Inside Gaining Ground’s New Internship Program
This summer, Gaining Ground began a new chapter in its mission. We launched our first-ever Summer Internship Program, designed as a hands-on educational experience rooted in sustainable, no-till, organic agriculture.
“The internship began as a pilot program to expand upon our educational value for farmer training,” said Mark Congdon, Director of Agriculture. “We believe in the necessity of passing along the knowledge of sustainable agriculture for the health of our land, society, and food systems.”
This year, Gaining Ground accepted three interns into the program, offering them a rare opportunity to work closely with professional farmers and immerse themselves in every aspect of small-scale, community-powered farming.
“This experience has helped me make connections between what I have learned in my courses and how those concepts can be applied in real-world settings,” said intern Elizabeth DelGiudice, an environmental engineering and sustainability student focusing on urban agriculture. “I am looking forward to continuing to learn and seeing how I can contribute to this field in the future.”
In addition to working the fields, interns attended workshops, contributed to farm-wide projects, led volunteer sessions, and visited local farms and partner organizations.
“It’s highly beneficial to combine classroom knowledge of soil health, organic growing, and food production with hands-on experience working alongside experts in the fields to solidify comprehension of sustainable agriculture, whether you aim to work on food system policy or start your own farm,” Mark said. The internship also lays the groundwork for a future Farmer’s Apprenticeship Program, a more formal pathway into the field for those who want to pursue farming.
“I’ve been particularly interested in Gaining Ground for the opportunity to learn no-till regenerative agriculture practices, many of which have been developed by Indigenous land stewards over thousands of years,” said intern Fatima Swaray. “As the climate continues to shift and systems of capitalism fail our most vulnerable communities, food justice, responsible agriculture, and getting food onto tables are incredibly urgent.”
Beyond planting and harvesting, interns also experimented with brewing the compost tea, participated in the farm’s seed-saving garden and helped to develop lesson plans for the High School Farm Team. These real-time contributions enhanced Gaining Ground’s operations while offering the interns insight into what it takes to farm sustainably and effectively.
“The interns bring a fresh set of eyes to the team,” Mark said. “They ask great questions and offer new ideas that help us think critically about how we grow.”
And the benefits go both ways. “The interns give our professional farmers the chance to teach and pass on their farming knowledge and experience, solidifying their skills in the process,” Mark added.
As interest in regenerative agriculture and local food systems continues to grow, Gaining Ground is committed to supporting the next generation of farmers who will help sustain our communities and our planet.
Learn more about the Summer Internship Program here.