Introducing the Farm and Garden Apprenticeship!
Since 2009, EarthDance’s flagship program, the Organic Farming Apprenticeship, has offered St. Louis area residents the opportunity to learn the skills of organic farming, close to home and on a part-time basis. Since that first season, 123 individuals have participated in the program. The participants in the EarthDance apprenticeship have always been as diverse as the crops they grow. Some aspire to operate their own farms one day, and others want to start community and youth gardens. Others wish to grow more food for their families and neighbors, and still other apprentices simply want to connect deeply to the local food movement.
Each year, the program has evolved in order to better meet the needs of the growers who join the apprenticeship. Now, we are excited to announce that in 2014 EarthDance’s apprenticeship will include training in garden-scale growing techniques. Though the apprenticeship will still provide plenty of instruction and experience in farm-scale production, we believe this change will provide inspiration and practical tools for apprentices who desire to grow food at home or other small spaces for non-commercial purposes. To recognize this change, the apprenticeship is getting a new name. We’re pleased to introduce the EarthDance Farm and Garden Apprenticeship!
A major factor that made this change possible was EarthDance’s purchase of the entire Mueller Organic Farm in 2012. Since EarthDance now maintains the farm’s full 13.9 acres, we have the opportunity to investigate new possibilities for this special green space. In 2013, EarthDance established the first phases of the Seven Generations Garden. The garden’s name refers to the Iroquois Indian belief that people should consider the effect their actions will have on their descendants, seven generations into the future. With this goal in mind, we hope to grow the garden into a site that inspires visitors to seek sustainable lives, and work for the benefit of future generations. In addition, the garden will be a living classroom, where individuals from multiple generations can learn the many techniques of eco-friendly gardening. As part of the Seven Generations project, we look forward to establishing a children’s garden, a food forest, and many other projects.
In 2014, The apprenticeship curriculum will include expansion and maintenance of The Seven Generations Garden. Apprentices, as well as members of the public, volunteers, and tour groups will have the opportunity to learn from, and contribute to development of the garden.
The SGG currently features demonstrations of the following garden techniques:
Would you like to be a member of the 2014 class of the Farm and Garden Apprenticeship? Instructions on how to apply are available here!