I’ve spent the last two months at a little organic farm on the top of a hill in Massachusetts, called Potter Hill Farm. When I think about Potter Hill Farm, I think about the sunsets that look like the sky’s been set on fire. I think about the frogs that sound like rubber bands being pulled and plucked. I think about when we let the cows into a field of wildflowers so tall it looked like they were wearing crowns on their heads. I think about the chickens pecking at the polka-dots on my rain boots. I think about the barn cat, Ivy, trailing behind us as we harvest for the farmers’ markets.

Here are the five most important things I’ve learned from my time at the farm:

1. All vegetables come in dozens of varieties you don’t see in the store

The vegetables you see at the grocery store have been selected for transportation and storage. There are so many more delicious kinds of tomatoes, lettuce, kale, beets, beans, radishes, carrots, etc. Some of my favorite little known varieties are Black Cherry Tomatoes, Dinosaur Kale, Dragon-Tongue Beans, and Candy Striped Beets.

2. Farmers’ markets all across the country are embracing low income customers

I learned by working farmers’ markets that Potter Hill Farm, along with more than 17,926 farmers, 3,390 farmers' markets and 2,894 roadside stands, accept WIC Cash Value Vouchers. WIC is a federal assistance program for Women, Infants, and Children in low income households. By authorizing farmers’ markets to accept WIC vouchers, low income households are receiving local, healthy produce in their communities.

3. People want to know where their food comes from

In a time when food is increasingly commercialized and depersonalized, I see Potter Hill Farm as a refreshing change of pace. Along with bringing produce to farmers’ markets, we held Monday pickups where people could order produce and pick it up right from the farm. This encourages consumers to see the place their food is grown, get to know the people growing their food, and volunteer on the farm.

4. You don’t need chemicals in order to grow beautiful food

Although it’s a well-known fact that food is tastier without chemicals, it was mind-boggling the beauty all around me at the farm. I dug earth-coated potatoes out of the ground, watched tomatoes go from green to blushing with color, and saw golden beets peak their heads out of the tops of the soil. Even some of the weeds were beautiful.

5. Watching the chickens run make me laugh every time

There’s something about the way the ladies sprint to the edge of the fence when they see me coming to collect eggs that will never not make me laugh.

If you haven’t already, I would encourage everyone to support farmers’ markets and volunteer an hour or two of your time at your local farm—get to know the people and place that grow your food. I might be leaving Potter Hill Farm behind, but the effect it has had will stay with me forever.