We’re excited to introduce you to the two newest staff members here at Vetri Community Partnership: Courtney Smith and Whitney Smith (and before you ask, they are not related!)! Courtney is joining the SNAP-Ed team as an educator, and Whitney is the Marketing Coordinator. Together, they bring a whole lot of talent and knowledge to Vetri Community Partnership! Learn a little bit more about them here:
If you were a vegetable, what would you be and why?
Courtney: I think I’d be asparagus because I thrive in the springtime.
Whitney: If I were a vegetable, I would be a shishito pepper because I’m mostly sweet, but like to add a bit of spice here and there!
What life/work/school accomplishment are you most proud of?
Courtney: Recently, I traveled with a youth non-profit circus as a cook across New England for 10 weeks, and I am super proud to have helped get the show down the road.
Whitney: I’m really proud of the garden my roommates and I built in our backyard – it was a lot of work but so worth it! We’ve been using it to grow our own vegetables for two years now.
What’s the most important (life) lesson you’ve learned thus far?
Courtney: To have fun with it as often as possible & to never serve meatloaf on a hot summer day.
Whitney: Balance is key! To work hard while not taking yourself too seriously, to find joy and presence in everything you do (even if some days are better than others), and to do your best while not getting too caught up in the imperfections.
What is your favorite thing to cook?
Courtney: Roasted delicata squash! The underdog squash champion! Usually with some sort of warm tahini dressing.
Whitney: One of my favorite things to cook is ramen. I love making the broth from scratch and getting really creative with it. Sometimes I’ll use my mortar and pestle to make garlic, scallion, and ginger paste for the broth, add miso, and load it up with lots of veggies! Also, who doesn’t love ramen?
