My name is Maria Adela, and my journey into agriculture is both a return to my roots and a step toward my future. Growing up in Mexico, I watched my parents and grandparents work the land; farming is in my blood. In 2025, I decided to honor that heritage by becoming a student at Viva Farms. My goal is to become a professional farmer, and this program has been essential in helping me bridge the gap between tradition and modern sustainable practices. Having access to the installations and equipment at Viva Farms allowed me to move beyond theory and practice the skills I need to succeed in the field.

In Mexico, I saw the hard work my grandparents put into their crops. At Viva Farms, I am learning the science behind that work—how to manage soil health and use modern tools to make a farm not just a tradition, but a sustainable business

The transition from observing my family in Mexico to practicing at the Viva Farms student plot was a powerful experience. Being in the field allowed me to understand agriculture on a deeper level. I learned how to manage soil health, how to properly use irrigation systems, and the importance of organic pest management.

Each day at the farm was a lesson in patience and precision. Whether I was working in the greenhouse or operating machinery, the hands-on nature of the class gave me the confidence I needed. I realized that farming is not just about planting a seed; it is about understanding the environment and using the right tools to help that seed thrive. Looking back on my studies in 2025, I feel a great sense of pride. By combining the traditional knowledge passed down from my grandparents with the technical skills I learned at Viva Farms, I am ready to start my own path.

My goal is to become a successful farmer who provides healthy food for my community while respecting the earth. Viva Farms has given me the foundation to turn my love for agriculture into a professional reality. I am proud to carry my family’s farming legacy forward here in Washington, building a future that honors my roots in Mexico.

I have been working on and with farms in a variety of settings over the past few years: from working on a farm crew for a regenerative farm, worktrading on a permaculture farm, and helping to manage a farming operation for the East-African immigrant community in South King County, Wakulima USA, for the past two years. Because most of my on-farm knowledge came from learning on the job in an often fast-paced environment, I felt many gaps in my practical knowledge of farm systems. While I dreamed of taking the leap into starting a farm business one day, the idea felt intimidating and I didn’t know where to begin. 

When I found the Viva program, I was immediately drawn to the mix of classroom education and experiential on-farm learning. Each week in class, I learned the technical, scientific, and practical aspects of all things farming; from making a crop plan, to cultivation techniques, to the best harvesting procedures, and everything in between. I was then able to apply what I learned hands-on in the student farm. The instructors were a wealth of knowledge, and encouraged us to engage in a diversity of activities on the farm.  Additionally, the business portion of the class was especially helpful. The concepts of financial planning, accounting procedures, business structure, etc. were unfamiliar to me before taking the practicum, but Viva broke them down into relevant and digestible ways that make me feel much more confident to take on the behind-the-scenes work of running a farm business.  

I am so grateful to the Viva practicum for preparing me to embark on this next step of my farming journey. I’m also overjoyed to be connected to Viva’s network of farmers, educators, and students. It is a true community dedicated to supporting and uplifting each other, and building more just farming and food systems. 

Over the last decade or two, my interests in human and environmental health have led me to work in healthcare and in nonprofits supporting farmers. I had very little experience growing much at all myself, and farming sure seemed like a lot of work. Yet, after having some fantastic experiences volunteering on farms and learning about the positive contributions farmers can make to their human and ecological environments, I connected all the dots of my constellation of values. I realized I wanted to chart a new direction for my life growing food for myself and others. 

Some farmers I encountered told me about how the Viva practicum and incubator had been instrumental in giving them the confidence and knowledge to farm, so I was persuaded to apply for the practicum. Once in, I discovered that I had dropped into a rich and safe learning environment where I could ask every little question that came to mind. My version of learning paradise! We dug into basic theory in lecture, and then every week got to put that into practice on the farm. In addition to completing the everyday tasks of seeding, field prep, transplanting, maintenance, harvest, and storage, we also learned invaluable strategies for writing a business plan and a crop plan, resources to find land, how to set up irrigation and other infrastructure, and rules for organic certification and food safety, etc. We also had eye-opening visits to other farms and different sales channels, where I found the Q&A and demonstrations of their operations to be inspiring and clarifying.  

Going through the practicum was invaluable for me. I was a fairly unclear in my mind, initially, about what I specifically wanted to grow, or how my future farm would look, but by going through the business plan writing process with great feedback and support, I was able to craft and crystallize my own unique farm dream and take in all the practical considerations I would need to make it a reality. I put a lot of intention and time into the Viva program, and I got so much out of it. I cherish my experience and remember my community of students and teachers with warmth and fondness. I can’t wait to take the next step towards my farm dream!