This summer we're super excited to spotlight Mazzy Grisak as she takes on a new adventure in Hawaii! Mazzy is one of our Sustainable Plant Systems (SPS) students specializing in Horticulture and this summer she'll be interning on a farm in Maui as part of the Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) program.
Be sure to check back weekly as she keeps us up to date without further ado, we'll turn this over to Mazzy...
Another update from Huber Mountain in Maui, Hawaii!
I cannot believe I only have one more week here. A month really can go by quickly. I feel like I’ve been able to learn a lot from my time on the island and try lots of new things. I am taking a couple of online summer classes through OSU, so after work most days I like to go into town on the bus and sit somewhere to do some schoolwork. I cannot recommend what I’m doing this summer enough to people who want to travel cheaply and not have it interfere with their schooling in any way. I am completing my internship and 6 credit hours toward my degree while here and it’s a blast! It can feel a bit busy with schoolwork, farm work, exploring the island, and creating these posts, but I love all of it, which makes it so much easier to get done.
On the farm, I have been doing a lot of work for Sumi, the owner’s mother who lives on-property. She does most of the vegetable gardening and has been wanting my help with some projects. Sumi is 86 years old and moves around faster than me. She is out in the gardens every single day, and she says it’s her love for being out in nature that keeps her active and growing food. She has much respect for the land and loves eating from her gardens. We are similar in this way- Sumi’s garden provides us with delicious greens, onions, tomatoes, artichokes, eggplants and more. Some of the projects she has wanted me to work on are building fencing around her flower beds and citrus trees, and a lot of weeding to prep for wildflowers. She said she wants to throw the seeds around everywhere and have patches of flowers throughout the property. I wish I could be around to see it all come together. Sumi has already said she wants me to come back and visit her. I have a feeling I will indeed be back to this farm.
Last Friday, after working, I went to a drum circle on the beach with a couple of my friends here. It was so fun jumping into the ocean and listening to the guys drumming as the sun was going down over the water. I am going again this Friday. I also finally went surfing this past weekend! I had so much fun and am planning on going out again before leaving the island. I was surprised to be able to catch a few waves and not fall off the board EVERY time. I already know I will be making plans to go surfing in the future. After surfing, I spent the rest of the weekend relaxing on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and checking out plenty of new coffee shops.
I have some fun things planned for this coming week and I cannot wait to share it here!!
- Mazzy Grisak
Eager for more news from Mazzy? You're in luck - check out her articles here.