Farm Internship in Derbyshire (England)
Internship at Garden Farm, Riber Derbyshire
About them
Garden Farm is an organic farm certified by the Soil Association. Located the Derbyshire Dales (England) on the Peak District fringe. The farm covers and area of approx 48 hectares of which the majority is pasture the remainder wooded shelter belts and small copses.
There motivation is to develop a farm business at Garden Farm based on the belief that developing a secure and sustainable local food network is desirable and necessary as we look towards resilient food production in the future relying on less on carbon and shorter supply chains.
Support the local community
Sell our produce locally through various means
Sell to local food businesses
Ensuring we buy locally and putting maximum % of money back to local economy
Encourage the community to visit the Farm on open days and short courses.
Offeri a therapeutic environment through Garden Farm LIFE (our care farm Community Interest Company) for people to improve their wellbeing.
Help protect the UK’s food heritage
Promote why rare and minority breeds are important
Encourage people to taste the difference in traditional breeds and value this food heritage
Protect and encourage wildlife
Audit the farm for Wildlife
Developing action plans to encourage wildlife and preserve what we currently have
Encourage people to enjoy the wildlife on the farm
Vision
The vision is simple, they want to demonstrate that a small traditional farm like ours can produce good quality high welfare food and run as a profitable business supporting a family and employing staff as well as investing in the services of other local businesses.
Thje business vision is for a traditional mixed farm with diversification activities that compliment the core business and exist because we are a full working farm rather than despite of it.
Internship 2014
Garden Farm currently has an opportunity for an internship at the farm for 2014, the length of the term is flexible but would be a maximum of 6 months.
About you
This role would suit a person interested in sustainable organic farming and growing who is keen to develop practical skills and experience.
We are keen that the opportunity allows the successful candidate to put into practice theories or working practices they have researched or ideas they would like to develop.
Previous interns have built, composting toilets, a wood fired bread oven, converting derelict static caravan into a comfortable living space and developed draft permaculture plans for the farm.
Garden Farm is particularly interested in candidates with an interest in:
using draught horses in a modern farming situation
developing a resilient cropping plan for organic pig and poultry feed grown on the farm.
Improving sward quality and biodiversity and develop woodland grazing to enhance winter forage for our cattle.
Sustainable water collection and storage
Garden Farm would expect two days a week general farm work/labouring and the rest of the week would be free for you to work on the internship projects. These would be agreed as part of a development plan at the start of the internship and will be beneficial to your learning and career development and to the farm systems and vision.
The farm will provide
basic accommodation on the farm in a static caravan, with wood burner and basic facilities.
Provide you with food.
Pay pocket money of £50 a week.
Provide an open and positive space to learn and develop skills
Full public liability and employers liability insurance
Start date is flexible
Closing date for applications 22 May 2014
To Apply
Applications by email only please.
Please send a CV, personal statement detailing your interests and what projects or specialisms you are interested in developing along with two references to: Tim@gardenfarm.org.uk
Tim Sidaway
Director
Garden Farm
Riber
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 5JX
Hi, my name is Adriana Quante. I’m 22 years old and I come from a German Rudolph Steiner school. Following my A Levels I’d like to do an internship in England for six months to improve my English and to learn more about the English culture, because I want to become an interpreter. I love languages, traveling and animals. I’d be happy, if I could do an internship in your farm.
I look forward hearing from you.
Regards
Adriana