A couple of weekends ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down to chat with a fairly recent addition to our volunteer crew. Keep reading to find out more about Yevgenia in the fourth installment of the Stearns Crew Spotlight series.
What brought you to Stearns and how long have you been a member?
Back in the spring of 2021, I kept driving by Stearns on my way to Eastleigh (Farm) but I didn’t know it was a farm. One day, I saw a man setting up the self-serve kiosk after the seedling sale and I decided to stop and ask about the plants.
What sort of work/tasks do you perform at the farm? What do you like about it? What’s been the biggest challenge?
I meet with Ember regularly to make plans for upcoming projects. I like to work on a wide variety of tasks and especially like cleaning up invasive species so native flowers and plants can grow back for the first time in years. We removed the Japanese knotweed to cover the front area with clover for the winter, and I’ve been maintaining the strip of pollinator-friendly plants alongside the greenhouse all season.
The biggest challenge is that there is not enough time in the day for more time at the farm. There is only so much that can be done in one season.
What do you like to do for fun? Do you have any pets? A favorite hiking spot?
I love spending time with family and right now, I like to go foraging for local mushrooms and berries. I don’t currently have a pet but I love all animals. Nobscot Reservation on the Framingham/Sudbury line is my favorite local place for a long hike.
What are you looking forward to most for the rest of this season?
Everything, especially the upcoming garlic planting and bonfire at the annual meeting. Also, working with the wonderful people who also work at the farm.
What is your favorite veggie from the Stearns share?
Almost everything but not the leafy greens (chard, kale, etc.). I picked and froze plenty of peak purslane this year and look forward to enjoying them this winter.
