Gretel St. Lawrence ’22 is interested in exploring the intersection between humans and the environment and she identifies agriculture as “the true connector.”

She's spent the summer investigating this connection in her internship with Common Roots in South Burlington. The internship is funded by the UVM Office of Engagement, which is likewise committed to building healthy and resilient communities in Vermont.

A native of Newburyport, Mass., St. Lawrence will graduate next year as an environmental studies major with minors in food systems and community and international development. She’s also pursuing a place-based education certificate.

“It’s been a great experience to work somewhere that is deeply connected to the community but also aware of how their operations impacts the environment,” she said of her internship experience.

Common Roots is a non-profit organization dedicated to stewardship of natural resources; educational programs that explore local ecosystems and cultural heritage; and community wellness.

One of the biggest summer projects at Common Roots is growing organic food and processing produce in a licensed kitchen. The farm offers produce and chef prepared foods at its farm stand May through Thanksgiving; some of the harvest is donated to the South Burlington Food Shelf.

St. Lawrence is experiencing how non-profits can make a major impact on the educational and nutritional health of local communities. As a farm production intern, she’s also gaining a first-hand appreciation for the hard work that goes into producing healthy food. 

One of her main tasks in the summer growing season has been preparing and tending tomatoes and harvesting two full beds of garlic. Typically, her days include planting, mulching, preparing fields, weeding, pruning plants and washing harvested vegetables.

“The most memorable day so far was a 95-degree day where we harvested over 1,000 pounds of cabbage,” she said. “That definitely taught me that farming is hard work and requires commitment and dedication."

The internship has also given her a ground-level application of her studies in sustainable agriculture.

“It’s also cool to get the real-life experience of working on a farm that values community connection,” she says.