2026 Full Season Farm Apprenticeship

2026 Full Season Farm Apprenticeship Job Description

Organization:   EarthDance Organic Farm School

Mission:   EarthDance advances food justice by training organic farmers and gardeners of all ages, providing connection to healthy food and the land, and cultivating vibrant community.

Position:   Full Season Farm Apprentice

Location:   EarthDance Organic Farm School, 233 S Dade Ave, Ferguson, MO, 63135

Hours:   20-24 hours/week; February 12 – December 12, 2026

Job Description Summary

Farm Apprentices will be immersed in all areas of EarthDance crop production & distribution, and will engage in classroom-style learning throughout the program.

Production immersion includes greenhouse seeding and propagation, sowing and transplanting, preparing fields for planting, crop cultivation and maintenance, integrated pest and disease management, harvesting, washing and packing produce. Additionally, apprentices will learn about fruit tree pruning and care, as well as sharing our harvest at the Pay What You Can Farm Stand and at the Ferguson Farmers Market, via donation to food access distribution partners, and via wholesale distribution.

Classroom-style education throughout the season will cover topics like land and food justice, soil health, horticulture, agroforestry, food preservation, herbalism, crop planning, and more. Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) will be incorporated into the learning experience, as will ongoing participant and program evaluation. Apprentices will be trained to use an array of tools and farming equipment. Participants will also engage in working with and eventually leading volunteer groups on the farm.

By the conclusion of the program, apprentices will be equipped with knowledge and skills to work entry level positions in the agricultural industry.

Essential Program Functions and Activities:

Farm Production Support (65%) 

1. Learn and perform field work tasks such as seeding, planting, weeding, etc., harvesting produce according to daily orders, and washing and packing farm produce
2. Learn and practice basic field work skills, as well as learn to manage time and resources efficiently
3. Develop understanding of cultivating vegetable and flower crops
   

Classroom Education (15%)

To supplement fieldwork, we provide an apprenticeship curriculum that outlines weekly educational topics throughout the season. We begin with topics associated with getting the season started at our non-profit teaching farm, including: Our mission and organization, including Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) at EarthDance; A brief history of the land, farming, & food systems; Plant propagation, seedling care, and soil preparation; and An equipment and safety overview. As the season progresses, topics include more in-depth learning about things like: Plant and soil health; Climate change and water management; Harvest and post-harvest handling; Considering your mission and your grow space; Your story and marketing your produce successfully; and Finally crop planning, budgets, and a season review. Apprentices will explore topics with farm managers during a weekly meeting and group field walk.

Thursday afternoons we’ll spend in the classroom (or elsewhere on the farm!) studying the history, science, business, and art of sustainable farming.

1. Independent project: Choose a topic to explore and to present to the team at the end of the season.
2. Crop Planning project: Learn how to make a seasonal crop plan to maintain a consistent harvest and meet the needs of customers; complete a crop plan for the following season.
3. Apprentice Beds: In late spring, each apprentice will be given 2 beds on the farm to manage as a part of the in-field experience. We will provide a list of crops that are appropriate for the planting window of the season. You will get to choose what varieties to plant, build beds with the walk-behind tractor, seed and tend (including weeding) your plot.

Farm Stand/Market Support (10%)

1. Regularly stock farm stand
2. Sell to customers and patrons of the Ferguson Farmers Market and EarthDance on-site Pay What You Can Farm Stand
   

Misc. (10%) 

1. Assist with EarthDance special events and outreach
2. Utilize and participate in EarthDance’s project management systems
3. Participate in EarthDance programming
4. Learn EarthDance’s farming systems to assess the needs of beginner farmers and gardeners
5. Lead volunteer teams on farm maintenance tasks
6. Contribute to overall team goals

Compensation and Benefits: 

• Monthly stipend paid at a rate of $17/hour for up to 24 hours/week of field training and programmatic participation
• Healthcare stipend ($175/month) 
• 1 week of PTO (24 hours upon approval) 
• Up to 3 paid holidays (holiday pay is based on your regular work schedule and the day of the week on which the holiday falls)
• Weekly share of produce May – December

Required Skills, Qualifications, and Knowledge:

• Experience working in the green industry, outdoors, or doing physical labor
• Passion for growing and distributing food in an equitable, regenerative way
• A strong desire to engage in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion work
• A strong desire to work in community with the land and all its inhabitants
• Ability to meet the physical demands of farming, including but not limited to lifting 50 lbs, bending over repeatedly, and being on your feet most of the day
• Willingness to work in all weather conditions while maintaining a (mostly) positive attitude
• Attention to detail and ability to take care with delicate tasks and sharp tools, while maintaining efficient workflow
• Strong physical and mental work ethic, sense of pace, and self-awareness
• Enjoy connecting with others and bring related professional experience
• Willingness to learn to lead groups of working volunteers

Desired Skills, Qualifications, and Knowledge: 

• Curiosity, willingness to ask questions that spark shared learning
• Genuine interest in agricultural production, with the intention to continue a career in agriculture or food access work post-apprenticeship
• Welcoming of guidance
• Experience working with plants
• Effective communication skills with team and community
• Love of animals and desire to assist with farm animal care (chickens, farm cat Tom)
• Experience using equipment like lawn mowers, string trimmers, power tools
• Working experience with communication tools like Google Suite (which is what we use)

Other Requirements:

1. Consistent cell phone, text, email, and digital calendar communication, use of personal laptop (please let us know if this is a limiting factor for you)
2. Reliable transportation

Fair Hiring Statement 

EarthDance is committed to fostering a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. We value people’s lived experiences, especially those who have been marginalized in the food system in the United States, and especially encourage people of color and residents of the farm’s surrounding communities to apply for open positions at EarthDance. We are committed to providing accommodations as possible for qualified candidates with disabilities. Please contact Program Manager Jess Coffin at farm@earthdancefarms.org to request accommodation.

TO APPLY, please email farm@earthdancefarms.org, and attach all of the following:

• Cover letter with contact information
• Resume with contact information
• Weekly daytime availability on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
• Contact information (Name, Professional relationship to you, Email address, and Phone) for two professional references

Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

Priority deadline: Dec 19, 2025

Final selections will be complete by January 29, 2026

Only applications submitted via email to farm@earthdancefarms.org will be considered.