Jeff Arnold, 28, who has learned how to expertly maneuver a tractor, graduated from Colorado State University. Abe Bobman, 24, who studied sociology at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, was clearing vines alongside Nate Krauss-Malett, 25, who went to Skidmore College.28岁的杰夫·阿诺德(Jeff Arnold) 毕业于科罗拉多州立大学(Colorado State University)，他已经学会熟练驾驶拖拉机。24岁的阿贝·包博曼(Abe Bobman) 正在农田里清理藤蔓，他曾在康涅狄格州卫斯理安大学(Wesleyan University)学习社会学，旁边是25岁的内特·克劳斯-马莱特(Nate Krauss-Malett)，他曾就读于斯基德莫尔学院(Skidmore College)。

　　Mr. Krauss-Malett said he became interested in farming after working in a restaurant and seeing how much food was wasted. Mr. Bobman had the same realization working in the produce section at a grocery store before college。克劳斯-马莱特说，他过去在餐馆工作，看到许多食物被人们浪费，于是对农业产生浓厚的兴趣。包博曼也有同样的感受，他上大学前在杂货店的农产品区工作。

　　They had been in the fields here at Hearty Roots Community Farm in the Hudson Valley since 7 a.m. They all said they could not imagine doing any other job。在哈德逊谷的哈特鲁茨社区农场，他们从早上7点开始下田干活。他们都表示，自己从来没有想过做其他工作。

　　“Farming appeals to me, and probably to other people, because it’s simple and straightforward work outdoors with literal fruits from your labor,” Mr. Bobman said. “It doesn’t feel like you’re a part of an oppressive institution。”包博曼说，“做农活儿对我很有吸引力，可能对其他人来说也是如此，因为这是简单直接的户外工作，你可以通过劳动收获果实。这不会让你感觉自己属于一家让人备感压抑的机构。”

　　For decades, the number of farmers has been shrinking as a share of the population, and agriculture has often been seen as a backbreaking profession with little prestige. But the last Agricultural Census in 2007 showed a 4 percent increase in the number of farms, the first increase since 1920, and some college graduates are joining in the return to the land。过去几十年来，美国农民占总人口的比例逐渐减少，务农通常被看做不体面的辛苦工作。但是2007年最新的美国农业普查结果显示，农场的数量增加了4%，1920年以来首次出现增长，有些大学毕业生也加入了回归农田的行列。

　　For decades, the number of farmers has been shrinking as a share of the population, and agriculture has often been seen as a backbreaking profession with little prestige. But the last Agricultural Census in 2007 showed a 4 percent increase in the number of farms, the first increase since 1920, and some college graduates are joining in the return to the land。过去几十年来，美国农民占总人口的比例逐渐减少，务农通常被看做不体面的辛苦工作。但是2007年最新的美国农业普查结果显示，农场的数量增加了4%，1920年以来首次出现增长，有些大学毕业生也加入了回归农田的行列。

　　Jordan Schmidt, a crew manager here at Hearty Roots, studied environmental science at Wesleyan. Ms. Schmidt, 27, did not have so much as a garden growing up, but in college, she said, she worked at a student-run farm and fell in love with agriculture. So she gave up on research science and moved onto a farm in Pennsylvania after graduating. This is her third season at Hearty Roots。乔丹·施密特(Jordan Schmidt)是哈特鲁茨农场的人事经理，她曾在卫斯理安大学主修环境科学。27岁的施密特说，打小除了养花，她没怎么做过农活，但是在大学期间，她在一家学生经营的农场工作，对农业产生了热爱。她在毕业后放弃科学研究，前往宾夕法尼亚州的一家农场工作。这是她在哈特鲁茨农场工作的第三个收获季节。