I've been thinking about how I was unable to properly express myself in my earlier post. I thought that maybe it would help to go back to my initial farm questionnaire, which I filled out before speaking to L. or getting the gig. I'm actually surprised at how much I already knew myself and what I wanted. Some of my responses would be slightly changed now, but on the whole I wrote truthfully at the time and most of those truths still hold up. Below are the questions and my responses.
1.
Why do you want
to farm?
I
want to be part of a farm or creamery because I would like to create a tangible
product that can bring joy or pleasure to others. I also prefer living in a
rural to semi-rural environment and would like to find a way to do so while
also supporting myself. Finally, I definitely believe that sustainable
non-factory farms are incredibly important to our country and food culture, and
would like to be a part of such a movement/community.
2.
What type of farm
would you ultimately like to own/run?
Ultimately I
would either like to become a cheesemaker at an existing sheep or goat farm, or
to translate the skills I learn to a larger cheesemaking operation like Rogue
Creamery or Jasper Hill. I would
love to have a small farm of my own, which would probably focus on sheep, as I
have the most experience with them…and they seem slightly easier to manage than
dairy cows. I also dream of having my own flock of chickens.
3.
What do you most
need to learn?
Everything.
While I have had firsthand experience with livestock, I have no firsthand
experience with a creamery or dairy operation. To either eventually have my own
farm or to work at an existing one in a creative role (ie: coming up with new
cheeses etc.) would mean that I would need to learn a lot more about the actual
steps that go into the whole life cycle of a farm, and specifically of making a
cheese. From separating the whey and the chemistry of rennet to affinage and
determining what kinds of milk lend themselves to create the best feta, cheddar
or brie…the depth of knowledge I lack is great...but I really want to change
that.
4.
What do you feel
you have to offer Glendale Shepherd Dairy and Creamery?
I can offer
Glendale Shepherd Dairy and Creamery my true enthusiasm for sustainable
agriculture and food products, cheese, sheep, land preservation and ‘the farm
life.’ I can also contribute my will-do attitude, true passion for shifting my
career in a new direction, and commitment to adding value to your farm while
adding value to my own life. I also believe I could support any social media initiatives
you may embark upon as well as contribute to the blog and being a happy
representative for the farm at farmer’s markets etc.
5.
You know farming
is not a 9 – 5 job. Are you prepared to pitch in and be extremely flexible?
I am well
aware of the unpredictability of farming and am more than willing to roll with
the punches and do what needs to be done.
6.
Tell us about
your marketing skills – whether it’s people skills or more extensive?
I have
created a number of press releases and articles for my current employer in
order to gain more clients and blog readers. I am also quite comfortable
speaking to anyone who crosses my path (I have, from time to time, been
described as charming). At work we sometimes receive calls where people have numerous
complex questions or a complaint; I am usually the person to whom my colleagues
transfer the call due to my ability to deftly and diplomatically handle even
the most difficult of inquiries.
7.
Have you done any
retail?
As a
teenager I worked at a children’s clothing consignment store, which would certainly
be considered retail. I have also worked in the restaurant and catering
industry, which is not quite the same, but does require many of the same basic
abilities in relation to interacting with others. I know my way around a cash register.
8.
Is the customer
always right?[1]
If the
customer asked me this question I would say absolutely yes.
But the
reality is that sometimes the customer isn’t right…but that doesn’t change the
fact that as a person in a service role, it’s important that you remain respectful
and that you address their concerns – warranted or not. This reminds me of a
dinner I had a few months ago…a few tables away a woman began loudly
complaining to her server that her food was too hot. The server apologized and
offered to take the dish away to try to cool it down, or to get her an entirely
different dish…but the woman continued to berate the server and complain about
the fact that the food was too hot (which, honestly, seems like a pretty weird
complaint). The server remained polite and again asked the woman what she, the
server, could do to make her happy. The woman never answered the question, but
continued to complain loudly disrupting the dining experience of the rest of us.
It was as if she didn’t actually want the issue resolved, but just the
opportunity to complain to someone who was trying their best to help her.
My point
here is that the woman had the right to be annoyed that her food was not
exactly to her liking, but she was not right in continuing to complain to the
server when the server was trying to fix the situation. So honestly, I don’t
think the customer is always right, but I do think that it’s important to
always allow them to think they are/to try to find a way to diplomatically
address any concern or wacky request that might come my way.
9.
What is the best
thing former employers/teachers say about you?
One of my
bosses often refers to me as ‘a hoot.’ I think most would comment that I’m
honest, a good communicator and reliable when it comes to our deadline-oriented
work. If I say I’m going to get something done, it will be done … and if
something clearly will prevent me from getting something done, I’m diligent in
finding a workable solution or compromise.
10. What would your former employers/teachers say is your
weakness?
I’m pretty
terrible at certain areas of IT/computer fixes and am not overly
familiar/comfortable with Microsoft Excel or how to troubleshoot wireless
network problems. So perhaps they would say that certain kinds of technological
skills are weak for me.
11. Do you have any building or art skills?
I have a
degree in photography and writing, so I can generally take decent photos and write
compelling and clear copy. I can also knit (biggest project was an afghan). I
have no building skills to speak of, but I do know how to relight a hot water
heater’s pilot light without blowing myself up.
12. What do you like to do in the off hours?
When I’m not
working I’m often reading, writing or watching television. In warm months I’m a
big fan of swimming in lakes or oceans…or simply sitting on their shores with a
book in hand. I am a great lover of games – Rummy, Catan, Cards Against
Humanity are some favorites. I also enjoy playing darts (I currently captain my
own team). This summer I gardened a bit on my deck, which included an heirloom
tomato plant, dahlias, marigolds, geraniums and other harder-to-kill plants.
13. How do you see interacting with the family?
I know how
to fit in with a group, but I also know how to entertain myself. I value engaging
with others, but I also value my own quiet time. I see myself interacting with
the family in a respectful way. I imagine we would be working together at one
point or another on almost all days, and would hope to create a solid working
relationship built on mutual trust and honesty. When not officially ‘on the
clock’ I would hope to have the occasional meal or conversation, but would also
understand when the family would want their own space and time.
14. If you were cooking a meal for us, what would it be[2] ?
I make a
pretty mean slow cooked pork shoulder, the leftovers of which I make into my
own version of pulled pork. I also enjoy brining and roasting chickens and turning
whatever is left into a curry or lemon chicken soup. My macaroni and cheese is
no joke. I also recently started getting pretty decent at making soon dubu
jigae, which is a spicy Korean tofu soup. My lamb tacos have also generally
been considered a hit by those who have tried them.
15. Describe your sense of humor?
I do believe
that everything is easier if you can find the humor in the situation, no matter
how dire. That is not to say that I make jokes out of serious issues, just that
I am more often than not trying to lighten the mood or find the joy in what
might be a challenge. There’s a little sarcasm thrown in there as well. Bowfinger
is a movie I consider quite funny. Here is a terrible joke I made up:
Q:What did
the bus driver say to the hobbit?
A: Do you
have any tol-kiens?
16. Do you like to teach kids?
I do. I
recently spent a long weekend with family due to a wedding, which included six
young cousins ranging in age from 12 months to 9 years. I loved showing them
new dance moves, reading them stories and generally engaging in any
conversation they wanted to have.
17. Create a question for us.
I couldn’t
just create one…
What have
previous interns at your farm gone on to do?
Or.
What do you
consider the most important quality that you’d like an intern to possess?
Or.
In what ways
are you thinking about expanding your farm’s business?
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