May 2022

Courtney Cohen '12

DEGREES:
B.A. - Environmental Studies, Minor in Art
Fulton School

CURRENT EMPLOYER
Spore and Seed

CURRENT OCCUPATION
Farmer & Owner

DESCRIBE YOUR CAREER PATH
To be honest, I had never really put much thought into my career path by the time I graduated. I was interested in agriculture but wasn't really sure how to go about building a career in that field. I took a flower farm internship after graduation because, well, I needed somewhere to go and something to do. I totally fell in love with it, I spent a large portion of my 20s moving around the country, working and managing flower farms. After a while, both body and mind grew weary of being hired help on farms, so in an effort to create a more stable and long-lasting career, I completed a program for horticulture therapy. I got a job at a non-profit farm, still managing their flower program but also leading their therapeutic programs for disabled persons. I got a lot out of this job but ultimately it wasn't the right fit. I enrolled in a program for beginning farmers and decided to take the leap to start my own farm enterprise. We grow cut flowers and mushrooms in Baltimore County, MD. We started in 2018 and have been growing and expanding ever since. Ultimately, being my own boss and having autonomy over my business has been the greatest gift and I'm grateful for all the experiences that led up to and informed me to get here.

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU LEARNED WHILE ATTENDING SALISBURY UNIVERSITY
When I was a senior, I took an organic farming class taught by Jay [Martin] who had a farm in Bivalve, MD. I finally knew farming was what I was interested in, and to see it applied to a real-life situation and see someone who had been successfully doing it switched something in my brain. I'm a hands-on learner and received and retained so much value from that semester at his farm.

WHAT CAMPUS ACTIVITIES/ORGANIZATIONS WERE YOU INVOLVED WITH?
I was a part of Flash, Salisbury's women's Ultimate Frisbee team. I was an athlete in high school and knew that college athletics were not something I was interested in but was so happy to find a club sport that was competitive but also light-hearted and fun. The team became my core group of friends; many of which still are.

BEST COLLEGE MEMORY
My best memories of Salisbury were actually working for the Horticulture Department in the summers. School was out and campus was more or less empty, but it was when the grounds were the most beautiful! I would spend all day cruising around on a gator with my pals watering all the beautiful and overflowing container gardens we planted in the spring.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SALISBURY UNIVERSITY?
I loved my campus visit. It was a beautiful day, the grounds were glowing, people were hanging out in the quad, it had a quintessential college vibe and I loved it. It was also a good distance from home, close to the beach and it has the option of a newly created Eco Floor, which placed people in my major together in the same dorms.

IF YOU COULD DESCRIBE SALISBURY UNIVERSITY IN THREE WORDS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE AND WHY?
Beauty: I know I've been harping on it, but I mean that pergola when it's blooming is just perfection. Community: I loved the connections I made at SU and continue to love and cherish them. About to head out on vacation with an SU frisbee crew! Opportunity: Whatever it is you are interested in you can delve deeper and find like-minded individuals to further your curiosity.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT AND WHY?
For summer vacation anywhere north of New York state and for the winter anywhere below the equator. Being a farmer, vacations are a bit different, but I do try to get away for a few days during the growing season usually at the height of summer. I often find myself in Vermont or Maine enjoying cooler days, hiking, swimming and catching up on sleep. Winter is my down time, so I try to go to warm places, usually Southern California and if I can swing it somewhere in the Caribbean (I really miss the sun in winter!).

GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT
Taking the leap. I spent years and years trying to convince myself that I could not start my own farm. I tried other jobs, career paths, moving all over, but it always came back to the same wants and desires not just for my career but my lifestyle. It certainly is not easy, but I feel so genuinely fulfilled by the challenges, successes and life that I have been able to build for myself.

WHAT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?
Contrary to my trash-heap of a house in college, I am super organized and tidy!

HOBBIES/OTHER INTERESTS
Anything outdoors (big surprise) – hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, foraging. I also love cooking, crafting and hanging with my darling kitty.