Internship at Full Moon Farm!
For those who do not know me, hi! My name is Jasmine Griff-Root and I am a recent graduate of Appalachian State University. I majored in Nutrition with a minor in Marketing and a goal of making whole foods more accessible. One of my required classes requested each student complete a total of 10 community service hours at a location on the teacher’s list. I googled all of the options to get a basic overview and eventually landed on Full Moon Farm as it sounded pretty neat. I began volunteering in April of this year. Another requirement for graduating was completing my Capstone. I struggled for a month trying to find somewhere to hire me, that is when I reached out to Full Moon Farm to ask them to host me as an intern. Thankfully, they said yes!
Going from a volunteer to an intern was a bit of a transition. A new set of responsibilities were now expected from me. This was something I knew I had to work on as I had not known myself to be the best at manual labor, or even waking up early for that matter. For the first few weeks, I was accompanied by two other interns, both Sustainable Development majors. I enjoyed getting to know and learn from them as they had basic knowledge of what goes on at a farm, whereas I did not. It took me some time to get in the hang of things, and while I know more now than I did, I still cannot always tell if a squash is the right size to harvest.
Working at this farm is one of the most rewarding things I have ever accomplished. I have had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people with so many different backgrounds. I have met people who are trying to work out problems in their lives and use the farm to feel grounded and I have met people who just volunteer for fun. Being able to watch people grow a community for themselves while coming together in a collected space where their time equals an increase in food security in the county has been the most encouraging thing I have witnessed.
Going from a volunteer to an intern was tough. There were longer hours in the heat, tasks that were sometimes stinky, and miscommunication here and there, but I would not trade these past 200 hours at the farm for the world. Not only will it give you new perspectives on life but it will also make you realize that what you do matters, even if the impact is small. Some days I would come into work and have had a rough night, whether it was staying up too late working on chemistry or having a fight with a friend; a bad day for me at the farm meant a meal for someone who needs it. Not once did I leave that farm and think that what I did was useless.
Some highlights from working at the farm include being able to take home fresh produce to my mom and being able to tell her that I was there for the entire process of it being made! This job has taught me so many farming skills and even the importance of shopping locally. Another highlight is growing connections and making so many new friends! I absolutely adored everybody that I was lucky enough to cross paths with. I have learned about hidden gems of Boone, cool hiking trails, nifty bargains, recipes, ideas, music, and so much more from the amazing volunteers at this farm.
Responsibilities of being an intern include being on time for work, however, you choose to collaborate your schedules. What this also means is learning how to work in a timely manner. Make sure to utilize your time efficiently and take a ton of breaks! It tends to get pretty toasty on the farm so stay hydrated, step into the walk-in cooler, hose yourself down, do what is needed. Always make sure to communicate with the people at the farm! They only want to see you succeed whether it is a small task or a big assignment needed for your internship. Take risks and try out new things! Never in my life have I weedwhacked but once I was given the opportunity to, you could not pry that thing out of my hands. My last bit of advice is to enjoy every minute! Remember that you are doing this to get experience but also make sure to stop and smell the tomatoes! Pick a carrot out of the ground and take a bite; feel one with this beautiful earth and all it provides us with. My favorite way of grounding myself was picking wood sorrel, taking a moment to rest, and looking around at all of the local flora and fauna.
Working at the farm has taught me a great deal about the beginning of the food cycle. I have learned and done so much more than I have ever expected myself to do. Taking an internship at Full Moon Farm will open your eyes to all of the opportunities around you that benefit the community in such a wholesome way. Have fun, drink electrolytes, and good luck! :)
- Jasmine Griff-Root, 2026 Summer Intern