An opportunity to escape the demanding lifestyle of a college student is just a short drive away from campus at Massaro Community Farm.
Once operated by the Massaro family, the farm was generously deeded to the town of Woodbridge and now acts as a nonprofit organization where all are encouraged to come and give back.
“Sometimes I feel like we all just need a chance to breathe,” says Jessica Sade, a senior environmental systems and sustainability major.
Sade is a volunteer at the community garden on campus and tends to her own greenspaces at home. She is a believer that plants are powerful and visiting Massaro Community Farm was another opportunity to be around their radiant energy of growth and love.
“Every person ought to try planting a seed and watch it grow because we can learn a lot from them,” says Sade.
It can be difficult to remind ourselves that we are all just humans first. Getting your hands dirty, breathing in some fresh air, and connecting with animals is rejuvenating for the soul. It can give your brain the reset it needs to get back to the hustle.
No farm experience is necessary, however, just a commitment to working as a community to improve what is around us. The farm needs people with a wide range of skillsets and strengths like social media, website design and much more.
“Anybody can have multiple interests, and what kept me going back was my passions for sustainability and giving back to the community,” says Joseph Merly, a senior history major.
Merly’s main goal is to find a career protecting land in the National Security sector. He still believes it is just as important to improve it from within, so he took it upon himself to do just that.
Along with other students, Merly carpooled to Massaro Community Farm and worked in and out of the rain transporting garden beds into the indoor greenhouses. The work was challenging but extremely gratifying, and the group really felt like a team.
“Massaro is a local, accessible place that is extremely connected with the community,” says Merly. “We should never take for granted the hard-working people on our farms.”
Students say the same when asked about who, or what, is responsible for creating an environment at Massaro Community Farm, and it was not the chickens.
“What makes Massaro farms so special is the people. The farmers are amazing, and I really admire the work that they do,” says Bella Cassin, a junior psychology major.
Cassin always had a lingering interest in gardening and nature in general, so when she came across a post by the Office of Sustainability, she did not hesitate to get involved. She appreciated the ability to work alongside others as a team, which is something she is familiar with as a member of the SCSU Dance Team.
“You get to see cute animals, take home fresh vegetables from the ground, and learn valuable life lessons,” says Cassin. “It’s good to get out of your comfort zone.”
Cassin also got the chance to operate their stand at the farmer’s market.
The opportunities at Massaro Community Farm go far beyond just digging in the dirt.
“It is a partnership between two entities. A way for the university to support a local organization as neighbors in our community,” says Project Coordinator of the SCSU Innovation Hub, Derek Faulkner.
Before his position at the Innovation Hub, Faulkner worked in the Office of Sustainability where part of his job was spreading the word about Massaro Community Farm. His efforts went beyond just that though, as Faulkner took multiple trips to the farm and noticed the symbiotic effect it had on all parties.
“It’s really helpful to see firsthand, we are all pretty removed when it comes to the source of our food,” says Faulkner.
The path that our food takes from the farm to the table becomes particularly blurred on a college campus. Visiting Massaro Community Farm and taking part in even one small step in the process, like harvesting carrots or planting seedlings, is an eye opening for those who have not done it before.
A large reason our food system has become so flawed is due to society adopting a transactional mentality which values only what there is to gain, and not what there is to give. As a result, most of the food available becomes highly processed and chemically altered. Anyone looking to avoid these options can go to Massaro Community Farm and purchase fresh, local produce.
For those looking to keep their hands clean, the farm holds a plethora of events year-round that you can visit or volunteer at. These include comedy shows, a group bike ride from East to West Rock Park and Dinner on the Farm.
Dinner on the Farm is an event held annually at Massaro Community Farm where the public is invited to enjoy food prepared directly on the farm. In attendance at the most recent dinner was none other than Interim President Dwayne D. Smith.
The event is just one example of the many efforts they make to bring the community closer together.
“Take a drive there,” says Merly. “They’d love to have you.”
Students with a desire to give back and reconnect with nature are encouraged to act upon those urges at Massaro Community Farm. The Office of Sustainability should be contacted to organize trips to the farm.
