Meet Our Interns: Welcome Clara Barber!
Clara Barber joined our team at the end of March 2026 for a six-month internship with White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, a ministry of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.
Clara recently graduated from Tufts University in Boston, where she studied psychology. Wanting to spend more time working outside and interested in the ethics of the food system, Clara considered farm internships on both coasts of the U.S. before choosing the White Violet internship for its focus on teaching and the opportunity to be immersed in the farm by living on site.
While in school, Clara spent a few months working in a greenhouse caring for houseplants, and generally loves being surrounded by plants and animals. She has already befriended all of the White Violet cats, and has a soft spot for even the most obstinate alpacas in the herd.
She says she most looks forward to continuing to develop relationships with people and the animals throughout her time here.
Welcome to White Violet Center, Clara!
The following is a question and answer session with Clara.
- If you’ve gotten time to explore, do you have a favorite place on the farm/campus yet?
I spend tons of time in my little backyard (at Marian) sandwiched between the alpacas and the horses. I often eat breakfasts and dinners out there.
- What has surprised you most about your first couple of weeks?
This was something I was hoping for but I’m still pleasantly surprised about it … it all feels very rewarding. The connection between the work and the food I eat is very direct and is motivating, even when doing chores like cleaning the chicken coops (they have to get cleaned so I can eat the eggs!).
- Would you rather be an alpaca or chicken on the White Violet Center farm and why?
These alpacas really get five-star service daily. They have their beautiful pastures and a bunch of friends, and people come by to feed them. I think being an alpaca here would be a pretty good life.
