Bridging Language and Land

For KATRIN MILNE, life is a vibrant blend of language and land. As a Spanish instructor at Cape Fear Community College and co-owner of Red Beard Farms in Pender County, she has woven together two seemingly unrelated passions – teaching and farming – into a life that’s anything but ordinary. 

Raised in Charlotte, Milne didn’t always know she would end up teaching Spanish or working on a farm. “I went to North Carolina State as a business major and quickly realized that was not for me,” she recalls. But one thing was always clear – she excelled in Spanish. By the time she graduated high school, she had advanced to Spanish 6 and even helped her teacher grade assignments. “So, not knowing what I wanted to do in my undergrad, I was like, ‘Oh, Spanish, sure!’” 

That choice led her to an undergraduate degree in Spanish language and literature from North Carolina State, and later a master’s degree in Spanish from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. But it was a detour through real-world experience that solidified her love for the language. After college, Milne worked in the administrative offices of the Mecklenburg County courthouse, where she quickly became the go-to person for Spanish speakers. 

“I was helping people who might not otherwise have someone who speaks Spanish. It was awesome – I was using my Spanish and helping people,” she says. “That’s when I knew I needed to do more with it.” 

Her next move was to Spain, where she taught English in the small town of Estepa in the Seville province. “It was fantastic. No one knew any English, so I was forced to speak Spanish all the time. I learned so much, like, immediately,” Milne says. The immersive experience didn’t just sharpen her Spanish – it showed her what she was meant to do. 

“That’s when I realized, ‘This is what I want to do. I want to teach.’ It’s fun, it’s different every day, and I love everything about the Spanish language. It was the perfect marriage.” 

Back in North Carolina, Milne brought that passion into the classroom. She now teaches Spanish at Cape Fear Community College and believes that language learning is a vital skill, especially in North Carolina. “The Latino population in our state is only growing, so I think it’s important to have more people who can communicate,” she says. “It opens up a whole world – it’s not just about words, it’s about connection.” 

That sense of connection also extends to the land – and to Red Beard Farms, the organic farm she co-owns with her husband, MORGAN. The two met at North Carolina State and reconnected after Katrin Milne moved to Wilmington from Spain. Morgan had started Red Beard Farms in Castle Hayne in 2011, and when Katrin called to catch up, he invited her to see the farm. “He put me to work literally that day – picking figs,” she laughs. “And I was hooked.” 

What began as a rekindled friendship quickly turned into a shared life and livelihood. They married in 2014 and moved Red Beard Farms to their own land in Willard, where they now grow a wide array of organic produce, including log-grown shiitake mushrooms. “If you name it, we probably grow it,” says Katrin Milne. 

Running a farm and teaching full-time isn’t easy, and now with two children, balance is key. “We joke that the farm is a third spouse, and it’s not entirely false,” she says. “Before kids, when I clocked out of teaching, I clocked into the farm. Now, when I clock out, I’m mom. I still help behind the scenes – social media, emails, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box signups.” 

The farm’s CSA program allows customers to buy a subscription box, which helps support the farm at the start of each growing season. They sell every Saturday at the Wilmington Farmers Market in front of Tidal Creek, rain or shine, and they also supply produce to local restaurants. 

Milne finds deep meaning in both of her roles. “Teaching and farming actually have a lot in common,” she says. “Both have seasons, both require planning ahead, and both involve adapting to what’s out of your control – whether it’s students’ personal struggles or bad weather. You just do the best you can.” 

And her Spanish skills come in handy on the farm, too. With Spanish-speaking workers on the crew, Milne often steps in to translate or even help them learn English. “I even made flashcards for the crew,” she laughs. “It’s kind of an exchange: they learn English, and we learn Spanish.” 

Ultimately, Milne sees herself as a bridge – between languages, between cultures, and between people and their food. “Farming is a dying art, and I think it’s so important to support local,” she says. “Ask your waiter where the produce comes from, talk to your farmers at the market. It’s better than trusting a label.”

To view more of photographer Aris Harding’s work, go to arisharding.com.

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