Position: Permaculture Farm Apprentice

Type: Full season internship ( two positions available)/Short term volunteering also accepted

Organization: Greenshire Eco Farms

Location: Lindsay, Ontario

Start Date: Early April to the end of November 2011

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a permaculture farm at its beginning stages, as we enter our third growing season, and are only at the beginning of expansion. Our farm totals 100 acres with about 30 acres of young forest and 70 acres of meadow. Our plans for this season include:

-Growing our current 1.5 acre no-tillage vegetable garden to 3-5 acres

-Building a 7’ X 14’ passive solar heated greenhouse and small cold frames

-Establishing blackberry and raspberry patches

-Transplanting black currants, gooseberries, and possibly fruit trees

-Expanding our CSA foodbox program

-Setting up a stand at our roadside

-Selling to local restaurants, at farmers markets, foodbox programs, and distributors

-Planting windbreaks

-Constructing trellis structures

-Wild food/medicine harvesting

-Pruning and rehabilitating wild apple trees

Our methods of cultivation are rooted in natural farming and permaculture methods. As an apprentice you will learn and practice the following methods of bed preparation:

-No-tillage sheet mulching

-Hugelkultur mounds

-Ramial chipped branch wood

-Hay bale instant gardens

You will learn some season extension techniques: using floating row covers, cloches, a small greenhouse, and cold frames. Interns also have the opportunity to learn about eating seasonally, including food preservation and storage for the winter.

You will also learn polyculture/companion planting methods, organic pest control, biodynamic techniques (e.g., moon-phase planting, compost tea, tree paste), and the use and care of chicken tractors.

Accommodations:

Interns will stay either in the main house, or in our 29-foot camping trailer for the season. The kitchen and pantry will be available in the main house, which is near the trailer. Much of the food supply will come straight from the land once crops start maturing. We have an outhouse-style humanure toilet near the trailer, and the shower will be made available in the main house. If desired, transportation can be provided for occasional trips to nearby towns (Omemee, Lindsay, Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Peterborough, etc.)

What is expected of interns:

-Commitment to the full season, including signing a contract

-40 hours per week of work on the farm

-Both self-directed and team work

-Ability to follow through on specific instructions

Qualifications:

-Preference will be given to those with previous farming/gardening experience but it is not a necessity

-Passion for sustainable farming is a must

-Physically fit with good endurance and tolerance for working outside in all weather conditions

-Dedicated hard worker who is able to work alone or as part of a team

-Able to carry out compound instructions with little to no supervision

-Willing to eat a predominantly vegan or vegetarian diet

-Someone who is alright to be around animals as we have dogs, cats, horses, and pigs



To learn more about us check out:

http://www.greenshireecofarms.com

or look us up on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/user/GreenshireEcoFarm