On Sunday afternoons at Midland, something quiet and meaningful continues to take shape—boxes of freshly harvested produce moving from the farm to the doorsteps of faculty and staff.

The Farm Share initiative began with a simple observation by Maude ’26, a member of Farm Crew: the land was producing more than the kitchen could always use. Hearty vegetables—onions, squash, carrots, greens—were abundant, nourishing, and at risk of going unused.

“We realized we had all this incredible food,” Maude explains. “And while the kitchen always comes first, there was still extra produce that could really be shared.”

What followed was not a class assignment or a required project, but a student-led act of care rooted in attention, responsibility, and place.

Shared Work, Shared Care

Before anything moved forward, Maude made sure the idea fit within the rhythms and priorities of the farm. The kitchen would always remain the first priority. Farm Crew wouldn’t be overburdened. The work needed to feel sustainable.

With guidance from farm mentors Michael and Lily, and with enthusiastic support from fellow students, the plan took shape. Maude reached out to faculty and staff with a simple email asking who might be interested. The response was immediate and affirming.

Each week, Farm Crew harvests surplus produce, packs it into reusable farm boxes, and labels each for delivery. The work happens primarily on Sundays, woven naturally into existing farm routines. It’s a little more effort, but not much.

“We used to finish early and sit around,” Maude says, laughing. “Now we’re harvesting and gossiping instead.”

“It doesn’t take that much more effort, but it can really make someone’s day.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the Farm to the Doorstep

The most meaningful moments come after the harvest.

Boxes are delivered across campus, sometimes via the admissions cart, to doorsteps and offices. Faculty and staff return the boxes the following week, a small but important act of shared accountability that mirrors the trust at the heart of the initiative.

What surprised Maude most wasn’t the logistics, it was the response.

“Teachers would come up to me later and say, ‘We cooked the carrots last night, they were amazing,’” she says. “That kind of appreciation and gratitude is really going to stay with me.”

For busy faculty and staff, the Farm Share offers more than fresh food. It offers connection. To the land, to students, and to a community that notices and cares.

“It feels like giving back,” Maude reflects. “Faculty and staff support us every day. This is a way to support them, using the resources we already have.”

Why This Matters

The Midland Farm Share initiative is a powerful example of how learning happens at Midland—not through assignments, but through lived responsibility and purpose.

By noticing a need, collaborating across roles, and following through week after week, Maude transformed a simple observation into a meaningful act of care. The project reflects Midland’s commitment to shared work, stewardship of the land, and a community where students are trusted to lead with purpose.

It’s a reminder that at Midland, education doesn’t stop in the classroom—it grows in the fields, on Sunday afternoons, and in the small gestures that strengthen our community.

As a senior, Maude hopes the Farm Share will continue beyond her time at Midland, carried forward by future Farm Crew leaders who notice the same abundance and feel inspired to keep the practice alive.

For her, the experience has reinforced an enduring lesson: when students pay attention, take initiative, and trust the process, meaningful change often follows.

When asked to sum up what the Farm Share represents, Maude offers a simple reflection:

“It’s a creative way of giving back to the community, using the resources we already have, and our own free will.”