Farm Internship Opportunity on Diverse 38 Acre Organic Vegetable Farm in Southwest Michigan

Young Family on an Old Organic Farm is offering 2 persons positions as interns for the 2009 season. Learn through practice and discussion the mixed techniques vital to producing and marketing a spectrum of annual Michigan produce. We grow for CSA, farmer’s markets, retailers, restaurants and wholesalers. We are building toward a more integrated permacultural design and emphasize sustainability in our planning. Eco-agritourism will be developed and discussed this year with interns as well.

Seeking persons to start ASAP after spring semester to work through the fall (around mid-Nov) but will consider internships through August where needed.  A weekly stipend will be provided with room and some board included to compensate for the rather strenuous work (50 or more hours most weeks). Spanish language skills a plus.

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Please phone, email or write to Eater’s Guild Farm, 26041 C. R. 681, Bangor, MI 49013

(269)427-0423  eatersguild@i2k.com

eatersguild.com

About Eater’s Guild Farm:

Eater’s Guild Farm is situated in the Black River watershed within the Lake Michigan fruit belt of SW Michigan.  One of the first farms settled in the region, these 40 acres were also at the beginning of organic certification in Michigan.  The farm has been continuously certified organic since 1973.  Our stewardship began in the 2004 season, continuing and extending the practices of the School of Homesteading before it.

We are vegetable growers beginning to develop permanent crop and animal systems. We currently use diesel tractors for tilling, cultivating and transplanting. Seeding, weeding and harvest is done by hand. Where possible we work on reducing tillage and design growing systems to reduce energy consumption.  We raise our own transplants and consider on-farm propagation a must for expanding existing cane and tree plantings.

Our internship program is well-sited for collaboration and exchange with nearby organic farms. From within a robust (if not all organic) agricultural economy interns gain experience in propagation, crop planning and implementation, marketing dynamics, certification requirements, permaculture, equipment maintenance, logistics and networking. Part of the stipend is linked to farmers’ market sales that interns coordinate and execute. The learning environment is more horizontal that many farms with all of us engaging the season as co-learners.

A living space is provided tailored mostly to the needs of the intern.  All farm produce is free and interns can purchase other foodstuffs through 2 buying clubs.  Stipend is set at $50/week in April and May, then expands as a percentage of market sales that interns manage ($100+/week).  Expected hours 40-60/week…in hot weeks this could be a split day of 6:30-11:30 and 4-9:30.  Interns may take a week-long off-farm stint for rest or other learning opportunities during the April 1^st to Nov. 1^st program.