Apprentice

During the growing season, Village Farmstead is offering 2 separate 8 week-long apprenticeship programs(June-July & August-September). Apprentices will learn and work at the farm alongside Sam and Sara every Monday and Thursday Morning from 8am to 12pm. Apprentices are paid $15/hour ($120/week) and will have the option to work alongside the Tuesday Workshare Crew as a workshare in exchange for a CSA share.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING: Over the course of 8-10 weeks, apprentices develop a broad understanding and skillset of 1) vegetable production in a permanent-raised bed system, using organic practices and 2) farm business design/planning. Apprentices will work alongside Sam and Sara, engaging in and experiencing all aspects of their day-to-day lives as farmers. In addition to technical skills such as - bed preparation, propagation, irrigation, cultivation, season extension, harvesting, processing and distribution - apprentices will also learn about business and crop planning, and have an opportunity to begin designing and planning their own farm project while receiving support and feedback from Sam and Sara.

THEORY and DISCUSSION: If apprentices are interested, Sam and Sara have spent their adult lives not only living as farmers, but also studying farming and - more radically - the need for and theories of food systems change (from Food Justice to Sovereignty to Agrarian Marxism) via a plethora of disciplines and participatory research. And, they are most enthusiastic about sharing in this pursuit of wisdom alongside other curious minds. Whether by independent reading, writing and / or discussion OR by getting in food-focused community organizations, apprentices will have ample opportunities to explore farming and food systems change.

COMMUNAL LIVING & HOMESTEADING: During the 8 weeks, apprentices are invited and encouraged to live onsite and participate in communal living and homesteading with the other residents at Village Farmstead. If this option is pursued, apprentices will gain firsthand knowledge of organizing and living communally on a homestead; in particular - meal planning and preparation, interpersonal and group communication, land stewardship, and building project design and implementation. Our goal is for apprentices to achieve a better sense and confidence in pursuing a career or life in agriculture and community.

Upon completion of the 8-week program, Apprentices will have the opportunity to be considered for a longterm - TBD - position at Village Farmstead.

Leftovers

Village Farmstead hosts a monthly gathering of farmers, foodies, and anti-capitalists during which we discuss histories, theories, and strategies to better understand the predominant capitalist food systems, and to realize and demonstrate alternative food systems that are more thoughtful of and responsive to our context within an all-encompassing ecosystem and our responsibility to its inhabitants and future generations. In addition to alternating monthly topics and materials, we center discussion around the current issue of the Journal of Agrarian Change.

Email Sam to Learn more and get involved.