Willie

Meet Willie, a dedicated Cul2vator. In this interview, he shares how he came to Cul2vate, why he likes planting, and how working here has increased his self-worth. Read or watch his interview below.

Please introduce yourself

My name is Willie. I’m a Cul2vator. I’m from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.

How did you come to Cul2vate?

I was in a halfway house in Lawrenceburg, and they asked me to leave because I couldn’t find a job down there because of my background, my education, and my charges. So I got in touch with Welcome Home Ministries, and a friend of mine, Johnny, he introduced me to Cul2vate, so I put in an application and got interviewed, and here I am.

What is your favorite farm to work and why?

I like them all. I do about the same thing at every one of them, and everybody’s nice. I get along with everybody, good people. I like working outside, so it’s all about the same.

What has been exciting about learning how to tend crops? What has been discouraging?

Exciting is putting out the plastic and planting the plants, and watering them. Discouraging is the greenhouses. I don’t like working in greenhouses because you do the trimming, and I ain’t too good at that. I just plant, water, and harvest.

What are you beginning to learn about yourself as a result of this program?

About myself? That I’m worth it. I’m a good person. When I talked to everybody, who they said I was, they was wrong. They said I couldn’t, but I can do it.

Think ahead 2-3 years. If everything goes exactly as you hope it will, how will your life be different than it is today? How has being a part of Cul2vate helped you to create that different life?

Already, I’m saving the money for my fines and my reinstatement fees. I pay those this week, and then I go to my vehicle and cars, and if it hadn’t been for Cul2vate, I would have never been able to do it.

Any final thoughts?

I love my job. I love the people here. They’re awesome.