“My time at earthcorps as a Farm Specialist has been very impactful.” 

Member Story from Kaelin Mason

My time at earthcorps as a Farm Specialist within the Community and Volunteer team has been very impactful in terms of the connections I have been able to make with the public.

 

Volunteer events have been very sweet with being able to connect with returning volunteers. One such example was with a man named Martin, who is a retired ER nurse and has been attending EC volunteer events for years. He has expressed so much joy for these events but more so for the people he gets to meet and build community with. He consistently asks about former volunteers and checks in about how we are doing. It’s such a beautiful thing to see every week, how the work we are doing is not just for restoration but for community building.

Providing a ‘third space’ for people to come and connect has been very impactful for me. I’ve gained skills in leadership and community organizing at EC, even in my short amount of time here.

I have built confidence in leading groups with various tasks and teaching them about native plant knowledge.

My position has also been unique because I’ve gotten to spend time on local farms. I have spent a lot of time working at Wakulima, an east African farming non-profit. 

In meeting the farmers and helping with their farm program, I’ve learned so much about culturally relevant Kenyan produce that the farmers aren’t often able to buy in stores.

Having a background in farming myself, it’s been such honor to work alongside so many farmers who have been working with the land for their whole lives.