My Experience as a D.I.G. Intern at Seeds

Hello, my name is Alayna Autry, and I've been a D.I.G. intern at Seeds for two summers now. I can honestly say it has been a wonderful learning experience. Here at Seeds, I’ve not only learned a great deal about gardening and many facts about life on the farm, but I've also met some amazing people that I hope to carry with me throughout my life. Seeds has helped uplift me socially, mentally, and physically. When I step onto this property, my worries are lifted for the time I'm here—it's truly a feeling I can only describe as peace and unity.

Improvements in D.I.G. and Myself

D.I.G. has helped me grow as a person. It has introduced me to new people, opportunities, and experiences. For me, I’d say I’ve been impacted socially the most. I don’t get out of my house much, and if I do, I’m not often talking to people. Social anxiety has always been a big struggle for me, but during D.I.G., I was able to come out of my shell and face my fears at my own pace. I’m much more confident in social situations now, and for that, I’m more grateful than I could ever express.

I’d say the two biggest things that helped me grow so much in this area were the opportunities to lead volunteer groups and serve as a garden guide for visitors. Additionally, learning about and building strong connections with my coworkers has been a key part of my growth. There’s a special kind of magic here at Seeds, because I truly came to love my coworkers like family. Although the summer is over, I’m still in contact with them—this, for me, is proof that the bonds I made here are strong and real.

The Growth of D.I.G.

Not only have I grown, but D.I.G. has also grown into something beautiful. My first summer at Seeds was a memorable and good experience for sure, and I don’t have any complaints. But this summer was different. I actually wanted to come and participate. I felt bad if I missed a day. This summer, D.I.G. felt more connected. I wanted to come and see the people, I wanted to cook meals, and I wanted to sweat in the sun and dig in the dirt.

To me, D.I.G. is now a much more organized operation than it was last summer. Not only is the garden more in order, but so are our data and documents. I believe great things have been accomplished this summer, one of which was harvesting over 750 lbs of produce. To be able to say that I helped raise such a large amount of produce is one of my biggest accomplishments to date. Not only has our garden flourished much more, thanks to better communication and overall effort, but, as previously mentioned, Seeds as a whole becoming more organized has made everything much more manageable.

Overall, my time at Seeds as a D.I.G. intern has been an incredibly transformative journey. I've not only grown as a person, building confidence in my social skills and forming meaningful connections, but I've also witnessed and contributed to the growth of the program itself. The improvements in the garden, the organization of our work, and the sense of community we've cultivated have made this summer especially impactful. I’m proud of everything we’ve accomplished, from the harvests to the relationships we've built, and I’ll carry these experiences with me as I move forward. Seeds has truly been a place of growth, both personally and professionally, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it.