Apprenticeship Program

About the Program | Class Topics | Commitment | Field Trips | Living | Articles | Application
Our Organic Farming Apprenticeship includes six months of classes, field trips and lots of hands-on farming.

Apprenticeship Class Topics

Weekly informal classes introduce major topics of study to apprentices and are designed to provide a framework for further research. 

Monthly Field Trips to other farms are highly educational, as are the several guests who speak to the group. Apprentices may also take advantage of this region's wealth of knowledgeable folks by setting up visits to additional locations of interest. 

Faux Farm Design - Students also complete a paper "Faux Farm Design" that they present at the end of the season for review. 

Hands-On - In addition, they experiment on their own crops in the "Little Beds" Garden, each individual having his/her own raised bed 95' by 5'.

Class Discussions

Informal classes come with an outline and recommended readings found in our well stocked library. Given the limits of time and focus, 1 1/2 hour classes are designed to introduce these topics as a springboard for students further research since most subjects involve a lifetime of study. We hope that apprentices finish with a good framework and continue to delve into the subject matter as the need arises.

• Community Supported Agriculture
• Considerations in Plant Cultivation
• Marketing
• Greenhouse & Plant Propagation
• Small Scale Farm/Project Design
• The Health & Balance of Soils
• Introduction to Biodynamics & Permaculture
• Beginning Ground Preparation
• Organic and Biodynamic Approaches to Fertility
• Composting
• Weeds
• Organic Insect/ Disease Control
• Irrigation
• Equipment & Tools
• Cover Crops
• The Business & Recordkeeping of Farming