2019 CIIP Program Book CIIP Booklet 2019 | Page 47

Community Partner: Strength to Love 2 Farm
Intern: Carrine King
Site Supervisor: Darriel Harris
What is S2L2?
Strength to Love 2 Farm opened with the hope to provide job opportunities in the
Sandtown-Winchester community as well as to address another serious problem often
plaguing city neighborhoods, food deserts. Strength to Love is a community based ur-
ban farm that has successfully transformed vacant land into an operational farm, grow-
ing organic produce for local consumption.
• Seeded, planted, weeded
and irrigated various crops
• Harvested and washed fresh
produce for the farmers mar-
ket and other buyers
• Completed paperwork for the
farm
• Helped sell produce at Wa-
verly Farmers Market
I could not imagine having spent my summer anywhere else, doing anything else. Working
at Strength to Love farm was an experience like I have never had before. I was able to get in
touch with nature, the people of Baltimore city and myself, all at once.
Everyday I went to the farm I found myself doing something new, learning something new or
talking to somebody new. When I first started I had little experience with urban farming but
I knew that it was important. Food— healthy, affordable food— is essential to life and urban
farms can provide it to communities in desperate need. I quickly learned that the key to suc-
cess was to not be my usual timid, hesitant self but to dive in head first. I asked questions all
the time and always tagged along to learn how to harvest something new or seed different
plants. As I gained my footing at the farm I was able to extend my knowledge to people in
the community that would pass by the farm. Although the conversations we had would begin
with me telling them about what I was doing, I would always end up hearing their life stories
and in turn, sharing mine.
My favorite part of working at Strength to Love was getting to work with such passionate,
hardworking people. It didn’t matter if it was 95 degrees or pouring down rain they were out
harvesting and weeding and everything in between. It was inspiring to see that they cared
about their community and what they were doing so much that a little harsh weather couldn’t
stop them. We have spent so much time together knee deep in the dirt that I consider them
to be family now.
I am thankful for this internship because it allowed me to open up and forge new bonds with
people I never would have crossed paths with had it not been for CIIP. It also opened my
eyes to the world of urban farming and non-profits. Now, there’s no looking back.
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