Farm Internship, Volunteer Opportunity in Michigan

We are growing: Strawberries, raspberries, pears, apples, peaches, tomatoes, melons, herbs, flowers and some veggies.

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We are a small diverse Organic Fruit Farm in Michigan offering internship and volunteer opportunity on our 22 acre family owned and operated farm. We are located in South West Michigan just one mile from Lake Michigan. Nestled in Michigan’s fruit belt we are well suited to fruit production.

We are growing: Strawberries, raspberries, pears, apples, peaches, tomatoes, melons, herbs, flowers and some veggies. We have a High tunnel where we grow tomatoes and, a small green house for starts. The bulk of the production is in the great outdoors !!  We need lodes of help this season !!!

This 2011 season, with the help of a generous grant we are: Preparing 6 acres of fields for new plantings; Raising more High Tunnels; Building a walk-in cooler; Building chicken tractors, and a small (straw bale) barn; and Constructing a kitchen for canning fruit products and pie production.

Volunteers will also help with lodes of- picking, planting, weeding, critter care, and market sales.

We need help June 1 thru October 30. We can have 1-3 volunteers at a time, along with other local workers and woofers. No heavy drinking & No drugs.

We have 3 volunteer opportunities:

Friday 3 Pm arrival – Sunday 7 pm departure: camping in your own tent, working 4-6 hours sat and sun, 2 person minimum. $55 each for 7 meals (most dietary needs accommodated).

Long term (1 month min) 30 hour per week average, (3-12 hrs a day, 4-7 days a week). housing, utilities,farming experience,  food and stipend provided.

Drop in schedules available for locals or those passing through.  If your willing we can use your help, contact us with your availability and we will work out the details.

It is Hard work- you must be able lift 30# repetitively. You must be able to bend and kneel for long periods of time. You must be able to work from a list, alone or with our help. You must have a strong work ethic. That said you also need to communicate your needs and limits- we don’t expect you to be a super hero-!!

We eat international flavors with very simple ingredients. Very little processed food will be supplied.

You must do well with fresh bread, veggies, grains and legumes and desert!!  We are localvores – Vegetarian friendly, vegans may have to get involved with the cooking more, carnivores will have to make due with whats available. All must be willing to participate in the cooking, cleaning and general maintenance of the grounds and buildings while you’re here.

We wwoofed (willing workers on organic farms)  for years (literally) before buying our farm. We expect nothing more from volunteers than we have given to others ourselves !!! This is a great way to learn but you truly must be willing. A sense of humor is also critical-FYI.

English and Dutch spoken fluently, some Spanish and German.

Children and Pets are possible but that needs to be decided on an individual basis. Couples or teams are great !!

We are spiritually and socially open minded and expect others to be as well, this is a place of acceptance not a place to convert or judge others.

We are close to 2 state parks, 1.5 miles from public beach, near enough to a library and 2 miles from a small town. Internet is available on the farm at scheduled intervals. We have a few bikes and tents to lend you. We are 2 hours from Chicago with potential for visits there as well. We are located in the area of Michigans official Winery trail, Blue Coast Artist Trail and Harvest Country trail.

Happy farm volenteering where ever you go !!!

If interested, contact Mari at kismetorganics@yahoo.com