establishing a foundation to support the local community, land-based education, sustainable-facing policy, and regenerative practices to inform and assist every aspect of the food system.”

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