Join us in welcoming Chrina to Elk Run Farm! She’s already diving in and the energy she brings to the farm is contagious. With a wealth of farming knowledge and plenty of passion, Chrina will be an integral part in tackling many of our upcoming endeavors in 2024. Read on to learn, in her own words, a little bit more about our newest team member!
- What made you want to work at Elk Run Farm?
I wanted to work at Elk Run because this farm has the rare ability to fight for food justice as a food bank farm, while also being an incubator for young folks to learn about farming and growing food. While there are many parts of farming that I love, food justice and environmental education are what I am most passionate about. I love being able to provide healthy, nutritious, and diverse foods to people who would otherwise have limited access. I also love being able to connect with students over how our food is grown and the importance of environmental stewardship.
- What is your personal experience with farming and gardening?
I first found the world of small-scale agriculture when I was a senior at UW, doing a research project at the Organic Farm School on Whidbey Island. After graduating in the spring of 2020, the world was seemingly stuck in time because of the COVID pandemic, and I had the luxury of time to think about what made me happy and what I wanted to do with my post-grad life. I often found myself thinking about the Organic Farm School, so I researched some similar programs and found the Viva Farms Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture. I spent the growing season of 2021 at Viva learning all about small-scale agriculture and figuring out how I wanted to fit into the food system as a young aspiring farmer. I graduated from the program with the urge to learn more about other styles of farming from farmers all around the world. I set off in 2022 to WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farming) and settled in Hilo, Hawaii to learn about tropical permaculture and cultivating crops that cannot be grown in Washington (such as taro, cacao, bananas, and pineapple). Once I returned to Seattle, I took an AmeriCorps position at the UW Farm, where I helped run a farm that served a high volume of community members and students.
- What might someone be surprised to know about you?
I love going to trivia and have a weekly trivia night with a group of friends. Though I am not particularly good at any specific area of knowledge, I love being in a lightly competitive environment where I get to share some of the silly things I know while learning new fun facts.
- How has your life been different than what you’d imagined?
If you had told a 16 year old Chrina that she would grow up to become a farmer, I wouldn’t have believed you. I thought I would grow up to become a lawyer or something more conventionally impressive. I started school as a political science major and somehow migrated to environmental studies, and wound up with my hands in the dirt and loving every minute I get to spend growing food.
- What do you feel most grateful for in your life?
I am most grateful for my friends and family who continue to support me as I pursue my dreams. It’s no secret that small-scale farming is a difficult job, often undervalued, and the life of a farmer is far from comfortable. I chose this life because it’s important work, but I know I would not have the privilege of pursuing this work without a generous and strong group of people behind me.
Elk Run Farm 