Looking for longer term apprenticeship Spring 2019-?

Hi, new to the forum here,

My name's Noah, I'm 28 years old and have lots of experience living in community as well as working on various farms.

I recently moved back to the US after spending a year and a half living on the southern coast of Mexico, ready to jump into farm\community life again.

I landed at a biodynamic farm in North Carolina that I found on ATTRA, but unfortunately the listing description didnt accurately match the day to day life of the farm-

Words like 'our focus here is to nurture the soil in order to grow the best quality food' implies that soil building is a primary focus, though in reality the composting situation there is more of an afterthought.

Production, production production- flipping beds as fast as possible to make the most money possible being the actual guiding principle.

For me, working with nature, in the way she intended, is the way that we're going to change the world for the better-

I'm looking for an opportunity on a farm\homestead where the guiding principle is not only 'do as little harm as practical' but do the most good possible-

Ideally, I'm looking for an apprenticeship with a stipend- or at least the means to work for a little income.

My skills are wide and varied from Herbal Medicine Making, Wildcrafting/harvesting, Fermentation,  Cooking,  (worked as a chef at a Yoga school when I was in mexico, and have years of cooking\dessert making experience), Tarot, writing and marketing, and Yoga teaching, not to mention the two years of various farm/garden work.

If no (or small) stipend is involved, I'm looking for a work/trade opportunity where Permaculture Mentorship is the nature of our relationship: being that you're intentions are to pass your knowledge of permaculture onto me, while I help you with whatever you need. Many of my farm experiences in the past have flown under the labels of 'apprenticeship or internship' but the true nature of the position was one of 'underpaid farm hand' , with focus on extracting production help while not providing much of the instruction or learning implied with the aforementioned labels.

I'd prefer an opportunity on the East coast, as this is where I'm currently located, however, I am willing to travel given the right opening.

If you think I may be a good fit, please answer the following questions and either PM me or email me at Luckisastateofmind@hush.com

1.What is the state of your tool shed organization?

2. What is the #1 motivating principle for your farm?

3. What are your views and desires towards farm growth?

4. How often do you eat meals as a community/crew?

5.  Describe the role Compost plays on your farm

6. What type of value added products do you produce (if any)?

7.  What type of homesteading skills do you practice? (canning, fermentation, etc?)

8. What does your library look like?

9. How long have you been growing food?

10.  What is the biggest mistake you made when first getting into farming/gardening, and what have you learned from it?

11. If you could write a letter to yourself when you were first starting out, what three key points would you tell yourself?

12. What role does herbal medicine play in your life?

13.What is the operational role of petroleum and plastic products on your land? Tractors?

14. Estimate what percentage of your consumption (food, hygiene products, cleaning supplies etc) is homemade, vs Locally bought, vs Global/corporate

15. What are your views on technology, electronic and otherwise?

16. How do you foster community within your farm/homestead, and outside of it?

17. Do you save seeds?

18. Do you practice plant breeding?

19. What is your relationship to fungi?

20. Do you practice companion planting?

21. What  role do animals play on your land? and what do you feed them?

22. What new farm projects are you most excited about?

23. What role does music play in your family/community?

24. Do you hunt?

25. Do you butcher your own animals?

26. What is the most influential book you've ever read and why?

27. What is the role of apprenctices/interns on your farm?

28. What do you hope to offer apprentices, and what do you hope to gain from them?





Thanks four your time, and I look forward to reading you replies, and to meeting you in person!

Also excited to answer your list of questions, so send them to me as well.

Have a beautiful day.

Noah

Hi Noah.

Really enjoyed your post.  Sent you a PM.  

Cheers!  K