Hello everyone! My name is Keely Charles, and I am a new addition to the Green Bridge Growers team this summer as a sustainability intern. I am a South Bend native and graduated from Riley High School in 2019. I actually learned of Green Bridge my junior year in a class taught by Mr. Brubaker as a part of the Engineering Magnet Program. Jan and some other Green Bridge team members came in to tell us about what they do with aquaponics and sustainable agriculture as well as their social mission of providing jobs for those on the autism spectrum. I was very interested in aquaponics and the idea of producing food in a way that is sustainable.
After high school, I was accepted to Purdue University and decided that I would study kinesiology with the intentions of becoming a physical therapist. Very quickly, I learned that it wasn’t for me. I took a general environmental science class at Purdue and rediscovered my love for the environment. I really reflected on what I was passionate about and wanted to do with my future. After some research, I discovered that Purdue offered a major called Natural Resources and Environmental Science. This seemed like a great fit for me because of my passion for the environment and my desire to help preserve our natural resources in any way possible.
After high school, I was accepted to Purdue University and decided that I would study kinesiology with the intentions of becoming a physical therapist. Very quickly, I learned that it wasn’t for me. I took a general environmental science class at Purdue and rediscovered my love for the environment. I really reflected on what I was passionate about and wanted to do with my future. After some research, I discovered that Purdue offered a major called Natural Resources and Environmental Science. This seemed like a great fit for me because of my passion for the environment and my desire to help preserve our natural resources in any way possible.
I am now entering my senior year at Purdue, and I have absolutely loved my program and all that I have learned. A soil science class that I took helped me discover that I have a passion for soil health and sustainable agriculture practices. With Indiana being a state that is so heavily dependent on agriculture, I felt that it made sense for me to focus on how to reduce the use of environmentally harmful farming practices.
When looking for summer internship opportunities, I thought of Green Bridge and reconnected with Jan. I learned that in addition to the aquaponics greenhouse, there was a high tunnel as well as crops in the field. This summer, I have had the opportunity to use the information that I have learned in the classroom and apply my knowledge to real life situations on the farm. Knowing that there are places like Green Bridge in my community that care about sustainable farming as much as I do is very exciting. In addition to learning all about farming, I have had the opportunity to work with many wonderful volunteers and interns this summer. Knowing that there is a place like Green Bridge that provides job opportunities for young adults on the autism spectrum makes me feel very proud of my community. I love telling friends and family what I am doing this summer and sharing the story of Green Bridge Growers.
When looking for summer internship opportunities, I thought of Green Bridge and reconnected with Jan. I learned that in addition to the aquaponics greenhouse, there was a high tunnel as well as crops in the field. This summer, I have had the opportunity to use the information that I have learned in the classroom and apply my knowledge to real life situations on the farm. Knowing that there are places like Green Bridge in my community that care about sustainable farming as much as I do is very exciting. In addition to learning all about farming, I have had the opportunity to work with many wonderful volunteers and interns this summer. Knowing that there is a place like Green Bridge that provides job opportunities for young adults on the autism spectrum makes me feel very proud of my community. I love telling friends and family what I am doing this summer and sharing the story of Green Bridge Growers.
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