February Volunteer Spotlight: Berlin!
At Pitney Meadows Community Farm, we thrive because of the incredible people who share their time, talents, and passion with us. That’s why we’re excited to continue our Volunteer Spotlight, where each month we feature and celebrate the individuals who make our community so special!
This month, we’re shining a light on Berlin—a young farmer whose love for growing food has been blooming since childhood.
Some volunteers find their way to Pitney Meadows through school, friends, or a love for the outdoors—but for Berlin, it all started with family. Her grandparents were part of the CSA, and before long, she was coming to the farm with her parents, soaking in the rhythms of the land.
But, as her mom, Emily, tells it, Berlin’s love for growing things started even earlier.
“When Berlin was 9, she came downstairs with a box in her hand. I asked her, ‘What’s in the box?’ She responded, ‘A potato.’ I then asked, ‘Where was that?’ and she said, ‘I grew it in my closet.’ And thus, a farmer was born. Some kids just know who they are and what their purpose is very early on, and Berlin was that way.”
Her earliest memories of tending to plants go even further back… plucking insects off zucchinis and harvesting tomatoes side by side with her grandfather. Those small, simple moments in the garden planted the seed for what would become a deep love of farming.
Emily shares that Berlin’s first connection to Pitney Meadows came when she was 11 years old and started her own Community Garden plot. She was immersed in the culture of gardening right away, learning from those around her. When Berlin was 14 years old, she was invited to join the Farm Team, becoming the youngest member of the seasonal crew. She took on everything from harvesting garlic to stocking the farm store, and even became a kind of “Pitney Meadows Ambassador,” always ready with a warm hello and a helping hand.
“I love seeing the whole process, start to finish,” Berlin shares. “Where the food grows, how it gets harvested and packed, and then where it goes… whether it's for donation or to the Farm Stand.” That full-circle experience is something she cherishes, as well as the small but satisfying tasks, like snapping the tops off onions during harvest. “I don’t know why, but that was just really fun.”
The farm has been a place of learning and connection for her. “The people here make it special,” she says. “Everyone’s working together, and there’s a lot of humor in it, too.” Even after the summer season ended, Berlin continued to volunteer every Wednesday after school, helping restock the Farm Stand.
“Without Pitney Meadows, I don’t think I would’ve found my love for farming and gardening,” she reflects. “It’s given me amazing opportunities, and it really brings people together.”
For Berlin’s family, Pitney Meadows is more than just a farm, it’s a place of deep meaning.
“We are grateful for this beautiful farm in our own backyard and the wonderful people who pour their heart and soul into caring for it and doing the literal backbreaking work of feeding our community, including the less fortunate,” her mom shares. “It is and will always remain one of the most special and meaningful places in Saratoga for our family.”
Berlin, your kindness, dedication, and love for this land inspire us all. Watching you grow—not just crops, but connections, knowledge, and confidence—has been a joy. You remind us why this farm matters, why community matters, and why the simple act of tending the earth can be so transformative.
From all of us at Pitney Meadows, thank you. Thank you for showing up, for caring deeply, for sharing your light with this farm and everyone who passes through it. We cannot wait for another season alongside you.