Position: Apprentice
Type: apprenticeship with accom., monthly stipend, gardening space, more
(see below)
Organization: Laughing Apple Farm
Location: Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
Type: apprenticeship with accom., monthly stipend, gardening space, more
(see below)
Organization: Laughing Apple Farm
Location: Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
About
our farm:
our farm:
We
are located in a scenic and quiet spot on Salt Spring Island. We have been
farming here for 18 years and have developed efficient me
are located in a scenic and quiet spot on Salt Spring Island. We have been
farming here for 18 years and have developed efficient me
thods for producing
food year-round on a small scale using organic methods. Our farm was originally
homesteaded on the west shore of Ganges Harbour in the 1880s and consists of
about 120 acres of forest surrounding 40 acres of farmed area. We grow fruit,
berries, and veggies using organic and no-till methods. We grow some crops in
greenhouses to extend the growing season and be able to provide more heat. We
also grow hay and propagate and sell nursery plants. In the fall we process
most of our apple crop into apple juice. Much of our produce is sold at two
local farmers markets.
Dates
of position: April
1 – October 31, 2016
of position: April
1 – October 31, 2016
About
the job:
the job:
We
are looking for someone to work the full seven months from April through
October. You will have a chance to participate in all aspects of farming and
marketing our produce: bed prep and planting, plant propagation and greenhouse
work, plant cultivation and weeding, harvesting and marketing. During berry
season we typically hire a few high school students to help with the picking
and you will be expected to help lead a picking team two days a week.
are looking for someone to work the full seven months from April through
October. You will have a chance to participate in all aspects of farming and
marketing our produce: bed prep and planting, plant propagation and greenhouse
work, plant cultivation and weeding, harvesting and marketing. During berry
season we typically hire a few high school students to help with the picking
and you will be expected to help lead a picking team two days a week.
Compensation
includes housing in one bedroom of a two-bedroom cottage and a stipend of
$600/month. The cottage has two bedrooms, one bathroom, a fully equipped
kitchen, living room, fireplace, washer and dryer; electricity, water,
telephone (for local calls only) and Internet are included. During the year, we
may use the cottage for visitors, so, during those times, one of the bedrooms
may be occupied by a visitor and the kitchen/living room space shared by you
both. Some gardening space can be provided for growing vegetables for your own
personal use (this would be done on your own time). You will be covered under
our farm insurance in case of injury.
includes housing in one bedroom of a two-bedroom cottage and a stipend of
$600/month. The cottage has two bedrooms, one bathroom, a fully equipped
kitchen, living room, fireplace, washer and dryer; electricity, water,
telephone (for local calls only) and Internet are included. During the year, we
may use the cottage for visitors, so, during those times, one of the bedrooms
may be occupied by a visitor and the kitchen/living room space shared by you
both. Some gardening space can be provided for growing vegetables for your own
personal use (this would be done on your own time). You will be covered under
our farm insurance in case of injury.
Attributes
we are looking for:
we are looking for:
We
are looking for a healthy, strong, enthusiastic person with integrity and a
great work ethic, who can work in any weather, think for themselves, contribute
to the job at hand, can work independently, and have a sense of humor! We
prefer people with some experience of farming – maybe volunteering or woofing –
who learn quickly, ask questions when the job isn’t clear, and can contribute
from the beginning.
are looking for a healthy, strong, enthusiastic person with integrity and a
great work ethic, who can work in any weather, think for themselves, contribute
to the job at hand, can work independently, and have a sense of humor! We
prefer people with some experience of farming – maybe volunteering or woofing –
who learn quickly, ask questions when the job isn’t clear, and can contribute
from the beginning.
Specific
Qualifications:
Qualifications:
- Have
some demonstrated experience with gardening/farming - Have
some experience with hard physical labor - Have
physical and mental endurance - Be
friendly and have customer service skills - Be
attentive to detail and have the patience to get it right
Our
expectations are that you will not smoke or use recreational drugs on our
property. The cottage is in good condition and we ask that no pets are kept and
that no parties occur on the property. We ask that no motorized farm equipment
be used without an orientation and specific permission. We ask that you please
respect our privacy and stay within the farm area.
expectations are that you will not smoke or use recreational drugs on our
property. The cottage is in good condition and we ask that no pets are kept and
that no parties occur on the property. We ask that no motorized farm equipment
be used without an orientation and specific permission. We ask that you please
respect our privacy and stay within the farm area.
What
will your days be like here:
will your days be like here:
We
expect that you will work 35 hours most weeks, either on the farm or at the
farmers market. During some very busy mid-season weeks it could be as much as
45 hours per week. At times, you might be assisting at the markets with one of
us. We expect that over time you will learn to do one market day independently.
Sunday usually is a day off since the market is on Saturday and we work all day
that day. Typically one of us will be working with you, although some days you
will be on your own working on a project we started together. We are hoping to
take a break during the summer sometime in August or early September, so this
would be an opportunity to be in charge of the farm for three weeks.
expect that you will work 35 hours most weeks, either on the farm or at the
farmers market. During some very busy mid-season weeks it could be as much as
45 hours per week. At times, you might be assisting at the markets with one of
us. We expect that over time you will learn to do one market day independently.
Sunday usually is a day off since the market is on Saturday and we work all day
that day. Typically one of us will be working with you, although some days you
will be on your own working on a project we started together. We are hoping to
take a break during the summer sometime in August or early September, so this
would be an opportunity to be in charge of the farm for three weeks.
What
you might be doing in:
you might be doing in:
- April
– May:
This year we are constructing a new greenhouse, so there may be work on
that if the timing is right. There will be lots of bed preparation
relating to the new greenhouse, and also other areas – digging new rows,
repairing rabbit fencing, amending and mulching rows, irrigation repair. Some
of the regular jobs in these months are: transplanting veggie and
perennial starts, direct seeding, bed prep, planting veggie starts in
greenhouses and in beds, harvesting and washing greens for the market,
weeding, harvesting early crops (peas, asparagus), and marketing once a
week (Saturday 7am to 4 pm). - June
– July:
start late crops – corn, squash, melons – in sprout house, harvesting
berries, cherries, early plums for market. Second market starts on Tuesday
(harvest 7-12, market 12-6). Haying in mid to late June. Planting
tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melons, cucumbers in greenhouses, direct
seeding late summer crops. Start winter garden veggies in mid July. - August
– September:
weeding and harvesting later crops, picking apples, planting winter
veggies in greenhouses, pressing juice. Two markets - October:
one market only this month — picking and pressing apples, preparing
garlic bed, planting garlic, cleaning veggie rows and mulching for winter,
greenhouse cleanup and weeding work.
Benefits:
This
position provides a great opportunity for a self-motivated person to learn
about small-scale farming and marketing in a hands-on way. The job is
challenging and there is a lot to learn if you’re keen. We hope that you will
have a great experience as part of our dynamic island farming community as well
as learning all aspects of farming and marketing. In addition you will learn to
love weeding! We expect this experience to be a two way street – you learn from
our experience, and you bring enthusiasm and new ways of looking at things to
us. We both have a good time and enjoy working hard! And after the season, you
go away with a sense of accomplishment, a deeper understanding, and good
memories.
position provides a great opportunity for a self-motivated person to learn
about small-scale farming and marketing in a hands-on way. The job is
challenging and there is a lot to learn if you’re keen. We hope that you will
have a great experience as part of our dynamic island farming community as well
as learning all aspects of farming and marketing. In addition you will learn to
love weeding! We expect this experience to be a two way street – you learn from
our experience, and you bring enthusiasm and new ways of looking at things to
us. We both have a good time and enjoy working hard! And after the season, you
go away with a sense of accomplishment, a deeper understanding, and good
memories.
How
to Apply:
to Apply:
- Please
submit a brief bio/resume to Mary Laucks at:
mlaucks @telus.net*
and a summary of why you would like this position – answering at least the
following questions: - Why
are you interested in farming? - What
are your skills? - How
do you think you would fit in our operation? - What
are your motivations and expectations for this job? - Please
provide at least two references, preferably from employers.
(Note
if you are offered this position, you may be subject to a general police
background check)
if you are offered this position, you may be subject to a general police
background check)
