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How do I become an apprentice?
The 2008 apprenticeship program is closed,
but the 2009 season is coming soon.
The application deadline is March 1st,
2009, but we strongly suggest
starting the application process sooner. Apprentices are responsible
for contacting potential host farms to discuss possible apprenticeships and
arrange interviews. This can take time, and most host farm/apprentice
matches needs to be made by the beginning of March (some earlier).
We notify
apprentices of acceptance as their application and host farm match is
approved by our Advisory Board. Final
acceptances are by the middle of March. Apprenticeships
generally begin in March or April and run through October, depending on the
host farm’s needs. The first mandatory
workshop is held in March and the last is in October.
If you are
considering applying for the 2009 apprenticeship program, you should:
Step One:
Contact Laura Christensen by email,
growers@ksu.edu. Let her know what you are interested in, what your
goals are, and how an apprenticeship will fit into your life in 2009.
Please include your location and how far you are willing to commute, any
scheduling considerations (classes, vacations or work schedules), and any
experience you've had with gardening or agriculture (experience is not
needed). Looking through the host
farm list may help you consider your options.
Laura
will then suggest possible host farms.
Step Two:
Complete the
Apprenticeship Application Form
and mail it in with the $25 application
fee.
Step Three:
Contact possible Host Farms to set up interviews. In order to be an
apprentice, you need to find a Host Farm willing to hire you as a paid
apprentice or a volunteer apprentice for the season. We encourage you to
interview with 2-3 possible Host Farms. Every operation is different and
you need to find a good match.
When speaking with
potential host farms, be sure to discuss their expectations and yours,
including possible start and end dates, schedule, responsibilities and pay
rates. If you aren't sure of something, ask.
If you are having difficulty finding a
Host Farm, email or call Laura and she’ll work with you to try to find a
good situation for you.
Step Four: Once
you have a host farm willing to hire you for the season, let Laura know.
She will take the match to the Advisory Board for approval.
Step Five:
If you are accepted by the Advisory Board as an apprentice, you will need to
pay the $300 non-refundable tuition. If you need to work out a payment
plan with us, please contact us to set up something that will be manageable
for you. A limited number of scholarships are also available.
Step Six: Once
accepted, figure out your work schedule with your Host Farm; put the monthly
workshops in your calendar; budget for gas costs to/from the workshops;
schedule the one-on-one trainings with your host farmer.
If you aren’t accepted as an Apprentice for the
2008 season: You should work with your
chosen farm anyway. You can attend workshops by paying the regular workshop
fees (generally between $15 and $35, depending on the length of the
workshop.) Books can be purchased through Growing Growers at the
workshops. We want to support you in your interest in local farming, but we
have limited funds and workshop positions available; if paying for the
workshops is a problem, we offer reduced and no-cost scholarships to
individual workshops, please ask.
Other options for
learning about local foods, including volunteer and
internships/apprenticeships can be found here.
Laura Christensen
is the Program Manager for Growing Growers, she can be contacted at
growers@ksu.edu or at (816)
805-0362.
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