The 2014 Apprenticeship: Shorter, Just as Sweet

EarthDance is now accepting applications to the 2014 Farm and Garden Apprenticeship Program! For application instructions click here. Read on to learn about some exciting changes to expect from next year’s apprenticeship

•  The 2014 program will incorporate gardening instruction to meet the needs of apprentices who plan to pursue home-scale agriculture, or to develop their knowledge into community or school gardens
• In addition to field work on the farm’s commercial-scale acres, apprentices will maintain and expand EarthDance’s permaculture-based Seven Generation Garden
• The program will run May-September 2014 (previous sessions ran from mid-March-November)

These changes spring from a new understanding of the needs of EarthDance’s diverse program participants. Many apprentices enroll in the program with the goal of improving their home gardening, or starting community and school growing spaces. EarthDance supports these mini- and micro-farms; we’re excited to adapt our curriculum to incorporate more instruction in small-scale agriculture. Another change, the shortened season will still allow “Freshman Farmies” to learn the basics of organic agriculture, from seed to market. We believe it will also fit better into the busy lives of our apprentices, many of whom work full-time, attend school, and raise families while farming at EarthDance.

Check out what some of our current apprentices have had to say about their experience:

• “Classroom learning couldn’t possibly have educated me the way this hands-on experience has been able to. Having patient, understanding, available staff has been amazing.”
• “The enrichment sessions were either very pertinent to what I would be doing, or I was very interested in them (preserving, pollinators). I love hearing about different farming techniques and what works for different people.”
• “Since beginning the apprenticeship, I’m much happier pursuing my dreams, I’ve gotten more diverse in cooking & baking, and I have amazing, delicious, healthy food to eat every week!”

For those of you considering applying to the 2014 program, EarthDance encourages you to schedule a volunteer shift in order to meet the staff and get a feel for your commute to the farm and a taste of farm work. Regular volunteer shifts are available through the end of October, and on an as-needed basis during the winter months. Contact volunteer@earthdancefarms.org to find out more.