Just Farm Things by Dominique Ong

I grew up in a small island where local agriculture is limited. Most of our produce is imported from thousands of miles away (I don’t even know precisely where). Eating food was never a mystery to me; growing food was another story.[gallery ids="1485,1486" type="rectangular" orderby="rand"]

Me at home in Guam, me at the farm in Charlottesville

So I started volunteering at Morven Kitchen Garden every Sunday morning. During my first visit to the farm, I was starstruck at all different types of vegetables: sweet potatoes, peppers, onions, okra - you name it, I fan girled over it. I’d seen these vegetables before at the grocery store but they were nowhere near as beautiful as those I saw freshly picked at Morven. You might question my objectivity but I hope these photos can convince you otherwise: Soon, weekly visits to Morven weren’t enough to get my farm fix so I began leading volunteer workdays when Rhaude and I would do some extra farm work. We were like the back-up harvest squad - sweet potatoes and apples were no match for our prowess. Throughout the semester, I discovered the work and resources that go into growing and harvesting produce. Plants need a lot of love - love in the form of water, compost, row covers, and lots and lots of weeding. By preparing rows and sowing seeds, I became more conscious of the immense water and energy resources that go to waste when we dispose of food. "Sustainable agriculture" isn't just some phrase I toss around to seem hip; I actually understand what it entails and am proudly involved in it.