It’s a lovely thing when a person can make a chore into a hobby. That is exactly what FARM intern Clara NeSmith did. A May 2025 Appstate graduate with a degree in Sustainable Development specializing in Sustainable Food Systems, it makes sense that she enjoys the process of cooking as a way to build community. Clara believes “culturally appropriate food is a human right. Community based around food is also a human right.” She adds “having the ability to choose what is on your plate is powerful. You feel respected when you can choose.” We don’t always get to choose our family, but Clara feels fortunate coming from a big Southern family. She fondly remembers her Great Aunt Amy’s tomato juice. Her memories are not only the juice, but the place and love she associates with it. “I think love is the feeling of making something and sharing it with others. Cooking taught me that giving can be better than getting.” FARM teaches that as well.