Please send us an update!
If you are a former farm apprentice or student in the program and are working in sustainable agriculture, please send us an update! We'd be happy to post a blurb of what you've been up to and add a photo. Please send information to: Erin Rempala, erempala@sdccd.edu.
Dean Libs
"I had the privilege of completing the Seeds @ City apprenticeship in April 2010. It was an incredible hands-on experience learning how to grow food with the guidance of Paul Maschka and Julia Dashe. I was taught skills and lessons that I feel are vital for everybody to know and explore. After furthering my education in agronomy through other avenues, I developed an edible gardening business called Dean's Greens. I constantly use the knowledge imparted to me at Seeds out in the field. I am excited for future students to be part of such a wonderful place."- Dean Libs, owner of Dean's Greens
Brook Sarson
Update Spring 2012- Brook is now an instructor in the program teaching permaculture.
"Since interning for the Fall season 2009, I started my own business consulting, installing, advocating, and educating for Water Conservation and in particular Greywater and Rainwater Harvesting. After earning my Permaculture Design Certificate in Arizona, interning on the farm helped put me in touch with the reality of our local food system and the importance of working toward food justice and sustainability. My interest in water found a new track and I have worked toward not only showing people how important water conservation is in a region where only 20% of our water comes from local sources, but also how we can simultaneously work toward creating food security if we use the water we do have in more productive ways. I have also received my Master Composter Certification and a Watershed Management Group Certification for Water Harvesting Professionals. I have taught at the Water Conservation Garden, for Permaculture Classes, at many schools, businesses, garden programs, and private organizations throughout San Diego. I have also run workshops at Wild Willow Farm, schools, New Roots Community Farm, San Diego City College, and private residences to help people learn the techniques involved in simple residential water harvesting. - Brook Sarson, owner of H20ME
Kevin O'Connor
"I was an intern at Seeds in the summer of '09. I transferred to UCSD in the Winter quarter of 2010, and I can honestly say that my time at Seeds encouraged me to change the focus of my studies from geology to a Geology/Biology double major. At UCSD, I joined the
UCSD Sustainable Food Project, where we were given a plot of land from the administration, and planted an organic garden and attempted to form an internship program modeled after the Seeds at City garden. I was the Education Manager of the Sustainable food projects. The experience I gained at an intern at Seeds was invaluable, and I would not have been qualified for any of my duties at the SFP@UCSD.
I am currently in Copenhagen, Denmark on a study abroad program. I chose Copenhagen because of its record on encouraging sustainable habits and its large per capita consumption of organic foods. I am currently one of many volunteers at a volunteer-run company in Copenhagen that buys local food directly from the farmers and brings it to the people at extremely affordable rates:
http://kbhff.dk/ In Copenhagen I am studying food science, and the effects of different bioactive food components on human health, as well as the physical and chemical changes in food over time. I am a huge proponent of nutrition, and I have an interest in culinary approaches to popularize sustainable foods. Eventually, I would like to have a restaurant with an organic, urban garden, allowing customers to go into the garden and pick the fruit they would like for their meal from the garden, should they chose to do so.
The Seeds at City urban garden gave me the opportunity I always had been looking for, but never knew how to get. I had been interested in gardening and learning how to grow food before attending City College. I was assigned to work in the garden originally as part of a course I was taking [BIOL 180], but my experience was so positive I went well above and beyond the assignment requirements. The accessibility of the farm with open volunteer times, and the friendly nature of the farm managers as well as the other students led me to an experience that completely changed my life. This garden has such a powerful effect that not only includes members of the community, but radiates throughout the world. I am currently in Europe, and when people ask me about San Diego, the thing I can't stop talking about is the Seeds at City garden. I still keep in contact with many people I met through the program, and I believe I learned some of the most valuable knowledge that I will ever have as a Seeds at City intern."