Veda Sanhai

Week 8 of my internship was one of the most balanced and rewarding weeks. It included fieldwork, community engagement, reflection, and a lot of hands-on learning, which reminded me why I chose this internship in the first place.

On Monday, I went to CMREC in Clarksville to help Dr. Qianwen Lu with her ongoing biochar project. Elizabeth Karides, a fellow intern, and I cataloged each Swiss chard plant we had transplanted the week before. We noted their height, whether they were alive, and any noticeable changes. We replanted the plants that did not survive with Swiss chard seeds and restarted the irrigation system. It was a good reminder that agricultural research necessitates ongoing attention and flexibility.

Tuesday brought me to downtown Baltimore, where I assisted with another urban gardener interview. I helped with soil sampling and garden mapping, but what stood out the most was the lively conversation that took place during the visit. The participant did more than just talk about planting and harvesting, they shared personal stories from their time in the garden, as well as the highs and lows of the community that uses the space. It reminded me that gardens are more than just growing vegetables and flowers. They are places of tranquility, stress relief, healing, and collective memory. They act as safe havens for individuals and powerful hubs of community resilience.

On Wednesday and Thursday, I concentrated on my online projects, and drafted my final presentation for the internship. I spent some time thinking about how much I've learned since the beginning, from technical agricultural work to the meaningful community relationships I've formed. I also started writing my final report about my time at UME for my university. It was a great two days of reflection and productivity.

Friday was a physically demanding but extremely rewarding day back at CMREC Clarksville. Elizabeth and I started by fertilizing the adult Swiss chard plants. We then moved on to weed removal, with her focusing on the weeds between the plots, and me clearing the overgrown perimeter with a weed wacker. The weeds were thick and dense, making for slow work, but we remained persistent. Following that, we worked together to bury the edges of the plastic mulch that covered the plots with soil, keeping it secure and reducing erosion from rainfall. Later in the day, we joined Dave Clements for a new project that involved planting 18 mint plants. After receiving instructions, Elizabeth and I measured and marked each planting location, dug holes, and planted each mint with a mixture of soil and compost. After everything had been watered in, we took a step back and looked at the results of a busy day. It was exhausting, physical labor, but it was incredibly rewarding to complete as a group.

Looking ahead, I'm looking forward to finishing up my projects, and traveling around Maryland in the remaining coming weeks. Each new task brings new learning opportunities, and I'm eager to make the most of my time at Extension.