Phone Number
(401)649-2447
I'm Seeking
Apprenticeship
Best Time to be Reached
afternoon or night
Age
20
Available for Fall Harvest
No
Gender
female
Room & Board
Room and Board
Are you a vegetarian?
Yes
Available for Winter Work
No
Will you eat meat raised at your host farm?
No
Time Period for Work
June 9 through August 25
Why are you seeking an apprenticeship or work opportunity on an organic farm in Vermont?
I am seeking an apprentice on an organic farm in Vermont because I am an aspiring small farmer and this opportunity will afford me invaluable experience and education to help me achieve my dream of owning my own farm. I am also passionate about local, sustainable food systems, I think food is the most tangible and powerful connection between humans and the earth, and I want to start being an active facilitator of that connection. And lastly, I love Vermont, the people, the culture, the landscape, it is quickly becoming a place that I call home, and helping to work the land here will give me an opportunity to dive more deeply into that sense of place.
Other Food Restrictions
none
I can visit farms to interview for apprentice / farm worker position
Yes
Physical Labor
I have a great deal of experience with physical labor. For the last two summers I have been a caretaker on Vermont's Long Trail, a very physically demanding position in terms of both hiking stamina and physical strength for trail work. I maintain an active lifestyle and am in good physical condition for hard manual labor.
Do You Have Transportation?
Yes
How did you hear about the program?
Through a work exchange on a small farm in southern VT
Medical Issues
none
Three Interesting Things About Me
Poetry is a passion of mine, I write, read as much as I can, and read my own poetry aloud at open mic's. I've kept a sourdough starter alive for over a year now, and it makes the best pancakes ever, the bread is hit or miss though. As a backcountry caretaker I was responsible for maintaining a composting toilet, and one of my favorite parts of the job was watching the changing communities of fungi and insects when I had to stir the compost every week; poop is fascinating!
Are you a smoker?
No
3 Things People Should Know About Living with Me
I am not obsessive about cleanliness, but I like clean spaces to cook, and sleep. I am a heavy sleeper, almost nothing wakes me up. I am an early riser, I like to be the first one up in the morning to have some quiet time before the day starts.
Name an experience that changed the course of your life
After studying abroad last fall, me and a friend went on an unguided backpacking trip through the Peruvian Andes. After a particularly hard day of hiking we started to set up camp just as hail began to pour down. From a mud house across the pampa, a woman started waving at us and gesturing to come over. She invited us to set up our tent under the woodshed next to her house, out of the hail, then invited us into her home so we could get warm and cook dinner. That experience of such hospitality and care from a total stranger was incredibly moving for me. It revitalized my faith in the kindness of humanity, and has made me strive to bring that kind of warmth, generosity, and hospitality, wherever I go.
Experience Level
Beginning
References
Ilana Copel, Supervisor at Green Mountain Club, [email protected], (802)343-9019
Shalynn Pack, Instructor on Round River Student Conservation Program, [email protected]
Nathaniel Stratton, Farmer at Putting Down Roots Farm where I did a work exchange, [email protected]
Clara Kuhn, Roommate of 2 years, (347)216-1720, [email protected]
Shalynn Pack, Instructor on Round River Student Conservation Program, [email protected]
Nathaniel Stratton, Farmer at Putting Down Roots Farm where I did a work exchange, [email protected]
Clara Kuhn, Roommate of 2 years, (347)216-1720, [email protected]
Can You Drive Manual Transmission?
No
Apprentice Goals
My main goal in becoming an apprentice is to learn skills and get experience in organic and sustainable farming methods. When I graduate college I hope to keep building those skills toward the goal of one day starting my own small farm.
Work Experience
I have been a backcountry caretaker for the Green Mountain Club on Vermont's Long Trail for the past two summers. This entailed living in the woods for five nights a week, doing trail work, maintaining shelters and composting toilets, and educating the public on alpine ecosystems. I also maintained the staff housing vegetable garden. During the early season at the beginning of last summer I did a work exchange at Putting Down Roots Farm in South Royalton Vermont. I was solely responsible for taking care of over 100 meat chickens being rotationally grazed in all stages of development, and also helped in the vegetable and herb gardens, and with a flock of over 300 laying hens. I have also worked doing environmental fieldwork in various settings, taking care of marine animals in a marine biology center, and as a skiing instructor.
3 Skills
I find repetitive work meditative and enjoyable; through my experience in trail work, long-distance hiking, and farming and gardening, I have come to enjoy the nature of repetitive work, I find the monotony meditative, and it allows me to achieve a clarity of thought that is otherwise hard to come by. I have an appreciation and understanding of ecological processes; as a forestry and ecological agriculture student I have a strong academic ecology foundation, and have also studied ecology in the field in Vermont and abroad. This background has given me an understanding of ecological processes, especially soil ecology, that can be readily applied to a farming context. And finally I develop competency quickly and work well independently; as a backcountry caretaker I was essentially a trail crew of one, working in isolation with no outside resources or help which allowed me to develop excellent independent problem solving skills. In a farm context this translates to me being able to complete tasks with little supervision, after basic training and instruction is provided.
What do you hope to take away from an experience working on an organic farm?
The processes and timing of organic vegetable growing, including when to transplant, differing soil needs, organic pest control, etc. The processes involved with sustainable dairy or egg production, as part of an integrated system with plant crops. Exposure to different experiences in starting a farm, hurdles faced along the way, and problem solving in a farm context.
Education
University of Vermont Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources- B.S. in Forestry with a minor in Ecological Agriculture in progress
What do you perceive will be your reaction to living and learning with new and unknown people in a rural area?
I have had a lot of experience with communal living and navigating group dynamics, and I've found that the best approach for me is to go with the flow and be as laid back as possible, while being honest about what my needs are for the living space and what I can provide. In general, I enjoy meeting new people, especially those with different experiences and worldview to share.
Status
Active