The very last piece of my Culinary Arts curriculum is a self-designed co-op or internship. It is something I’ve been thinking about and planning for since February. Waaaay back many months ago, I met with the owner of Real Food Charlotte, a small vegetarian and raw cafe here in town (the only one!), and worked out all the details for me to begin working there this spring, and then transition into my internship for the summer.
I was excited to have it all set up and ready to go, and relieved that I could focus on my final term at school without the stress of planning an internship. Imagine my surprise in early April when the Real Food website suddenly announced that they had closed. WHAT? I emailed the owner to find out what this meant for my internship, and I never heard back. I was incredibly disappointed, and also very annoyed by their lack of professionalism.
Immediately I went into panic mode, scrambling to see if I would be able to pull something together in such short notice, also considering the fact that I might have to wait and postpone my internship until the fall. In early May, I got an email from Blynk (ironically the place that I work now) linking to a few of their local providers. On a whim, I decided to check them out and see what they may have to offer.
Enter Poplar Ridge Farm, the only certified USDA farm within an hour radius of Charlotte, and my new place of employment!
I visited there in early May to meet with the farm owner and discuss my options for the internship. Driving down the gravel path inside the farm gates, I had a good feeling from the start…
When I first arrived, I had to wait about 30 minutes for a tour group to come back, so I walked around and snapped some pictures of the farm. Rows and rows of leafy greens and root vegetables!
And since it was a Saturday, they were having an Open Farm Day, with a produce stand set up with items for sale. Fresh organic arugula, collard greens, kale, and herbs…
And pasture-raised organic eggs from the farm next door! Casey and I haven’t been eating eggs (for ethical reasons) recently, but we are considering getting some of these since I will be able to see the farm for myself. I am excited to have eggs back in my diet, and to know firsthand exactly where they come from.
There are several big greenhouses to keep business going over the winter months. Poplar Ridge is unique in that it is 90% funded by business from CSA’s, rather than farmers markets. 
In case you aren’t familiar with CSA’s, it stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Each week, bins of fresh organic produce are delivered to customers all over the Charlotte metro area, in exchange for a seasonal subscription to the CSA program. The produce changes from week to week based on availability, but it is always fresh and always organic!
Poplar Ridge is also one of the only organic CSA’s to also offer cut flowers. There were so many beautiful and colorful flowers everywhere. Fragrant roses…
And my personal favorite – blooming PEONIES! These look just like the ones in my wedding bouquet…
They also offer tons of fresh herbs. Rows and rows of them– paradise!
But what will I actually be doing on this farm, you ask? I will be the full time culinary intern! Among other things, I will be…
- learning the ins and outs and process of organic farming
- harvesting fruits and vegetables directly from the farm to the kitchen
- developing recipes to be published in the Poplar Ridge Newsletter
- cooking one lunch and dinner per week for the farm staff
- educating staff and customers on uses for produce and ingredients
- assisting with Open Farm and Market Days
- cooking sample recipes for CSA customers and giving them recipe and ingredient ideas
- assisting with community Farm to Table dinners, acting as sous chef to four well-known Charlotte area chefs
- cooking formal dinners for the farm owner and her family
- and so much more!
I am so excited to get started!!
Speaking of those Farm to Table dinners, they are for large groups (60+) of community members and culinary professionals. The owners of Poplar Ridge spent 15 years building this state of the art, completely “green” building, complete with gourmet kitchen and demonstration windows. Tables for guests will be set up on the beautiful outdoor patio, and the kitchen will be on display for the guests to watch the Chef (with me assisting – eeeek!) prepare and talk about their dinner.
Just beyond the patio is this gorgeous pool, complete with cushy lounge chairs and covered gazebos with couches. Not a bad place to spend the summer, right?
The farm owners actually live on the property, in this beautiful and gigantic restored original farm house. It is amazing inside!
Views beyond the farm house of the 80+ acres down below. I hear there are horses to be found somewhere, but I didn’t get that far on my initial visit. I’m planning to do a LOT of exploring next week!
I am a firm believer in the idea that things happen for a reason. What if I had started with Real Food Charlotte, and they had ended up closing halfway through the summer? I am so glad that I found Poplar Ridge, and I am really excited to work in such a unique environment.
Of course, I am also really scared. I have never really cooked for people other than my family, friends, and classmates. If culinary school was a dress rehearsal, then the curtains fall on Monday morning. Either way, I can’t wait to see all of the exciting places that this might lead…
It is clear the future holds opportunities – it also holds pitfalls. The trick will be to seize the opportunities, avoid the pitfalls, and get back home by 6:00.
– Woody Allen
32 Comments so far
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Sounds like an amazing experience! Can't wait to hear more.
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Wow, what a great opportunity! I was just thinking that you were lucky that Real Food Charlotte closed with enough time for you to find another internship, and then you wrote the same thing! :)
Good luck!
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I'm sure Caitlin and her hubby would love to check that out when they move there!
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Sounds like a great summer! I do a CSA in Loveland, OH.
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Wow, what a great opportunity! I am in a CSA here in GA. I am excited to get my first delivery on Saturday.
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Congratulations, Emily – that sounds wonderful.
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Looks beautiful Emily! Congrats. But…are you sure it's the only certified organic produce farm in NC? I really doubt it and am sure my CSA in Asheville in certified organic…just checking! But again, congrats!
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wow that looks so awesome! in April my husband and I were able to go on the Piedmont Farm tour (http://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/pft2010.shtml) and had a blast learning about all the local farming in NC. You're going to have such a good summer!
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Congratulations! Everything does happen for a reason and God has a plan for everyone! Good luck with your new endeavor. :)
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That sounds amazing! It's cool that you took the plunge into making a career switch and exciting to see it work out well. Have fun on the farm!
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It looks beautiful! What a great place to be! Good luck and have fun! That is what it is all about!
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I'm sure this will be a wonderful experience for you! The farm looks spectacular. Plus, after a few months of cooking meat-heavy dishes, I'm sure this will give you a chance to get back to some of the cooking you really connect with.
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That is awesome Emily! Do you get a deal on the CSA program working there? That would be awesome.
So how long is the internship? I don't know much about the journey to becoming a chef. You do the internship and then can be hired anywhere as a chef or how does that work?
Congrats again!
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I cannot wait to hear more about this! I want to visit that farm sooo badly!
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I am so jealous, especially of your new ethical egg source! Joining an organic CSA here in Northern CA was one of the best food decisions I ever made. I am vegetarian and got farmer's market fatigue (I know, is that even possible?). I chronicle my weekly box and the recipes that I use for each veggie on my blog – always an adventure. Good luck – we need more people like you in the food industry! Sacramento could use a vegetarian chef or two!
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So exciting and sounds like such a great opportunity. Congrats!
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Congratulations Emily! This looks like the PERFECT place to be doing your internship!
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Wow! That sounds like a fantastic job. Have fun!
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What a fabulous opportunity, Emily! I will be anxiously awaiting each blog entry to read about your new adventure and how this will stretch you beyond what you can even imagine!
Looks like a great place to work and grow! Have a great summer!
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That is so exciting! It never fails, when one door closes, another one opens… and in this case sounds like a much better one! Cannot wait to hear about your experience :)
Melodie
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What an amazing opportunity!! I cannot wait to read about it!
There is nothing better than eggs from chickens you know. Mine come from the house down the street. I can't buy them in the grocery store anymore.
-laine
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Thanks everyone!
Ann – you were right!! Sorry about the mixup – it is the only USDA certified organic produce farm within an hour radius of Charlotte. Much love to ALL of the farmers in the great state of North Carolina. :)
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Hey new to your blog, find you through Caitlin. I am so glad that I did. I see that you are in Charlotte. That is awesome. My BF is moving there in the next month and I might be joining him as well :) I hope Real Food Opens back up I have been wanting to try that place. And congrats on your internship opportunity, it sounds amazing!!!!
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Wow that farm is seriously gorgeous! What an amazing opportunity- congrats!!
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Looks amazing! Seems like that's where you were meant to be :-)
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this looks amazing! congratulations! what a lucky girl you are. x
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Congratulations Emily, this is an awesome opportunity!
Don't be scared, enjoy every moment you have there, you couldn't be in a better place!
Love your internship, really amazing!!
Ana
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I'm a bit confused. I thought you guys were vegan. How can you eat eggs if you're vegan?
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Hi Anonymous,
We are both strict vegetarians, but we've just been sort of testing out the vegan diet. While neither of us drinks milk or eats much dairy anymore, we are not strictly vegan. A lot of the time we end up eating vegan because that just tends to be the food we prefer – veggies, grains, etc. But I'm definitely not giving myself the vegan label. I still haven't stopped eating cheese (I can't help myself), and I would really LIKE to start eating eggs again if I can get them from an ethical source. The difference (for us) between eating ethically produced eggs vs. chicken is that the animal isn't dying to produce the product. Some chickens lay eggs and live very long happy lives.
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Hi Emily,
I love your thoughts on eating eggs again. I was an adament vegetarian for 3+ years, but as my running and weight training increased my body CRAVED more protein (that I just wasn't getting with my veg. diet). My fiance and I joined a CSA and receive weekly eggs and I LOVE them! I started out eating more egg whites, but now consume probably one whole egg/day. I sometimes cook them into my oatmeal for an added protein boost! Anyways, I love your blog and can't wait to hear more about your farm experience:)
Sally
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Ginna – the internship will be all summer long and ends in August. At that point, I'll need to find a job just like everyone else! Scary! :)
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First off, congrats, this is completely amazing!!! I read this and was SO excited for you and SO jealous all at the same time. The photos are lovely. I bet the kitchen is amazing! How exciting that you'll be cooking farm to fork dinners. You are going to rock it girl!! And after a successful dinner you can jump in the pool ;) 2nd, I could never take eggs out of my diet! Last summer I bought only farm fresh eggs from the market in Charlotte where I sold ota.bars. Since moving to CO I at least would always buy organic/cage free, but still prefer farm fresh. I found a market that opened in the winter and have been getting farm freshies since about February. I cherish them!! I know exactly what farm they came from and don't mind forking over the extra $ for them. And, I find that eggs actually help my digestion. With all of the greens + fiber, the eggs have helped out ;) haha
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