Farming is in the blood of this URI gradFor Charlestown resident Jayne Merner, who earned the nation’s top environmental scholarship last year, farming is in her blood. So when she received her degree in environmental economics and management from URI in May, Merner and her fiance Ryan Senecal became full-time farmers.
“Farming is a lost art in my generation. Everybody says it’s not viable, that there are no economic incentives, so why do it?” she said. “But it’s what I want to do. It’s good for the environment, it’s fun, and it creates a wonderful community. And I’m going to make it work.”
Merner’s farm won’t be like most other farms in the country, though. Hers will be one that she hopes the local community will invest in so they can share in the weekly harvest. Merner is establishing one of the first community supported farms in the area.
“Community supported agriculture has a direct relationship between the farmer and the community members who want to buy vegetables,” she explained. “Consumers purchase a share of the harvest at the beginning of the growing season, and that up-front money helps support the farm financially so the farmer can buy seed and equipment in the spring. Throughout the season the shareholders come and collect whatever is harvested that week.”
Merner has planted 2.5 acres of vegetables this year and is selling 50 shares in the harvest. One share will provide enough vegetables to feed a family of five for 20 weeks. Half shares are also available for smaller families. Every week from June through October, shareholders pick up a basket of vegetables and receive a weekly newsletter filled with recipes and information about local events, farms and organic farming.
Merner first experimented with community supported agriculture two years ago when, with three friends, she planted a half acre of vegetables and sold 23 shares in the farm. “It was a great experience, but it wasn’t big enough to make money for four people,” she recalled. “But we’ve kept relationships with almost all of our former members, many of who are coming back this year.”
While most farmers don’t have a college degree, Merner said her time at URI played a key role in her decision to become a farmer. “The classes I took have truly helped me shape my love of the natural environment into a socially important and economically viable endeavor,” she said. “Without a balanced understanding of economic, social and environmental issues, this farming career would not work.”
Last year Merner earned a Udall Scholarship, America’s most prestigious scholarship for environmental studies. She also was named a Coastal Fellow at URI, which provided her with funding to conduct environmental research last summer and fall. Merner’s research focused on sustainability in Rhode Island, including identifying successful sustainable businesses and practices in the state and building local awareness of the topic.
By Todd McLeish
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