Meet School Farm and Dickinson Alumni, Will Kochtitzky ’16, an Earth Sciences main. Will labored 6 semesters and a part of a summer season (2013) on the farm from spring 2013 to spring 2016. Hear about it from Will immediately!
I’ve so many fond recollections on the farm, planting, harvesting, making biogas, welding, splitting wooden, watering, and a lot extra. Going to the farm was all the time a spotlight of my week at Dickinson. I used to be in a position to experience my bike to the farm and get away from teachers for just a few hours, which helped me mirror on my research and finally do higher in my course work. Of my many recollections on the farm, most of them are due to the folks I started working with together with Matt, Jenn, the apprentices, and fellow college students.
Once I graduated Dickinson, I went to graduate faculty on the College of Maine to check glaciers. After ending at UMaine, I went to the College of Ottawa the place I accomplished my PhD persevering with my work in glaciology. I then acquired a place on the College of New England the place I’m at present an assistant professor. I educate our geographic data system (GIS) program, one thing I began learning at Dickinson. Despite the fact that I strayed from agriculture, I believe the farm was elementary in serving to form who I’m at work and serving to create my work ethic. GIS may also assist us perceive rather a lot about agriculture, which I proceed to make use of in my instructing and analysis.
The farm has formed who I’m immediately in some ways, however maybe the most important is what occurs in my yard. I at present reside in Biddeford, Maine, with my spouse, Anna McGinn ’14, 
the place we farm a big vegetable backyard and younger fruit orchard. Our backyard features a couple dozen types of greens, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, asparagus, peaches, apples, seaside plums, paw paws, herbs, cherries, and extra. In 2024, we added bees! As we’re making ready our vegetable backyard annually, we 100% depend on the methods we realized on the School Farm and develop our backyard the way in which Matt and Jenn taught us, or a minimum of as a lot as we are able to bear in mind! The most important complement we acquired from our neighbor our first 12 months on the home, he mentioned “you clearly have accomplished this earlier than”. Sure, we’ve got accomplished this earlier than, all because of Matt, Jenn, and the Dickinson School Farm. We take pleasure in very uncommon journeys to grocery retailer throughout the summer season and plenty of frozen/preserved backyard goodies year-round.
I can’t thank Matt and Jenn sufficient for the chance to work on the School Farm and study from them. I select to attend Dickinson primarily due to the School Farm, which ended up being among the best selections of my life. I’m very grateful and can proceed to take pleasure in all of the yummy meals we develop because of my time at Dickinson. Thanks, Matt and Jenn!!
