The Story Behind Our Organic Garden Internship

A rainbow over our Sebastopol garden location.  

Something which you might not know about Ceres Community Project is that we host a paid internship program for Sonoma County college students in memory of a former Garden Mentor and client, Janice Fong (pictured here).

The Janice Fong Organic Garden Internship is a continuation of one person’s love and dedication to gardening. Jan Fong was an active volunteer in Ceres’ Sebastopol garden, first working with youth as a Garden Mentor and volunteer before becoming a client. Jan’s love of organic gardening created the momentum to continue her legacy. The internship offers two students hands-on experience in our organic Sebastopol and Santa Rosa gardens where interns mentor our Teen Gardeners, learn about large-production organic gardening, and work closely with Sara McCamant, Garden Manager.

Sara recalls, “Jan would show up in the garden with her rubber boots and her favorite tools, often bringing plants from her home garden, willing to do whatever we needed even when her feet hurt from dancing the night before.”

Ceres’ Santa Rosa Garden entrance.  

Jan was passionate about growing things her entire life, having come from a family of gardeners. She lived in Seattle for 26 years and volunteered at the Washington Park Arboretum for most of that time. When she and her husband Rich moved to Sebastopol in 2012, she started looking for volunteer opportunities. As Rich recalls, “Ceres was a natural fit since she’d just completed treatment for her first bout with lymphoma. First she was a Garden Mentor, and she’d come home really happy when she had a good day with her Teen Gardeners.  Eventually she shifted away from working with the teens so she could concentrate fully on her tasks.” He went on to say, “It would be an understatement to say that Jan had very strong convictions about organic gardening. She saw organic gardening principles as a way for us to heal our bodies and heal our planet, and she was absolutely unyielding in that.”

Unfortunately, Jan’s lymphoma returned in 2019.  While in hospice, Jan and Rich started talking about creating a legacy in her name. Sara suggested a paid internship at Ceres. “Though she didn’t live to know the result, I think she would be really pleased that we’re helping young people learn about organic gardening and with the direction it gives to their lives,” says Rich.

Intern Jack and previous youth volunteers help put together a new greenhouse at our Sebastopol garden.  

Ceres is proud to hold an important internship program which enriches the lives of budding farmers. Our recent intern, Jack, said, "The Jan Fong internship was a great experience where I was able to learn about different organic gardening and permaculture techniques, how healthy food can promote healthy, happy living, and an appreciation for locally grown food and the land it came from. All while developing leadership skills that I can carry with me for the rest of my life, and knowing I am making a difference in my community!"

We are currently accepting applications for our spring internship program; interested applicants can apply by going to our website or clicking this link. If you have questions or would like to learn more about supporting Jan’s legacy, please contact Melissa Hosking at mhosking@ceresproject.org.

Garden and Youth Program Manager Sara McCamant with squash, tithonia and amaranth!