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The farm followed a strict schedule starting at six, and during my time I took care of deer, horses, cows, and rabbits, built a room for walnut production, harvested apples, and weeded hay and corn fields. As a neuroscience major, my previous internships were all research, and some days the only time I would spend outside would be during my daily commute to the lab and back. Working as a farmer was an entirely new experience, one that was exhausting and challenging at first—particularly when I learned I was allergic to hay, horses, and virtually anything to do with farming. There were several times I wanted to quit, but looking back, I’m so glad I didn’t. There were so many experiences I will never forget, and I found that the main things that impacted me the most were outside of the work itself.

The main highlight of the experience was the people. There were two other volunteers, or “WWOOFers,” on the farm at a time, and I met and became friends with people from across the world. We had a break in the afternoons each day, which we used to swim in the nearby lake, explore libraries in St. Gallen, or go hiking in the Alps. People of all different ages and walks of life join the WWOOF program, and at a time of my life when I’m considering major life decisions regarding jobs, relationships, and where to live, it was incredibly meaningful to hear about their stories and the advice they had. From my hosts, a married couple, I gained an appreciation for the work that goes into food production and the care they put into the land. Farming is truly an endless task, and on top of it, one of my hosts had a day job in the financial industry, and would come out with us in the fields before going into work. Their dedication helped motivate me during my time on the farm, and I learned resilience and the value of a regular schedule.

One of the most memorable experiences for me occurred at the dinner table. The farm had been in my host’s family for generations, and had only recently become organic. When a WWOOFer asked what prompted the switch, my host explained that a factor was pesticide use. She had a family history of Parkinson’s disease, and the farm had previously used a pesticide now known to be a risk factor for Parkinson’s. I was shocked, as my thesis research used rotenone, a pesticide formerly used by farmers, to model Parkinson’s disease. Conceptually, I knew the research and origins of rotenone, but hearing about someone’s direct experience reminded me of the importance of maintaining a global and social awareness in science. While I still plan to continue with research, I will carry this awareness and the lessons I learned on the farm with me.