The Dilmun community includes many dedicated student volunteers, non-student volunteers and advisors. Meet our coordinator and our managers:
Year: Junior, Class of 2011
College: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Major: International Agriculture & Rural Development
Dilmun Story: I first came to Dilmun Hill on a field trip with my organic agriculture class and immediately fell in love with it. Not only was the space absolutely beautiful but I met an amazing community of people who loved the earth and were passionate about farming. I've been coming back ever since and now co-manage the Market Garden.
About Becky: I love vegetables, most especially kale. I first got interested in agriculture through spending time with my dad, a medical humanitarian aid worker in the hill tribes of Northern Thailand. I saw the connection between the villager's health problems, local ecological destruction and their agricultural system. Even though Dilmun and Thailand are on opposite sides of the world, I love what I am learning here about sustainable agriculture, and see it as a solution to many problems both here and overseas. Plus, I love playing in the dirt ;-)
Year: Junior, Class of 2011
College: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Major: Natural Resources
Dilmun Story: I started volunteering at Dilmun Hill when I arrived as a freshman. I was swept away by the friendly folks and tasty produce and haven't looked back. To this day, the most fulfilling aspect of working at Dilmun has been the enthusiasm and energy of our volunteers. I now co-manage the Market Garden.
About Davis: I spent a number of years volunteering at the Community Farm in my hometown of Jamestown, RI. After developing a passion for this farming structure, I found Dilmun, which perfectly matched my interests. I believe that volunteer involvement is tremendously rewarding for both managers and volunteers alike, and it breeds a strong, unique commitment to the farm.
Year: Sophomore, Class of 2012
College: College of Art, Architecture, and Planning
Major: Architecture, Pre-med
Dilmun Story: I found Dilmun by searching for horticulture/green opportunities on campus in my second semester at Cornell, and I'm glad that I did. I was impressed with the dedication and talent of the Dilmun club and decided that I wanted to contribute my design and gardening skills. I'm really lucky to have the opportunity to work at Dilmun, where every day is a valuable learning experience. Dilmun has been tremendously influential in my personal views and goals and I hope to keep on working with the people who just bring so much joy and enthusiasm to farming.
About Alex: People often ask what an architecture major, who is also pre-med, is doing on a farm. For one thing, I love cooking and gardening and food production is a fundamental skill that everyone can benefit from. I am also searching for a way to combine my broad ranged interests in art, science, and sustainability. While I am uncertain of what I will find, for now, I just enjoy watching the plants grow.
Year: Sophomore, Class of 2012
College: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Major: Agricultural Science Education
Dilmun Story: I got involved in Dilmun hill during my first semester at Cornell. The thing that first attracted me to Dilmun Hill was the opportunity to continue to learn about sustainable agriculture from a hands on perspective. My love of food and cooking is what originally drew me to agriculture. Dilmun allows me to share what I learn with other students and community members. In my role as summer manager, I am researching best management practices for contaminated soils.
About Bonnie: I'm an Agricultural Science Education major here at Cornell. I live in Massachusetts when I'm not a student and I spent the year after highschool as an apprentice on an organic farm that had a CSA, market garden, beef and dairy cattle, sheep, poultry, and education programs for children and adults.
Position: Organic Farm Coordinator, since January 2008
College: Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station (CUAES), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Education: Cornell University, College of Arts and Sciences, Class of 2004. College Scholar with emphasis on participatory agricultural education.
Dilmun Story: I encountered Dilmun as a Cornell student when Marguerite Wells was on staff. I found out about my current job over the Dilmun listserv after a particularly rough season of farming and realized that the Organic Coordinator position would compliment my own farming endeavors.
About Melissa: I co-own the Good Life Farm in Covert, NY. We are in major set-up mode - buildings going up, drilling for water and first crops in the ground! The design principles we use in our plan are helpful in my work with Dilmun. We are particularly focused on creating self-renewing fertility cycles with our crops and livestock… these days, that's pretty much the story and lots of asparagus!