Name: Carmen Siftar
Class Year: 2025
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: Spanish
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
Internship Organization: Mill Creek Urban Farm
Internship Title: Farm Intern
Location: Philadelphia, Pa.
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
This summer I am the farm intern at Mill Creek Urban Farm (MCUF) in West Philadelphia. Taking up about half a block of previously vacant land, the farm produces a variety of fruits and vegetables to fulfill its mission of improving access to fresh, chemical-free produce at a low cost to the surrounding neighborhood. As an intern, I get my hands dirty and work with the farmers on growing and harvesting. Through this work, I am learning so much about organic growing in an urban setting, like the power of companion planting, natural methods of pest prevention, and the maximization of space. I also work with the director of the organization on the community engagement aspect of the farm's mission.
While MCUF has been active since 2006, outreach to the local community is a continual process as the farm and neighborhood grow and change. Either through canvassing the neighborhood about upcoming events or at our weekly farm stand, it is incredibly rewarding to hear the appreciation for the food that we grow.
Why did you apply for this internship?
As an environmental studies major with a focus on environmental justice, I applied for this internship for the experience of putting theory into action. Building a more just and sustainable food system is integral to environmental justice, and organic farming centered around values of equity, justice, and collaboration is a tangible way to put this into practice. My values and academic interests aligned to point me towards an internship in urban agriculture this summer, and I specifically reached out to Mill Creek Urban Farm because of their longstanding commitment to this work, hoping to learn more from this rich history. Additionally, I am from West Philadelphia, and it was important to me to do this work as close to my home and community as possible to honor the importance of intimacy in land and community-based work.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
My favorite part of this internship is being a part of connecting people with their food and personally continuing to build deeper connections with my food. In our current food system, people are intentionally kept disconnected from their food, not knowing where it comes from, how it grows, or who has touched it along the way. My favorite part of working at the farm is interacting with people and challenging this disconnection. Oftentimes, when people tour the farm, at least one plant surprises them because it looks so different from its grocery store packaging. For me, it has been okra; I have been excitedly watching each new leaf develop, waiting for something I recognize!
Can you talk about the skills you are learning and why they are important to you?
Learning how to grow vegetables organically has been really fun and rewarding. The skills I am learning are important to me because it is powerful to be able to rely on yourself and your environment for food. I am also learning skills in how to connect with a diverse range of people, from children to elders, as the farm has something interesting for everyone. Building connections and relationships with people across differences is very important to me.
Through the Career and Civic Engagement Center Beyond Bryn Mawr Summer Internship Program, Bryn Mawr students pursue opportunities in fields such as nonprofits, government and law, health care, research, sciences, business, and the arts. Thanks to the generosity of our alumnae/i and donors, over 150 students across all academic departments are funded to pursue unpaid internships or research experiences in the U.S. and abroad each year.