From Woodstock to the Black Forest: A Trefoil Gardens Intern Heads to Germany
At Trefoil Gardens, we’ve always believed that small, local work can ripple outward in ways we don’t always expect. This season, we’re feeling that truth in a big way.
Last fall, we had the joy of working with intern Nelly Koz, a student studying Environmental Science at Kennesaw State University. What began as a local, hands-in-the-soil internship here in Woodstock, Georgia has now carried her across the Atlantic into one of the most exciting sustainability research internships in Germany.
And we couldn’t be prouder.
Growing Skills That Travel
During her time at Trefoil Gardens, Nelly stepped into the daily rhythms of a working permaculture-based urban farm learning not just how to grow food, but how to grow well.
She writes:
“I learned valuable skills that helped me stand out among other candidates when applying for the prestigious RISE Germany research internship… I attribute one of the reasons I was accepted… to my time at Trefoil Gardens.”
Together, we focused on practical, real-world skills that matter in sustainable systems:
Building and installing drip irrigation systems
Managing pests using pesticide-free, ecological methods
Observing plant health through a whole-systems lens
These are the kinds of skills that don’t just stay in the garden they translate into larger conversations about climate resilience, water management, and ecological restoration.
From Garden Beds to Global Research
This summer, Nelly will join the DAAD RISE Germany Research Internship program, contributing to a project focused on:
Resilient regeneration methods to restore forests in climate change hotspots
Her work will take place in the Upper Rhine region, where forests are facing increasing pressure from:
Heat and drought
Water stress
Pest pressures like root herbivory
Shifting ecosystem dynamics
The research explores adaptive strategies like:
Drip irrigation for tree establishment
Pesticide-free pest management
Species selection for extreme climates
Sustainable forestry practices for long-term resilience
If that sounds familiar, it should.
These are the same principles we explore every day, scaled from backyard gardens in Woodstock, GA to forests in Germany.
Why This Matters
There’s a quiet but powerful connection between local agriculture and global climate solutions.
The skills learned on small farms, how to conserve water, how to work without synthetic chemicals, how to observe and respond rather than control are the same skills being called upon in research institutions and climate adaptation projects around the world.
Nelly’s journey is a reminder that:
Local farms can be training grounds for future environmental leaders
Hands-on experience matters just as much as academic knowledge
Sustainable practices are not niche, they are necessary
A Note from Nelly
“The research I will assist on uses irrigation and pesticide-free methods for adaptation strategies in sustainable forest management in climate change hotspots… Bis bald, Germany!”
(See you soon, Germany.)
Rooted Here, Reaching Outward
At Trefoil Gardens, we grow more than herbs and vegetables. We grow relationships, knowledge, and opportunities that extend far beyond our fence lines.
We’re honored to have been a small part of Nelly’s journey and we can’t wait to see where it leads.
If you’ve ever wondered whether learning to grow food locally could connect to something bigger the answer is yes.
Sometimes, it leads all the way to the Black Forest.
🌱 Get Involved
Interested in learning hands-on sustainable growing practices in Woodstock, Georgia?
Visit us at the market
Explore our locally grown herbs and vegetables
Reach out about future internship opportunities at Trefoil Gardens
Based in Woodstock, Georgia, Trefoil Gardens is a small-scale farm and nursery focused on growing fresh produce, medicinal herbs, and plant starts for our local community. From seasonal vegetables to perennial herbs, we’re committed to sustainable growing practices that support both people and place.
Trefoil Gardens intern Nelly Koz works inside a greenhouse in Woodstock, GA, learning drip irrigation and sustainable farming techniques that led to her acceptance into a Germany research internship.