This week I enjoyed being a part of field work with Dr. Sarah Hirsh and Dr. Haley Sater on their giant Miscanthus project. Giant Miscanthus is a sterile, hybrid species that is aimed to be an alternative profitable crop that may be marketable for farmers. This crop is being observed to see if it can withstand saltwater intrusion and deer pressure within a field setting. Miscanthus is also an alternative for poultry bedding. They began working on this project in October 2021 and marked plots for research on 10 acres of field. They did not expect the farmer to plant this year because there was a delay on planting the Miscanthus in early spring.
This week I was able to experience the process of problem solving when carrying out research. When we reached the farm, the plots and transects marked with flags were removed by the machine that planted the Miscanthus rhizomes. Dr. Hirsh and Dr. Sater had to restart the process of marking the plots and transects for the research project, they used their ATV with a GPS that recorded the plot and transect markers. As Dr. Hirsh used the ATV, Dr. Sater and I walked behind checking the alignments of the plots and transects and marking where needed. We used different color flags to re-mark the field and plan for how samples of the soil and grown Miscanthus will be carried out. Dr. Sarah Hirsh also showed me the process of creating soil moisture sensors which will be placed in the fields at different depths for the Miscanthus project.
It was important for me to understand that not all research goes as planned and there usually is a bump in the road, but anything can be adjusted. The farm landscape was beautiful and I enjoyed spending my day outside, experiencing a new place, somewhere where I wouldn’t usually end up. It’s not surprising that I enjoy working in the field, I strive to spend my day being active, learning about the environment and trying new things. I appreciate that Dr. Sater and Dr. Hirsh allow me to actively participate in their projects, explain things to me thoroughly and make me feel a part of their work.
This week I also spent a day helping Dr. Haley Sater with mulching her blueberry field. We mulched the blueberry rows to help with soil drainage and keep the soil pH acidic.
Throughout this internship, I have learned about myself that I love meeting people, learning what they do and making connections. I really enjoy gaining insight on others perspectives and hearing others experiences. I’ve also come to an understanding that I enjoy field work and hope to be able to demonstrate it in a future job of mine. Contemplation is useful for career growth because it allows one to reflect on their experiences and decide what is important for them to pursue. Contemplation is especially important for a student because it allows one to organize their thoughts and create a rough draft of a guide for the future.
Pictured is the freshly cultivated field with Miscanthus rhizomes. The red flags in the image are difficult to see, but they represent the 0.5 acre plots within the field. The green flags were used to mark the transects. Dr. Sarah Hirsh is working with Dr. Haley Sater to use her ATV GPS to pinpoint previous plots and transects.
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