Getting My Hands in the Dirt
Walking past the tennis courts, you enter the metal gates, and it feels like you are entering into a version of Narnia. Fruit trees line the exterior perimeter of the gate, and plots of edible goodies line the interior.
At the University of Texas at Austin, the UT Microfarm has been a key staple of the community since its founding in 2012. It consistently provides free organic produce to the UT Outpost, a free on-campus food pantry and career closet for currently enrolled UT students. UT Microfarm is fully student-run and encourages others to help with maintenance of the farm.
But more than just providing healthy food to students, it provides an experience for students to reconnect with the Earth and the gifts she gives us. When I went to the farm, I got my hands dirty, literally, sticking them into the dirt to help plant a new batch of crops. People are so disconnected from the food we eat, that often we forget everything comes from the earth. Being able to participate in the growth of life allows you to take a step back from the stressful life of a college student and reflect on the broader life cycle.
In her novel “Braiding Sweetgrass,” Robin Wall Kimmerer eloquently states, “The land knows you, even when you are lost.” But only when you are able to reconnect with the land can you be found.
My experience with the UT Microfarm allowed me to learn new things, as I spent time seeding pots and weed whacking. Being able to hold a powerful machine made me feel like I could do anything. Oftentimes, going to college allows you to learn how to use your mind, but we forget how useful our bodies and hands are at making things happen. Seeing the progress of soil in pots and the grass being trimmed away was amazing.
If you happen to wake up early on a Sunday morning, and you feel like getting your hands dirty, the UT Microfarm beckons all who seek a little adventure!
Graphic by Sydney Stellato