|
Chances for hands-on learning can come in many forms.
If you have already looked at our
Apprenticeship program, but don't feel it is right for you, don't give up.
From small farms that are looking for a volunteer a few hours a week to
university and certificate programs, opportunities exist locally, nationwide and
around the globe. The listings below include opportunities for
novice as well as more experienced workers/growers.
Listings are grouped by state (KS/MO), region
and national/international opportunities.
For information on opportunities in your
area, ask at your local extension office, check the internet and visit your
local farmers' markets.
Note: Unless specifically noted, the listings below are not affiliated with
or screened by the Growing Growers program.
Kansas
Johnson County Community College
Market Gardening Certificate Program
Contact: Ted Carey (913) 645-0007,
tcarey@ksu.edu website:
Another option for Kansas Citians interested in market gardening.
The program includes classes on growing, marketing and more as well as a
practicum component at the K-State Research and Extension Station in Olathe.
Rising Mist Farm,
Belvue, KS
www.wackyworldsof.com,
Contact:
Debbie Anderson
(785) 456-6725
risingmist@wamego.net
We
are a small organic red worm composting (vermicompost) and produce farm.
We are located just off Hwy 24, midway between Topeka and Manhattan. Our farming operation is situated on a small plot of land with
an outbuilding for indoor worm populations and a hoop house, again for
worms. We also manage two windrows of worms and material outside. Our products are mostly
sold retail directly to the consumer via the internet. Worm castings as
soil amendment and fertilizer and red worms for composting are our biggest
selling products. Next in popularity, is a product we developed and build
for home worm bin owners, a small worm harvester. This separates the worms
from the finished castings saving time over the hand-sorting method. The
apprentice will learn all aspects of worm farming which includes: care and
feeding of the worms; the in's and out's of vermicomposting; quality
control for castings production; worm harvesting and shipment; castings and
compost tea making; construction of worm harvesters; and, managing a website
store for product.
Maxine Baker,
Central Kansas
Contact: 785)-878-4481
Maxine Baker is looking for help with her farm which is in east central
Kansas. It is 160 acres, 68 tillable, 55 acres pasture, 23 acres hay ground,
5 acres around the house, and a few acres of trees. She is looking for
someone who is interested in developing it for/with her. It has a large
house on it, she wants to rent it to someone who will work the land. She is
especially interested in the farm becoming educational as well as
productive.
Chestnut Charlie's, North
Lawrence, KS
Contact: Charles NovoGradac,
nuts2sell@aol.com
or 785-841-8505
Chestnut
Charlie's is a certified organic orchard in North Lawrence
specializing in chestnuts, pecans, and Christmas trees. Volunteers are
welcome, with tasks and times varying over the season. The volunteer
would be exposed to seasonal tasks, including grafting (April/May),
Christmas tree shearing (June), chestnut harvest (September/October), and
pruning, mulching, weed control and orchard maintenance (ongoing March
through Christmas).
Genova's Farm,
Nortonsville, KS
Contact: Debbie
or Mark Genova (913)886-2830 or
debbiemarkgenova@yahoo.com
Volunteer and possible paid positions
available.
We started growing vegetables for sale in 2002. Our land
under cultivation for vegetables has grown to four acres.We also have a
small orchard. During the past seven years we have sold our produce at the
Atchison Farmers Market, Merriam Marketplace, Leavenworth Farmers Market,
The Atchison Area CSA, Kansas Senior Farmers Market Bundles, and wholesale
to Balls Foods Stores. For the upcoming season we will be selling Okra
wholesale to Balls Foods, participating in the
Atchison CSA and selling at the Atchison Farmers Market and possibly at the
Merriam Marketplace. We are not certified organic but do try to keep
chemical fertilizer and pesticide use down. We utilize manure as much as
possible, as chemical costs have greatly increased over the last few
years. A small house may be available starting in 2010 for
apprentice/employee housing.
Missouri
Job Opening,
Farm Outreach Workers
The Innovative
Small Farmers’ Outreach Program (ISFOP) at Lincoln University is seeking for
three Farm Outreach Workers (FOWs) or Program Assistants for the West
Central Region of Missouri (Job Codes 48184, 48185 and 48186). These FOWs
must presently reside either in Cass, Jackson, Johnson Lafayette or Platt
County, because the selected candidates must work out of their own homes.
Initially, each FOW will work in the County where he/she lives, but later on
the work area will be expanded to cover a second adjacent County. The job
responsibilities include, but not limited to, assisting area small farmers
and ranchers to set goals, and guiding them to achieve these goals;
disseminating information on whole farm planning, best management practices,
and basically all aspects of production agriculture. The FOWs should develop
positive working relationships with local officials, community leaders,
University of Missouri Extension Regional Specialists, federal and state
agency personnel serving the counties; participate in in-service training
programs and other activities as directed by the Program Supervisor.
Knowledge of computer is essential, and some Spanish language skill is
desirable.
Qualifications:
A High School diploma and a minimum of two years of farm or agriculture
related work experience is required. In addition, the recruits should
possess good communication and people skills, and must be able to work with
socially and economically disadvantaged clientele. The applicant should
possess a valid driver’s license, an insured dependable vehicle, and is
willing to maintain flexible work hours.
For more information and details of how to apply go to: http://www.lincolnu.edu/pages/110.asp?PositionID=302
Thanks very much for your time,
Katie Nixon
Small Farm Specialist: West central region
Lincoln Universities Cooperative Extension
816-809-5074
A Heaven Scent, Clark,
MO
Contact:
Carolyne
Anderson-Attebery
(573) 641-5602
A farm specializing in Peony, Tuberose, and other fragrant flowers, is
looking for a worker/volunteer to learn all aspects of growing and
retailing flowers.
Berger
Bluff Farm,
Berger, MO
Contact:
Lee or Ingrid Abraham,
bbfarm@fidnet.com or (573) 834-5509
Berger
Bluff Farm is a family-run organic vegetable farm located in a farming
community close to the Missouri River, midway between St. Louis and
Jefferson City. We are looking for one or two apprentices for the 2007
growing season, April through October. Work will include all facets of
vegetable farming: propagation, transplanting, cultivation, irrigation,
harvest, packout, and delivery. We market our produce in St. Louis at a
farmers' market and restaurants. Our prime consideration is that we find a
person or persons who have a passion for gardening/farming-and are willing
to work hard, listen to instruction, and apply the information. The intern
must enjoy working around others and be flexible to the needs of the farm.
Housing is provided in a one-bedroom, restored log house with kitchen and
bathroom facilities. We offer a monthly stipend and produce during the
season. Please contact us if you are interested.
Millsap Farm, Springfield, MO
Contact: Curtis or Sarah Millsap,
farm@millsapfarms.com or (417)
839-0847
Website:
http://www.millsapfarms.com
Millsap Farm, a
small, 20 acre family farm near Springfield, is a diverse blend of pasture,
gardens, ponds, forest, and greenhouses. We raise chickens, turkeys, cows,
goats, ducks, geese, pigs, garlic, flowers, vegetables, bedding plants and
vegetable starts. We are in the process of adding an orchard, which will
include peaches, apples, pears, plums, blueberries, blackberries, and
raspberries.
We use
sustainable growing practices and offer working apprenticeships annually.
If they are are up for the drive, apprentices are encouraged to attend
Growing Growers workshops.
Please contact
us for more information.
The Organic Garden
Contact:
Steven Lee Quarles, (816)
322-4530
or
STEVENLEEQ@AOL.COM
The Organic Garden is a small farm (5 acres)
that produce exotic fruits, vegetables, and flowers as well as wild harvest
and medicinal and culinary herbs. We are a mulch farm, so we don't till,
weed, or hoe. We are looking for help planting, harvesting, marketing, and
mulching. We would consider offering a contract labor position for the
growing season for candidates with previous organic or growing experience.
Extensive knowledge of exotic varieties, organic practices, and specialty
marketing is preferred, but will consider candidates at all levels of
development, or will gladly accept help from your area or level of ability
if you just want to help out a small family farm. We are exclusive suppliers
of many of our products and varieties and as a result command very high
demand and price. We do not offer CSA's, but will trade crops for labor.
Many of our products are highly perishable and we are very busy with the
farm. Consider delivering an order of gourmet delights right after they're
picked to a fine restaurant or country club that earn you the exact same
exclusive produce to serve to your family at lunch or the evening meal. We
would also consider partnering with other farmers that want to grow crops
for us or want to share-crop.
Midwest
Little Portion Hermitage,
Berryville, AR
Contact: Richard Ims,
richardims@yahoo.com
Apprentices wanted. We are looking for
one, or even two people who are interested in learning sustainable
agriculture. Little Portion Hermitage is the site of the thirty member
Brothers and Sisters of Charity, located in the foothills of the Ozark
Mountains near Eureka Springs, Arkansas. We farm about 2 acres of our 450
acre property through a no-till and bio-intensive, organic raised bed
process. We also have three greenhouses, pasture-fed chicken, rabbits,
cattle and grow mushrooms and herbs along with the conventional vegetable
crops. Along with providing most of our own food, we sell to area health
food stores, restaurants and at local farmers markets. We integrate our
spirituality in everything we do. We have an excellent facility with two
chapels, a common building with large full kitchen, recreation room and
library. Housing and meals would be included. The start date is open as well
as the length of stay. More info regarding our community can be found at
www.brothersandsisters.org or
www.johnmichaeltalbot.com.
OEFFA - Ohio Ecological
Food and Farm Association
The OEFFA
Apprentice Program is:
* A unique educational program for apprentices to gain hands-on
experience and skills necessary to begin a career in organic
agriculture
* An opportunity for Host Farmers to help train the next generation
of farmers
* A transfer of knowledge and skills that further promotes
sustainable agriculture
Interested individuals can learn more about the program and fill out an
application at:
http://www.oeffa.org/app-overview.php
Nationwide
The Northeast
Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT)
NOFA-VT believes that having the
opportunity to work on an organic farm is a valuable and rewarding form of
education. Vermont farms offer exciting learning opportunities. The NOFA-VT
on-line directory profiles over 60 farms that are looking for apprentices
and/or willing workers; it provides up-to-date information to help you
locate the farm apprenticeship you want. The directory allows you to view
the apprentice opportunities and communicate directly with the farmer. NOFA-VT
does not provide a placement or matching service, but we are happy to serve
as a resource if you have questions or concerns along your search.
http://www.nofavt.org/programs/apprentice-willing-worker
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems,
Goldsboro, NC
Offers an 8-week Sustainable Agriculture
Research Internship Program that allows
student to understand the scientific process and leave with knowledge and
techniques of data collection and analysis as it relates to sustainable
agriculture systems, improve professional development and collaborative
learning-interactions with farmers, extension agents,
researchers, non-governmental organizations and the community, evaluate and
critique sustainable agriculture systems from a broad systems perspective
and appreciate the challenges, constraints, and benefits of sustainable
agriculture.
Please visit
http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu
for more information.
International
CRAFT Ontario
CRAFT Ontario is your gateway to a farming
internship experience that will change your life. Maybe your dream is to
have your own organic farm one day. Or maybe you want learn some
food-growing and hands-on skills that can be applied in other careers and
lifestyles. Whatever your long term goals are, a farming internship is a
powerful experience that will equip you with the tools and insights to make
a real difference in the world. You'll never be the same again!
http://www.craftontario.ca/
Farmers Growing Farmer
(Ontario)
Farmers Growing Farmer is
a farmer business training and start-up program helps people to establish
new farm businesses. FGF participants receive
training to help them to plan, launch and fine-tune their new farms.
FGF farm start-up services include:
1) an initial comprehensive needs assessment for each participant;
2) developing personalized farm start-up action-plans;
3) a 16-week farm business planning course during which each participant
will complete their Farm Plan;
4) continuous support and advice from experienced farmer-mentors;
5) assistance in securing land;
6) and publicity and marketing support for new farmers and the local food
system (website, newletter, event calendar etc.)
http://www.everdale.org
|
