Apply for a Summer 2024
Farm Collaborative Apprenticeship Today!
Farm Collaborative Apprenticeship
The Farm Collaborative has served Aspen and the greater Roaring Fork Valley with education programs, community events and a Farm Park for 13 years. In 2019, after receiving 14 additional acres from the City of Aspen, we started over an acre of vegetable production beds. With the help of two greenhouses we are able to push the potential of our harsh climate at 7,400 ft elevation. We rotationally graze sheep and laying hens to increase the fertility and health of our pastures and produce eggs and meat.
In the production garden our season will primarly include 1) growing nursery starts for community sales and transplanting into production beds, 2) building/maintaining soil fertility for optimal growth of production crops, 3) propagating/transplanting/seeding annual row crops for market sale, 4) harvesting and packing annual row crops for market sale. Other activities may include helping with daily farm chores (including care of livestock), supporting education programming, canning and preserving excess produce for the market sale. We will sell our produce at the Aspen Farmers’ Market, and also through programs to Lift-Up food banks and Seniors Matters (for food insecure seniors).
Production Garden Apprentice
Location: Cozy Point, Aspen, Colorado
Time Commitment: mid April/early May through late October/early November, 4 days/week
Compensation: The stipend for this apprenticeship will be $400/month for the first four months then $800/month thereafter. $100/ month will be provided in addition for food purchasing. A room & utilities at the farm, farm vegetables/eggs & some staple pantry foods are also provided. The farm housing is located on the farm at 220 Juniper Hill Rd, Aspen CO 81611
Application Deadline: Positions are open until filled.
Requirements:
No previous farming experience necessary
Strong, demonstrable work ethic
Curiosity, commitment to treating internship as learning experience
Flexibility, patience, and a positive attitude
Ability to safely and successfully perform manual labor in varying weather conditions at an altitude over 7,000ft
Interest in organic agriculture
Flexibility to do multiple on-farm tasks.
The apprentice must arrange their own transportation to the apprenticeship.
The garden apprentice(s) will help the Production Manager and Livestock Manager in all aspects of the garden including plant starting, garden planning, irrigation maintenance, trellis construction, plant care, weeding, harvesting, washing produce and preparing for storage, canning and preservation days, keeping updated records, public events and tours, helping to organize and facilitate volunteer days, preparing produce for markets, and staffing market booths. Apprentices are expected to learn quickly and perform work in a thorough and efficient manner. The work will be hard and some days will be long, apprentices will need to be team players in accomplishing daily tasks. Apprentices will also have the opportunity to learn animal husbandry, can take part in optional butchering days, daily chores feeding animals, as well as farm maintenance. If apprentices have specific interests we would love to have special sessions dedicated to business planning, seed planning, etc.
Application Instructions
Please attach a copy of your current resume which includes your education and employment history, as well as two references - one that can vouch for your positive attitude, work ethic, or any prior farming experience (an advisor or prior employer).
Additionally, please answer the following questions:
What would be your tentative start and end dates? What other obligations will you have during the growing season?
What inspired you to pursue a career in farming?
Why did you choose The Farm Collaborative/Seed Peace as a farming mentor and what do you expect to learn while you are with us?
What is your financial stability for the season? The apprenticeship provides a stipend, farm and bulk food, housing, internet, and is designed as a learning exchange. Will you be financially stressed with this arrangement? How do you view the mentor and apprenticeship agreement?
We value problem solving and creativity on the farm! Explain a time where you were able to solve a problem (work life or personal life) with creativity and critical thinking.
At The Farm Collaborative/Seed Peace we know that every task on the farm is sacred. From seeding, weeding, construction, to bookkeeping and business planning we know that all tasks must be done for our success. This apprenticeship will involve hands-on farming work, of which we have done thousands of times to perfect. Even shoveling a pile of compost is something that should be done with art so as to move elegantly and thus efficiently (not to mention save your back!) Please, explain the mindset you see as important to being effective at farming tasks.
Do you have any physical limitations or moral limits that would keep you from doing jobs such changing the oil in the tractor, building a shed, squatting, digging, hoeing, smashing bugs, weed eating, lifting, shoveling for sometimes hours at a time? Disclose any physical or constitutional condition that would hinder your ability to do so?
What do you enjoy for recreation? What do you do in your spare time? We have functional cell service and wifi (with varying reliability), are these connections necessary in daily life for your happiness?
Where did you grow up? In a city, suburbs, in the country and what was your connection to farming, gardening and nature as a child.
Do you partake in alcohol, cannabis or tobacco consumption and at what frequency? (please be honest here we are no saint’s ourselves).
What do you think is the hardest thing about a career and life of farming?
Please list any questions you may have about our farm?
Please email completed applications to francesca@thefarmcollaborative.org. After receiving your completed application, if it is determined that you may be a good fit for the position, we will schedule a phone interview.