Meet Melynda Rainsbarger, Sierra Harvest’s Newest Staff Member

melynda

Sierra Harvest has a new administrative support intern, for the next six months! Melynda Rainsbarger is working through the One-Stop Business & Career Center’s On-The-Job Training  program, which places job seekers in workplaces to get hands-on experience with practical job skills.

What kind of skills are you acquiring?

I’m learning how to do data entry and research. I research everything from fundraiser venues, to the Real Food Challenge, to how to make our website more effective.

Why did you want to work at Sierra Harvest?

I heard about Sierra Harvest through the garden stands at the schools, and it seemed like a great place for me because I want to learn to be healthy and eat properly. I grew up on a ranch – we had a lot of animals, I did FFA in high school, so I’ve always been around farming and ranching. Also, the staff is extremely nice.

How do you support local food in our community?

I pick vegetables at the U-pick at Food Love with my family, and I just received a $25 EBT credit to buy food at the farmers’ market, so I’m going to check out the farmers’ market.

What do you do when you are not at work?

I take care of my three wonderful children. Two of them are at Bell Hill – my Kindergartener last year was extremely excited about the salad bar and the garden stand. My youngest is in pre-school – she’s very independent, and a climber. We go to the playground, and we’re crafty. I like to paint, draw, and play video games with the kids. A few weeks ago we built a treehouse out of cardboard for the kids’ dolls. I also love to bake.

What will you do in January once this internship has ended?

I’ll look for a data entry or administrative job so that I can support my family, but I’d like to continue working for Sierra Harvest as a volunteer.

What is your favorite locally grown vegetable and how do you prepare it?

Lemon cucumbers and corn – I eat them right off the plant.