Support
This summer I had the opportunity to intern at littleGrasse Foodworks. littleGrasse is an organic community farm that prioritizes environmental stewardship, supports the local community, and promotes sustainable agricultural practices. littleGrasse offers a distinctive shareholder model that encourages active participation throughout the growing season by allowing shareholders to harvest crops regularly without strict limits. This approach reflects a commitment to ecological responsibility, food accessibility, and intentional living.
Through my work at littleGrasse Foodworks, I learned how a small, community-centered farm can function as part of a broader local support system. The farm’s shareholder model demonstrates how direct relationships between growers and community members can promote transparency, trust, and shared responsibility. We actively had open communication about crop availability, weather impacts, pest pressure, and growing conditions throughout the season, which helped shareholders understand the realities of sustainable agriculture. We also collaborated with neighboring farms, organizations, and community members. This experience allowed me to examine how feedback loops within local food systems contribute to community resilience and food sovereignty.
I was able to expand my understanding of the full life cycle of food within a sustainable agricultural system. By participating in tasks such as seed germination, planting, weeding, harvesting, food preservation, meal preparation, and composting, I was able to connect classroom concepts in sustainability with practical, hands-on experience. This work deepened my appreciation for the labor, planning, and ecological awareness required to grow food responsibly. It also helped me better understand how sustainable food production depends on careful resource use, soil health, nutrient cycling, and an intentional relationship with the land.
This internship also allowed me to observe how long-term commitment, collaboration, and education support the success of a community farm. littleGrasse represents nearly two decades of dedication from its founders, interns, shareholders, friends, and community partners. By engaging with the people and practices that sustain the farm, I learned how environmental values are translated into everyday action. I was able to study how sustainable systems are built not only through ecological practices, but also through relationships, shared knowledge, persistence, and community care.
I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to experience life at littleGrasse and to build meaningful relationships with Bob, Flip, Carolyn, Millie, and Taj. This internship strengthened my understanding of sustainable agriculture, community-based food systems, and the reciprocal relationship between people and the land. The lessons I gained through daily farm work, ecological observation, and community engagement will continue to shape my academic and professional goals. I hope to apply this knowledge in ways that support more resilient, equitable, and environmentally conscious communities in the future. Thank you to the SLU Career center, littleGrasse, and the Dake family and Stewart's Shops Internship Fund for making this internship possible.