About the 2012 Apprenticeship

 

We are excited to offer this opportunity – to learn how to grow food (and flowers!) organically on a real working farm – in the 4th season of EarthDance. EarthDance has created a cooperative learning and working environment well-suited for individuals who want to gain practical organic farming skills on a part-time basis. While it is ideal to immerse oneself in farm work completely (full-time) to thoroughly understand what it takes to farm organically, this apprenticeship is intended to serve as an introduction to the principles of sustainable agriculture without requiring a complete lifestyle change. Apprentices are required to commit a total of 10 hours (minimum) per week to field walks, farm and market labor. In addition, the apprenticeship program includes on and off-farm enrichment sessions/ workshops, field trips to local farms, and being a member of our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)!

 

As an EarthDance apprentice, you will be introduced to many aspects of organic agriculture.  Skills and concepts covered include: techniques of plant propagation; enhancing soil fertility; natural strategies for pest, disease, and weed control; as well as harvest and  market experiences. Our vision for each class of Freshman Farmies is a community of people who will learn from one another as much as they will learn from the land.  To this end, we are seeking a group of apprentices diverse in age, ethnicity, and gender who will each bring high levels of passion, enthusiasm, dedication, and creativity to the program. We are also interested in bringing together individuals with a wide variety of skills, experience, and goals to further enrich our program (i.e. farming and gardening experience is not a pre-requisite to participating in the apprenticeship program).

 

Since 2010, EarthDance apprentices have been members of the farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)[1] program.  CSA is an innovative marketing model for small farms; the farmer sells ‘shares’ of the farm’s harvest to members who pay up front for a season-long share. Therefore, in addition to receiving top-notch training alongside our farm manager April Shelhon, as an EarthDance apprentice you’ll receive a weekly share of the produce that we’ll grow together. CSA shares will be available for pick-up at the Ferguson and Maplewood Farmers Markets.  Visiting and shopping at the markets are an enjoyable way to educate yourself about the local food scene.

 

We wish to emphasize that the EarthDance apprenticeship program is a serious commitment to undertake. While we have created it as a part-time program, the 10 hour time commitment must be met each week[2] to fulfill the apprenticeship requirements. In late March you will receive a schedule of the farmers markets that EarthDance will be selling at in 2012, and each apprentice will sell at 4-6 markets throughout the harvest season (April – Oct). Attendance at field walks and enrichment sessions is critical to gaining the full benefits of the experience, and as such, you will be expected to attend no less than 80% of these.

 

Apprentices often cite the field trips as being one of their favorite aspects of the program; learning from other farmers and seeing their operations firsthand is an exciting part of the program.

 

Finally, as part of our mission entails community engagement, apprentices are asked to represent EarthDance by working at one public event in the community – such as at the St. Louis Earth Day festival, public farm tours, featured farmer dinners, health fairs, etc.

 

In your application, we want to learn about YOU.  We want to hear about how you have come to be interested in organic farming and gardening and sustainable food systems.  We also want you to consider this program as much as we are considering you. The program spans from mid February 2012 to mid November 2012, and consists of practical farm-based training including bi-weekly field walks led by the farm manager; enrichment learning (from farm-scale composting to greenhouse management); operating a 50 member Community Supported Agriculture program; selling at farmers markets; and field trips to local farms.