Around here it's often said: "If you want something done, do it yourself-but if you want it done with style, let an intern do it!"
That pithy aphorism is proving itself true with the arrival of our first interns, Tom and Lisa. They've quickly helped us get the garden going full steam, planting onions, carrots, beets, lettuce, peas, spinach, potatoes, and much more (see "Greetings from the garden!". Tom has also been our principal seedling tender, nurturing the minuscule plants in our new greenhouse as they grow towards their manifest destiny of a life outdoors. And almost every morning, Lisa wakes us up with the smell of delectable baked goods wafting from the oven. Tom and Lisa's skill and dedication have been invaluable on many other projects, including getting our outdoor kitchen ready, planting trees, and building our first genuine outhouse.
We can't wait to meet the rest of our six interns, all of whom promise to be committed, interesting and fun people. If you come to Dancing Rabbit for a visit this summer, you'll get to meet them too! For those who can't make it to Rutledge any time soon, we offer a chance to get to know our interns a little bit here:
Amy Best
Hi everyone! I'm Amy Best, a 22-year old junior at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. Some say I'm from the suburbs of Pittsburgh, ut I consider myself a product of many environments. I'm a world traveler who has seen a lot of the United States, but I'm not familiar with the Midwest and am excited to spend time there. I'm a competitive swimmer and a bit of a jock who enjoys a variety of outdoor sports from biking to boating to camping. I'm majoring in sustainable alternative fuel development in the Third World, and can't wait to get hands-on experience at Dancing Rabbit! I'm thrilled at the opportunities Dancing Rabbit offers and can't wait to begin!!
Douwe Bruinsma
I am a sophomore at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Illinois, where I am in the integrated science program. This is a program that is for scientifically oriented people who like to expand their knowledge in all of the different branches of science, instead of focusing on just a single subject. I am also a member of the rowing team, for which I will have to stay in shape over the summer. I was born and raised in the Netherlands and moved to the United States when I was 12 for my father's business. While growing up in Europe I did a lot of hiking and rock climbing, which I absolutely love to do when I get the chance. I just enjoy being out in nature in its purest form, and I believe that our current technology is harming nature in unnecessary ways. This is why I am so interested in the Dancing Rabbit project: It is a step in the right direction that leads to us living in harmony with our environment.
Tom Cowen
I'm a 12-year veteran of the computer and electronics industry who has been trying to get out of it for several years. I was raised in southwest New York and spent many summers working on my relatives' farm. I've never felt at home in a large city, and spend much of my free time out in the "boonies" hiking, backpacking and biking. I spent two summers in northern California as a wilderness ranger; that was my initiation into seeing self-sustaining households. It made me want to put more effort into making a break from the humdrum life and becoming self-sufficient. Hopefully I'll learn a lot this summer and meet many great people.
Brian Halverstadt
I'm 22 and currently live in Seattle, Washington. I found out about Dancing Rabbit in an ad in Communities Magazine and was really interested in the prospect of doing a garden internship. I would eventually like to be able to build my own home (straw bale) on property and live as self-sufficiently as possible, including growing my own food. I would like to also eventually major in nutrition, possibly at Bastyr University in Seattle. I'm currently active in several activist organizations including Food Not Bombs, Earth First!, and Northwest Animal Rights Network.
Kenny Kreuscher
I'm a second-year literacy education student at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. I became interested in Dancing Rabbit while trying to find a means of living sustainably. I can't wait to help out in many different fields at DR. I would like to become a vocal proponent of sustainable living-however, first I need to "walk the walk." I'm an avid reader who enjoys books ranging from sociobiology to science fiction and fantasy. I enjoy backpacking, martial arts, and music as well.
Lisa Schwartz
I went to Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, to study chemistry, and by the time I graduated, I was living and working on an Indiana organic vegetable farm. This agricultural, sustainable education affected me deeply, more than my education in the "laboratory arts" ever had, and I began to pattern my lifeways toward sustainability and self-sufficiency. Lately, I've been making my way as a baker, living in an Indiana town where a bike can get you everywhere. In previous life experiences, I have witnessed the power of community. I am really looking forward to being part of some ground-breaking action and learning more about community, others, and myself at DR.
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