northland sheep dairy seeking apprentice for 2018 season.

Northland Sheep Dairy in Marathon NY are seeking a teamster apprentice for the 2018 season. Northland is the oldest continuously operating sheep dairy in the United States. Their farm operates in a traditional pastoral style, making sheep milk cheeses seasonally from their small flock of 100% grass fed ewes. Their cheeses are truly handmade in small batches from their own raw sheep milk. They use organic lamb rennet and cave age all of their own cheeses. The work on the farm is done with draft horses and mules and they pay homage to these great work partners. They also offer 100% grass fed lamb  seasonally and sheepskins and wool products.

To apply for the position or to find out more, contact Donn Hewes by email: tripletree@frontiernet.net or phone: 607-849-4442.

apprenticeships in regenerative ranching and farming

credit: Quivira coalition/Cobblestone Ranch

The Quivira Coalition’s New Agrarian Program (NAP) is partnering with skilled ranchers and farmers to offer apprenticeships in regenerative agriculture. Together, they create opportunities for full-immersion learning from expert practitioners. This program is designed to support the next generation of food producers and targets those with a sincere commitment to life at the intersection of conservation and regenerative agriculture. NAP mentors are dedicated stewards of the land; they practice regenerative methods of food or fiber production, provide excellent animal care, and are skilled and enthusiastic teachers. 

“get your hand dirty and learn from the best!” in washington.

credit: Sound Vegetables’ 

Sound Vegetables’ based in Redmond, Washington are looking for an intern! 

Sound Vegetables’ market garden grows over 35 varieties of fresh produce and free range poultry. Their minimal soil disturbance techniques follow developing best management practices for local vegetable production. They specialize in mesclun salad mix, tomatoes and fresh root crops and they raise pastured poultry and free-range chicken eggs for the local community. You won’t see them riding around on a tractor, but you will see some of the earliest and freshest produce available in Seattle grown intensively on our 1.6 acre patch just north of Redmond, WA.

Internships last 8-12 weeks and offer the opportunity to gain insight on the techniques and the day-to-day business model of Market Gardens. On a farm, hands on experimentation and familiarity with the plants, animals and seasons provides valuable experience and are supervised for the duration of the internship. Sound Vegetables’ want their interns to learn proficiency in their areas of interest and they prioritize mastery of those during the internship. The curriculum includes a curation of reading assignments with discussions on various literature to guide the learning process for all partners and unlock the experience of those on the sustainable path before them. Interns are encouraged to offer ideas to improve workflow on the farm and find new  and innovative techniques and ways of doing things. 

Typical Tasks & Activities will include: 

• Assist with farm organization and upkeep
• Pruning and training vining crops
• Garden bed preparation
• Transplanting and seed sowing
• Building irrigation systems
• Caring for chickens
• Harvesting crops
• Developing markets and marketing with photography, writing, and documentation
• Creating written records of farm operations
• Inspecting crops to maintain quality
• Educational curriculum includes authors JM Fortier, Joel Salatin, David Madison, Helen and Scott Nearing, Mark Shepard, Eric Brende and others depending on the focus of the internship
• Community research and developing knowledge of local supply chains

To apply, send a cover letter to Soundvegetables@gmail.com with your interest in local, sustainable, organic, fresh foods and mention any skills or passions which you possess or would like to develop.

hudson valley school plants seeds of herbalism with upgraded training program

Wild Gather, a spectacularly cool herb school in the Hudson Valley, is currently offering Seeds of Herbalism, a foundations class in Western herbal traditions. Registration is open, and those who have looked at the program before will note that they’ve added an additional month to the program with 20 more hours of class time.

Seeds of Herbalism is a 5 month foundational program that takes place in and around Hudson, NY. This 60-hour course will provide students with a grounding in Herbal Medicine by developing the skills to work with plants for their own self care and their communities.

Wild Gather writes, “In this program, we’ll cultivate an understanding of Botany and the plants of our bio-region, learn medicine making, first-aid & hands-on self care skills. We’ll also delve into the spirit world of plants and healing, by exploring our unique ancestries and relationship to plant lore and magic. Additionally, Social and Health Justice are core values for us as facilitators, and our program is rooted in holding space for conversations, learning and growing around the many oppressions people face surrounding health care and its access. With all this and more, students will gain an incredible footing into the beautiful world of Herbalism.”

If you’re interested, go here to learn more; registration is now open!

(some more) awesome western ranch apprenticeships

photo credit – Dustin Blakey

The New Agrarian Program at Quivira Coalition has some more really great apprenticeship openings in California and Colorado.

All the details below:

 

Cobblestone Ranch

Eight-Month Ranching Apprenticeship in Chico, California

holy, moly, 2017 ranch apprenticeships!

photo credit – Lars Plougmann

Great news! We found a couple exceptional ranching apprenticeship opportunities with The Quivira Coalition New Agrarian Program. The organization is seeking some eager greenhorns for several 2017 positions on ranches out west.

The New Agrarian Program offers apprenticeships in regenerative agriculture through partnership with mentor ranchers and farmers who are part of the Quivira community. In particular, this program aims to build resilience on Western lands by training the next generation of stewards in agricultural best practices, and by training ranchers and farmers to be mentors.

Our apprenticeship program works closely with carefully selected rancher and farmer mentors who are dedicated stewards of the land; practice beyond organic, regenerative methods of food production; provide excellent animal care; and who are natural teachers for young agrarians.

There are still 4 positions open!

Brett Gray Ranch

Eight-Month Ranching Apprenticeship in Rush, CORound River Resource Management, LLC is a land resource and livestock management company dedicated to restoring and improving agricultural operations through the principles of Holistic ManagementTM in a sustainable manner and consistent with the goals of the resource owner.The name Round River is derived from the metaphorical river described by Aldo Leopold that flows endlessly into itself, circling around and around in a never ending circuit that symbolizes the current of life. Leopold’s illustration describes the manner in which energy streams from the soil into plants, then into animals and finally back into the soil in a continuous circuit of life. Round River Resource Management was founded in 2008 to manage the Brett Gray Ranch and other agricultural enterprises following the principles of Holistic ManagementTM and to provide educational and business opportunities that help young, innovative people enter the ranching business.Start Date: Flexible start date.

For more info:  http://quiviracoalition.org/New_Agrarian_Program/Brett_Gray_Ranch/index.html

TO APPLY: Please email a resume and letter of interest to Louis Martin at louis@roundriver.biz.

Cobblestone Ranch

Eight-Month Ranching Apprenticeship in Chico, CAThe Cobblestone Ranch is a sheep operation based on private property and on federal wildlife refuge lands managed specifically for wildlife habitat. Breanna Owens runs approximately two hundred ewes (with expansion plans over the next few years to increase to five hundred ewes). She uses a rotational grazing strategy on the refuge with the overall goal of maintaining and enhancing wildlife habitat and specific goals of reducing thatch, shrub and weed control, and stimulating new herbaceous growth. She moves the sheep one to two times a week, in paddocks ranging from one to five acres depending on seasonality and management objectives. Owens sells lambs as grass-fed and -finished either as feeder lambs to a direct marketer or as finished lambs to a regional processor. She plans on transitioning a portion of the flock to organic and selling through a regional CSA.Start Date: Flexible start date.

For more info:  http://quiviracoalition.org/New_Agrarian_Program/Cobblestone_Ranch/index.html

TO APPLY: Please email a resume and letter of interest to Bre Owens at breowens5@gmail.com.

James Ranch Artisan Cheese

Eight-Month Dairy and Cheesemaking Apprenticeship in Durango, COJames Ranch Artisan Cheese manages a small herd of Jersey cows for the production of raw milk and small-batch cheeses in the beautiful Animas Valley near Durango, Colorado. Operated by Dan and Becca James, James Ranch Artisan Cheese is one of several family-run enterprises on the larger James Ranch. This dairy and cheesemaking apprenticeship offers professional training for aspiring agrarians committed to a life and career at the intersection of conservation, sustainable agriculture, and artisan foods. The apprenticeship includes hands-on experience with all aspects of dairy operation and cheese production, including low-stress animal handling, milking, cheese making, affinage, biological monitoring, marketing, financial planning, Holistic Management, and land stewardship.Start Date: Before April 1.

For more info:  http://quiviracoalition.org/New_Agrarian_Program/James_Ranch_Artisan_Cheese/index.html

TO APPLY: Please email a resume and letter of interest to Dan and Becca James at cheese@jamesranch.net.

Vilicus Farms

Eight-Month Grain Farming Apprenticeship in Havre, MTVilicus Farms is a first generation, nationally recognized organic, dryland crop farm located in northern Hill County, Montana. Established in 2009, Vilicus Farms grows a diverse array of heirloom and specialty grains, pulse, oilseed and broadleaf crops within a 5+year rotation on approximately 5,000 acres. Vilicus Farms practices advanced land stewardship at a scale that matters. The Vilicus Farms Apprenticeship is intended to be a multi-season training and mentoring program that immerses highly motivated young professionals in organic farm operation and management – a journey that ultimately ends in farm ownership. Doug and Anna understand the challenges of taking a farm from vision to reality. Through the Vilicus Farms apprenticeship program they hope to give beginning farmers a real opportunity to start a successful organic dryland crop farm in the Northern Great Plains.Start Date: Before April 1.

For more info:  http://quiviracoalition.org/New_Agrarian_Program/Vilicus_Farms/index.html

TO APPLY: Please email a resume and letter of interest to Anna Crabtree-ones at anna@vilicusfarms.com.

calling all future farmers: apprentice opportunity in big sky country

An exciting opportunity for beginner farmers to take their farming game to the next level! The Quivira Coalition is still accepting applications for its hands-on and highly immersive apprenticeship at Vilicus Farms (focusing on organic dryland grain production) in Montana:

Applicants must have a keen interest in farming and becoming a farmer. They must be self-starters, have the ability to work independently, appreciate the challenges and joys of working outside in all conditions, be a solid problem solver, with an open creative mind, and embrace diversity. The chosen applicants must be mature individuals and excited to engage in their own learning process.

This first year position is designed to provide an immersion experience in all facets of the dryland organic crop farm enterprise. Apprentices will work under the direct supervision of the farm managers. Specific training will be tailored to the skill sets and needs of the apprentice. Apprentices will be an integral part of the Vilicus Farms team and are expected to participate fully in the daily work planning sessions, weekly/monthly team meetings and visioning discussions. Apprentices will participate in the physical labor of the operation as well as the mental challenge of all aspects of the management of the farm business.

To apply and to learn more about the position and Vilicus Farms, click HERE. You can also check out the Quivira Coalition HERE – they do awesome work and offer other apprenticeship opportunities throughout the American West.

internship this summer in farmland conservation in greenwich, ny

The Agricultural Stewardship Association is currently accepting applications for their summer internship program. This paid position is geared towards undergraduate students. The intern will gain experience working in a fast-paced nonprofit on event planning, community outreach, data collection, and project management. This looks like a great opportunity for someone interested in agricultural and natural resources education, communications, event planning, and land trusts.

The ASA is a community-supported nonprofit organization that works with land owners in Rensellaer and Washington Counties in New York’s upper Hudson Valley to conserve farmland.

Full job position is included below.

inspiring apprenticeship model on common hands farm philmont, ny

We share the following apprenticeship program as much for the potential apprentices as we do for all the farms out there who either run or would someday like to host apprenticeship programs. Common Hands Farm, a 150-acre biodynamic CSA farm in New York’s Hudson Valley, has a unique three-part internship broken up by Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons. The uncompensated spring block leans heavily on classroom and practical instruction in biodynamic farming; the stipended summer block focuses on practical work experience on the farm; and the fall specialization program allows apprentices to take on responsibility and projects of their own direction around the farm with the potential to transition into paid staff.

Full program description is included below the break. Application information is available at the very bottom of the page.

food system fellowship in virginia

Growing Food, Building Community

AMI Fellowship Program: 2017 Applications Available

Allegheny Mountain Institute (AMI) is seeking inspiring individuals to participate in the sixth cohort of our AMI Fellowship program. The 18-month Fellowship prepares and empowers individuals to become teachers and ambassadors for a more vibrant and accessible local food system.  The Fellowship is a program of AMI, an educational non-profit organization with the mission to cultivate healthy communities through food and education.

Phase I (April 30-November 1, 2017)

In the first phase of the program, Fellows connect with the food system as they live, work and study on the mountain farm campus in rural Highland County, Virginia.  Fellows gain a full season of experience in sustainable growing methods, small animal husbandry, and rotational livestock grazing on a diversified farm.  In addition, Fellows study topics such as permaculture design, whole foods preparation and preservation, wellness and nutrition, land stewardship, leadership, and community development through hands-on experience on the farm, expert guest instructors, field trips and daily educational sessions.  Upon successful completion of their Phase I training, AMI Fellows receive a $1,000 stipend.

Phase II (January 1- December 31, 2018)

AMI Fellows apply their Phase I training as they work on community projects focused on building healthy communities through food and education. Working with AMI and other Partner Organizations, Senior Fellows build organizational capacity and launch new programs such as: building community gardens, developing school gardens and site-based curriculum, advocating for sustainable land use, and teaching nutrition and cooking for a healthy lifestyle.  Supported by the AMI network, Senior Fellows continue to meet regularly for leadership and professional development. Fellows receive a monthly stipend of $1,500 (subject to payroll taxes) and a Permaculture Design Certificate upon successful completion of the year.

Applicants must be physically fit, able to lift 50 pounds, walk distances up and down steep hills, work outdoors for extended periods of the day, and be comfortable living and working communally as a team in a remote, mountain setting.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis (Deadline: February 19) and are available at: www.alleghenymountaininstitute.org

For more information and questions, please visit www.alleghenymountaininstitute.org, the Allegheny Mountain Institute Facebook page or email us at info@alleghenymountainschool.org.

 

calling all rogues and future farmers

Do you dream of being a farmer? Or maybe you’re looking to build your farming skills and take the next step? Enter Rogue Farm Corps! This Oregon-based program provides hands-on internships and apprenticeships for both would-be farmers and experienced farmers alike.

FarmsNext is an entry-level internship for those with little to no experience, while FarmsNOW is an apprenticeship for those who have completed an internship or have at least two years of farming experience. Both programs are live/work situations and pair budding farmers with a network of trusted farms throughout the state of Oregon. You can be immersed in veggie production, animal husbandry, dairy, and more!

Rogue Farm Corps is now accepting applications for the upcoming growing season, so click on HERE for more details and information!

farming internship opportunity in montreal

Looking to hone your French while farming? The Montreal community food hub, Santropol Roulant, is hiring two interns for their 2017  season. Santropol Roulant uses food as a vehicle to break social isolation between generations. Creatively and collaboratively, the organization seeks to strengthen and nourish local community with their novel approaches to active community engagement, youth leadership, food security and social inclusion.

rad social justice and farmer training in the bay area

Applications are now open!

The Bay Area Farmer Training Program provides the education, training and tools for a new generation of farmers in California’s Bay Area to create socially-just, ecologically sustainable and economically viable urban and peri-urban farm businesses. Exceedingly high recidivism rates, increasing immigrant populations, a scarcity of living-wages for vulnerable citizens, and the rapidly aging farmer population all combine to create an urgent need to champion collaborative strategies in community development and seed opportunities to access training, land, and jobs in urban areas. Between MESA’s experience connecting educators, mentors and farmers around the world, and Planting Justice‘s years of innovative and successful re-entry programs, we bring a wealth of experience to the Bay Area Farmer Training Program!

This program supports immigrants, refugees, formerly incarcerated, and under-resourced beginning farmers in having strong voices to lead their communities towards thriving, equitable and resilient food systems. Co-Lead Farm Educators Ana Galvis Martinez and Paul Rogé offer a comprehensive program featuring experiential learning, site visits, participatory presentations, anti-oppression trainings, online curriculum, and ongoing mentorship support for those who aspire to farm as a career path.

 

farming with the sisters

Now that we are blanketed down in snow and the sun is setting well before dinner, perhaps you, along with a great deal of other young landless farmers, find yourself looking for your next agricultural pursuit.  If so, here is a great opportunity to work alongside the sisters of Our Lady of the Rock, a Benedictine Monastery on Shaw Island, WA.

At Our Lady of the Rock we offer informal internships through a monastic “Land Program”. These internships are open to men and women, of all faiths, over the age of 18. Enrollment is limited. Internships may be for six months or one year.

2017 Oregon farming internship

Rogue Farm Corps is the only organization in Oregon that offers structured, entry-level and advanced farmer education and training programs rooted in real-world farm businesses. We work with more than 20 host farms located in the Rogue Valley, the Portland Metro Area, the South Willamette Valley, and Central Oregon and offer experiences with vegetable production, animal husbandry, dairy, and more. For complete program descriptions, information on our host farms, and applications: http://roguefarmcorps.org

 

FarmsNext is a full season entry-level residential internship program that combines hands-on training and skills-based education in sustainable agriculture.

As a student intern, you will live and learn on a host farm, receiving up to 1,500 hours of on-farm training and learning in-depth skills from your mentor. Your residential farm training experience is combined with farm tours, classes, and discussion circles throughout the region, as well as opportunities for independent study. Interns are exposed to a vast array of knowledge and expertise by engaging in the daily life of vibrant, agricultural communities.

The FarmsNOW apprenticeship program is for those with farming experience, who are seeking mastery in the art and business of sustainable agriculture. Hands-on training, classes, seminars, and guidance on farm business development will help you gain the skills to plan, design, and run integrated farming systems on your own.

This full-immersion program is designed those who have completed the FarmsNext internship program, or have two years of on-farm experience. You will live and learn on a host farm, receive up to two seasons of on-farm training, and learn in-depth skills from their mentor farmer.