Last year in the summer youth program, interns mystified and impressed me. I would see them darting the Lincoln land and meandering along Dudley Street, even sometimes in the office: a sacred place full of Food Project big shots. And when those interns spoke at community lunch, my mind was blown. How were they so confident? Where did they learn all this cool stuff about agriculture and the food system? This summer, my questions were answered. I became one of the few, the proud, the interns.

At our first intern meeting on The Food Project’s newest north shore site,
Greg Gale informed us that as interns, we no longer work for The Food Project, we now work with The Food Project. As interns, we receive more freedoms like more flexible work hours, as well as more responsibilities such as getting to work on time without the aid of the little white Food Project bus. At this meeting, I realized that I was working with the celebrities I had admired from afar last summer. We were all interns, and I suddenly it hit me that I would have to lead tours, give workshops, and speak at community lunch just like my predecessors and now colleagues. I was scared and excited.

This summer turned out to be full of fun times and learning experiences. As an Urban Education and Outreach intern, two other interns and I lead workshops on lead contamination, gave tours of the Dudley Street neighborhood to the summer youth, sold local and tropical fruit at the farmers market, spoke at community lunch, built four raised beds, conducted at least fifteen soil tests, and visited the soil testing labs at Wellesley College. We were always busy, always learning something new, and always working hard. Writing all of that out, I see how much Urban Ed has accomplished this summer and I am shocked and amazed!

Greg’s wise words from the beginning of the summer have stuck with me. I really felt like a seasoned veteran at The Food Project when I spoke to a corporation that participates in Serve and Grow each fall. Talking about the vision of The Food Project and my experience here, I felt like an old pro, explaining the food system like it was the alphabet. I put my public speaking skills from DIRT crew into use, and this summer I got so much practice talking about The Food Project I think that I could really talk anyone’s ear off about it.

So now as an intern myself, sitting in the Dorchester office, I understand how interns step up and work with the staff to further the vision of The Food Project. Interns work hard, practice a lot, and get thrown into new situations that are scary but still fun. I feel really proud that I have reached the level of intern, and I hope that the fun, educational, and inspiring experiences that I had this summer will carry over into the school year.