Position: Farm Apprentices
Type: full-time apprenticeship with accommodation, stipend, more
(see below)
Organization: Heyday Farm
Location: Salt Spring Island,
British Columbia
Type: full-time apprenticeship with accommodation, stipend, more
(see below)
Organization: Heyday Farm
Location: Salt Spring Island,
British Columbia
Heyday
Farm is looking for apprent
Farm is looking for apprent
ices who want to learn organic market gardening
skills. Apprentices are a key part of our farm, helping to grow an array of
vegetables, berries and cut flowers for market as well as seeds for the farm
and staples for the house such as quinoa, flint corn, dried beans and a variety
of other legumes.
We
are offering a 6-7 month farm immersion on our seven acres in the Fulford
Valley on Salt Spring Island. We grow delicious and healthy food for our
community and ourselves while creating a beautiful, diverse naturally healthy
environment on our farm. We concentrate on many fall and winter crops and are
known for having big beautiful markets late in the season. We enjoy searching
for and trialing the best vegetable, fruit and flower varieties we can find. We
sell these from June until the end of March. We sell at two local markets and
this year we are planning to open a small farm store. We have a century old
pear orchard which provides us with juice, cider, vinegar and fresh fruit well
into the winter. We keep a small flock of heritage chickens which provide the
farm with eggs and meat.
are offering a 6-7 month farm immersion on our seven acres in the Fulford
Valley on Salt Spring Island. We grow delicious and healthy food for our
community and ourselves while creating a beautiful, diverse naturally healthy
environment on our farm. We concentrate on many fall and winter crops and are
known for having big beautiful markets late in the season. We enjoy searching
for and trialing the best vegetable, fruit and flower varieties we can find. We
sell these from June until the end of March. We sell at two local markets and
this year we are planning to open a small farm store. We have a century old
pear orchard which provides us with juice, cider, vinegar and fresh fruit well
into the winter. We keep a small flock of heritage chickens which provide the
farm with eggs and meat.
We
care for our soil by using a carefully planned crop rotation, semi-permanent
raised beds, reduced tillage and by adding organic matter like mulch, manure
and covercrops. Reduced tillage requires us to do a lot of work by hand, using
a broadfork and hoe to prepare our 110’ beds. We put a lot of care into our
work and this really shows in the quality of the food and flowers Heyday
produces. We pride ourselves in producing the freshest, most beautiful,
delicious and diverse array of produce possible.
care for our soil by using a carefully planned crop rotation, semi-permanent
raised beds, reduced tillage and by adding organic matter like mulch, manure
and covercrops. Reduced tillage requires us to do a lot of work by hand, using
a broadfork and hoe to prepare our 110’ beds. We put a lot of care into our
work and this really shows in the quality of the food and flowers Heyday
produces. We pride ourselves in producing the freshest, most beautiful,
delicious and diverse array of produce possible.
2016
will be Heyday’s fifth season. It is run by an experienced farming couple with
diverse growing backgrounds. We both prepared for our farming careers by
studying philosophy at McGill and making art! Sofya worked in urban agriculture
in Montreal, apprenticed at a 250 member CSA farm near Montreal and managed the
farm at the Salt Spring Center of Yoga for three years. Her favorite things
about the farm are growing flowers, pulses and grains and teaching people about
growing. Colin ran a gardening business in Montreal for 15 years, apprenticed
at Foxglove farm on Salt Spring and managed Golden Maple farm on Salt Spring
for three years. He loves to prepare lunches for the crew, care for the old
orchard and watch the farm get better every year. We both love to cook and eat
food from the farm. Eating well is one of the greatest pleasures we derive from
farming.
will be Heyday’s fifth season. It is run by an experienced farming couple with
diverse growing backgrounds. We both prepared for our farming careers by
studying philosophy at McGill and making art! Sofya worked in urban agriculture
in Montreal, apprenticed at a 250 member CSA farm near Montreal and managed the
farm at the Salt Spring Center of Yoga for three years. Her favorite things
about the farm are growing flowers, pulses and grains and teaching people about
growing. Colin ran a gardening business in Montreal for 15 years, apprenticed
at Foxglove farm on Salt Spring and managed Golden Maple farm on Salt Spring
for three years. He loves to prepare lunches for the crew, care for the old
orchard and watch the farm get better every year. We both love to cook and eat
food from the farm. Eating well is one of the greatest pleasures we derive from
farming.
We
want applicants to know that growing for market is challenging and takes
serious dedication. It demands an incredible amount of time and energy. We try
to maintain a steady pace throughout the season but the work load does vary.
May is very busy and we experience a crunch in July when we juggle harvesting
for market, caring for established crops, preparing beds and transplanting fall
and winter crops. Another crunch occurs in October when the days get shorter
but we are still harvesting for market, cleaning seeds and preparing beds for
the following year. Our field plan and planting schedule help things run
smoothly throughout the busy season and, in spite of all the hard work, or
maybe because of it, farming is a wonderful and satisfying lifestyle with many
rewards.
want applicants to know that growing for market is challenging and takes
serious dedication. It demands an incredible amount of time and energy. We try
to maintain a steady pace throughout the season but the work load does vary.
May is very busy and we experience a crunch in July when we juggle harvesting
for market, caring for established crops, preparing beds and transplanting fall
and winter crops. Another crunch occurs in October when the days get shorter
but we are still harvesting for market, cleaning seeds and preparing beds for
the following year. Our field plan and planting schedule help things run
smoothly throughout the busy season and, in spite of all the hard work, or
maybe because of it, farming is a wonderful and satisfying lifestyle with many
rewards.
The
Fulford Valley where Heyday is located is a great place to spend the farming
season. It is home to community farmland, organic beef, lamb, and dairy
operations, vineyards, a micro-brewery and a young olive orchard. There is even
a cookie bakery where you can get ice cream sandwiches and coffee on your lunch
break. The farm is close to lakes, beautiful oceanside trails in Burgoyne
Provincial park, the Tsawout reserve and Ruckle Park. We are also on the bus
route. The bus can be hailed at the end of our driveway.
Fulford Valley where Heyday is located is a great place to spend the farming
season. It is home to community farmland, organic beef, lamb, and dairy
operations, vineyards, a micro-brewery and a young olive orchard. There is even
a cookie bakery where you can get ice cream sandwiches and coffee on your lunch
break. The farm is close to lakes, beautiful oceanside trails in Burgoyne
Provincial park, the Tsawout reserve and Ruckle Park. We are also on the bus
route. The bus can be hailed at the end of our driveway.
Apprentices
who would like to work with us must be able to commit to working on the farm
until the end of October or November. They will help us with (and learn about)
most aspects of running a market garden: planning, preparing beds, seeding,
transplanting, harvesting, post harvest handling, weeding, seed saving, record
keeping and selling at market. Apprentices work between 40 and 50 hours a week.
In general work days are Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm with a one hour
lunch break. On harvest days the work hours are longer. Apprentices also help
with 1 or 2 Saturday markets a month.
who would like to work with us must be able to commit to working on the farm
until the end of October or November. They will help us with (and learn about)
most aspects of running a market garden: planning, preparing beds, seeding,
transplanting, harvesting, post harvest handling, weeding, seed saving, record
keeping and selling at market. Apprentices work between 40 and 50 hours a week.
In general work days are Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm with a one hour
lunch break. On harvest days the work hours are longer. Apprentices also help
with 1 or 2 Saturday markets a month.
In
exchange we offer a $500 monthly stipend, accommodation and incredible produce
from the farm to cook with. We also supply some bulk dry goods. The team eats
lunch together a couple of times each week but otherwise apprentices are
responsible for preparing their own meals. Each apprentice will have a private
cabin, trailer or bus to live in and they will share a common cabin that has
wi-fi, a shower and kitchen/ living room and an outdoor composting toilet.
There is a washing machine and dryer in our house.
exchange we offer a $500 monthly stipend, accommodation and incredible produce
from the farm to cook with. We also supply some bulk dry goods. The team eats
lunch together a couple of times each week but otherwise apprentices are
responsible for preparing their own meals. Each apprentice will have a private
cabin, trailer or bus to live in and they will share a common cabin that has
wi-fi, a shower and kitchen/ living room and an outdoor composting toilet.
There is a washing machine and dryer in our house.
We
have a weekly check-in to discuss the week’s work. These meetings are also a
good opportunity to taste and compare new vegetable varieties, share feedback,
questions and suggestions and to keep track of personal goals and intentions.
Biweekly farm walks help us and apprentices view the farm as a whole as it
changes throughout the season. Taking the time to do this keeps us aware of
crop health and any areas that need attention. It also allows us some time to
appreciate the results of our daily labour. There will be opportunities to visit
several local farms throughout the season. These visits will be tailored to
suit apprentice’s particular interests. Apprentices will also be able to
schedule a one week vacation sometime during the season.
have a weekly check-in to discuss the week’s work. These meetings are also a
good opportunity to taste and compare new vegetable varieties, share feedback,
questions and suggestions and to keep track of personal goals and intentions.
Biweekly farm walks help us and apprentices view the farm as a whole as it
changes throughout the season. Taking the time to do this keeps us aware of
crop health and any areas that need attention. It also allows us some time to
appreciate the results of our daily labour. There will be opportunities to visit
several local farms throughout the season. These visits will be tailored to
suit apprentice’s particular interests. Apprentices will also be able to
schedule a one week vacation sometime during the season.
The
ideal candidate:
ideal candidate:
- Brings
a positive attitude to their work - Can
pay attention to detail while maintaining an efficient pace. - Has
good physical and emotional stamina. The season is long and we will be
working long hours together in all kinds of weather. - Loves
food!
If
you would like to apply please email a resume, two references and a cover
letter describing what is motivating you to do a farm apprenticeship and any
farm or gardening experience you have to:
ragnskya @gmail.com*
you would like to apply please email a resume, two references and a cover
letter describing what is motivating you to do a farm apprenticeship and any
farm or gardening experience you have to:
ragnskya @gmail.com*
We
will respond to all applications.
will respond to all applications.
