Naomi Neal, Kathryn Stresak, Dorian Gomberg, Ed Vlcek, and Brad Krautwurst are Shimer students participating in the Shimer Internship/Mentorship (SIM) Program. They regularly post updates about their internship experiences.
This post is from KC Stresak, who is interning with Growing Power.
Hello again all. I thought this time I would shoot you some pictures, since much of my work I feel is all about activity.
These gals are the Dynamic Trio of Growing Power. They are in charge of the sites and are teaching us everything we need to know about what it takes to be a farmer. On the left is Erika Allen. She is the head of the Chicago-based crew. I like to think of her as our ballet instructor. She can be pretty firm on the right and wrong way to farm, but really she's crafting us into beautiful farm dancers. Middle is Laurel. She is second in command and has worked with Growing Power for 10 years. I work with her most often and and constantly amazed with the stamina and patience this woman has. Laurilin is on the right. She has been with Growing Power for 5 years and is in charge of the Cabrini Green site at Chicago and Leraby, Growing Power's first Chicago site.
Cadessia (below, top photo), Camilla (bottom left), and Terri (bottom right) are all workers at our Altgald Gardens site. Camilla, who is in charge of the site, is so excited about the project. I absolutely love seeing her face light up when a good crop comes in from Altgald or when she shows people around the site. Cadessia and Terri are so much fun to work with. We are always cracking up about something or another.
This is Jeremy. He was one of the first people I met at Growing Power. He does a lot with compost pick up from restaurants and other go to necessities when a truck is needed. He's a baller driver.
Left is part of our Grant Park "Art on the Farm" project. Started in 2005, the vegetable garden incorporates aestheticism into its design that shows how practicality is beautiful. I work a lot at this site and am really starting to fall in love with it.
Left is part of the greenhouse at the orignal Milwaukee site. January through June there is a workshop weekend every month during which the Chicago-based crew helps out. We also have the chance to take the workshop classes. Some of the classes include aquaponics, year-long growing, renewable energy, composting, bee-keeping, mushroom growing, and project planning. The workshop weekends, though tiring, are a lot of fun. I was forunate enough to attend two of them where I learned a lot about composting. I even started brainstorming potential businesses that would involve composting.
That's all I have for photos right now. You can see I am surrounded by a colorful and thriving community that I am whole-heartedly invested in. I am excited to see what the summer has left in store for me!
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