Looking for Summer Interns for the 2017 Growing Season- S&S Homestead Farm, Lopez Island, WA
We are looking for interns who want to learn how to manage a small-scale, biodynamic farm. Learn about vegetable and fruit production and animal husbandry (beef and dairy cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, bees, geese and ducks), hay and grain production. Learn how to make butter, cheese and other products in our licensed micro-dairy, learn to bake bread from farm-grown grains, and preserve food through fermentation and other methods. Participate in our small-scale CSA serving the island community, and sell product at the local farmers' market.
Located on a small, beautiful island in the San Juan Archipelago in the Pacific Northwest, S&S Homestead is a 55-acre self-sufficient biodynamic farm that produces most of its own inputs: food for farm residents, learners, and the island community; feed for farm animals; fertility to sustain the soil; energy directly harvested from the sun; water collected from roof-sourced catchment systems; and wood products from its own, small forest. The farm is fully capitalized, has excellent buildings and infrastructure, and carries no debt. While primarily an educational farm, S&S Homestead markets production surpluses to the local community through meat sales, farmers' market, and a whole-diet CSA. On-farm enterprises include a certified micro-dairy.
As a biodynamic farm, S&S Homestead is dedicated to the idea and practice of agriculture as a sacred and healing art. Students of all ages come here to satisfy a widely held desire to be reconnected with Nature and Spirit, to experience nutritionally whole and deeply satisfying food, and to learn to grow it in a manner that does not deplete resources, but rather builds healthy soil, clean water, fresh air, nurtures surrounding ecosystems, and cultivates vibrant human communities. S&S Homestead is a biodynamic mentor farm under the NABDAP program. Candidates must serve a three-six month internship before being considered for the apprenticeship program.
Candidates must be physically and mentally strong, committed to the biodynamic world view and practice, disciplined self-starters and hard workers, able to think critically and communicate effectively in speaking and writing, well-organized, clean, neat, and able to take responsibility.
Candidates are asked to indicate which of the following qualifications they already have, or wish to gain by training on the farm, including experience in:
Driving a tractor, handling and maintaining farm machinery
Animal husbandry, especially beef and dairy cows, sheep, pigs, poultry, and bees
Pasture management, rotational grazing and electric fencing
Water systems, rain catchment, and drip irrigation
Vegetable and fruit production
Forest management, construction and wood working
Food processing, especially dairy, fermentation, and baking
Farm management and associative economics
Teaching on-farm educational programs (including intern- and apprenticeships, workshops, and farm tours)
Developing agritourism and farm stays
Implementing agro-therapeutic programs
Relevant computer and website management skills
Public relations and community outreach skills
Artistic, craft (particularly wool processing), and musical interests and skills
Interest in anthroposophy and other religious philosophies and traditions
Interns will be provided with good housing, farm-grown food in season, and a small stipend to defray energy costs.
For more information, go to www.sshomestead.org (link is external) (link is external), and to request an application form, write to sshomestead@rockisland.com (link sends e-mail) (link sends e-mail), or call Henning or Elizabeth at 360-468-3335. Serious inquiries only.