By ESC Director
During her 2015-2106 year in Baltimore Natalie Strait worked with Great Kids Farm. Here’s what she says about that year: “I knew I wanted to explore urban agriculture and food justice, but not especially clear what I meant, other than that I like gardening and vegetables and cities. A clearer picture grew as to where my passions and skills met while working at Great Kids Farm, volunteering with my housemates at Baltimore Orchard Project, talking with folks while weeding and harvesting at The Red Shed Garden & Events Space, going on work field trips with GK farm staff, visiting farmers markets, caring for the land trust garden at my church Amazing Grace Lutheran Church in Baltimore, and seeing all the amazing things happening in Baltimore City food-wise. Being engaged in all these different communities gave me access to a completely different type of education than I had expected, and I began to discover what I really meant when I said I wanted to work in urban agriculture and food justice.”
Now Natalie uses her community relationship skills, her passion for raising new leadership, her organizing skills, and dedication working on the Girl Scouts River Valleys Product Program team coordinating southern Minnesota’s Girl Scout Cookie Program, She is applying to grad school for Urban and Regional Planning. “I have seen the power communities have to take ownership of their food systems when they find their voice and someone to listen, and I want to be there to help that happen.”
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