Maple Hill Farm, an organic farm near Scottsville where Dave Matthews’ Best of What’s Around operation is based, plans to house seasonal interns on its facility to learn the farming trade. According to farm manager Matthew Holt, this move comes in the midst of a growing trend among organic farms to take on willing interns for both educational and labor-intensive positions.
 Best of What’s Around runs their organic farming operation on Maple Hill Farm, which got permission to build housing for its eclectic group of interns. |
Maple Hill Farm consists of 1,261 acres, some of which are dedicated to the organic production of fruits and vegetables. This summer, the farm will grow everything from corn and eggplant to squash and zucchini. Holt came before the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors June 6 with a petition for a special use permit to allow the farm to use existing sleeping cabins and a kitchen/bath structure for 10 of its seasonal workers.
“We do have people who would come and work for us if we could provide the housing, and we haven’t been able to do that,” says Holt. “Right now, we’re struggling a little bit with a lack of labor. I need a crew big enough to plant everyday and harvest. Right now, I can’t support that.”
Among the current interns at the farm are teachers, graduate students and a Peace Corps worker. Holt says teachers come to learn how to implement student gardening and composting facilities at their schools. Some of the other interns have more global reasons for their involvement.
“Many grad students we’ve had are politically active in getting indigenous people in South America back in organics versus the traditionals that are causing issues in their society,” says Holt. “They’ve been on the political end of it to understand the practical application.”
Best of What’s Around does not sell its produce wholesale but rather is a “community supported agriculture” business. Individuals support the farm by buying shares to cover its operating cost, receiving in exchange a supply of fresh fruit and vegetables during the weeks of operation.
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