I’ve never felt more connected to the natural world than I did at Shaver’s Creek
Years at Shaver’s Creek: 2022
Positions Held: Intern
Current Company/Organization: Island Grown Initiative
Today, I work as a garden educator with a food equity nonprofit, Island Grown Initiative, on Martha’s Vineyard. I teach K–8 gardening lessons at two elementary schools on the island, along with a regenerative agriculture internship in the summer for high schoolers. Students and I caretake the school garden and prepare nourishing food together while learning about soil, agriculture, and the food system at large.
My time at Shaver’s Creek sharpened my skills as an environmental educator—I use lessons like Soil Soup and Decomposition Mission from Outdoor School with students. Last year, 3rd graders and I tapped maple trees and produced syrup for a pancake breakfast. They loved seeing pictures from the Maple Harvest Festival and the Sugar Shack!
I’m so grateful for the few months I spent at Shaver’s Creek. It was a challenging season for me, and I found solace in the people, places, and wildlife I met during this time. Whenever I add cardamom half & half to coffee (if you know, you know), I think of this special place!