Duration: Mid April to Mid Movember
Type: full-time apprentice with room & board, stipend (see below)
Organization: Kolapore Gardens
Website: http://www.kolaporegardens.com/apprenticeship
Location: Southern Georgian Bay, Ontario (near Thornbury / Collingwood
/ Meaford)
Since 2013 we have offered farm apprenticeships with a focus on
gaining hands-on skills related to running
a profitable market garden
business.
Our farm works cooperatively with a neighbouring horse farm who
provide manure in exchange for helping with hay & upkeep of the farm.
For those who are also interested in working with animals, livestock
kept on the farm include laying hens and horses.
We accept 2 apprentices each year and focus on developing the skills of:
• Designing crop rotations and garden layouts
• Business Planning
• Building healthy soils & growing nutritious crops
• Greenhouse management for seedling production, summer and winter crops
• A variety of weed control techniques
• Efficient harvesting techniques
• Marketing through a Summer CSA, 2 local farmers markets and a Winter CSA
Apprentices live on farm. Their accommodation and food is provided
for. We also take monthly farm tours to other active farms and the
opportunity exists to customize farm tours depending on apprentices
specific interests. Access to our resource library as well as direct
mentoring with business and farm planning are a few other perks for
apprentices.
Food prep is shared and apprentices earn a modest stipend, in addition
to room and board. A valid drivers license is not required, but would
be considered an asset.
We look forward to hearing from applicants who are seriously
considering starting their own farm business in the next few years and
want to refine their skills as well as those who are more generally
interested in learning about market gardening and aren’t afraid to get
dirty and work hard.
For questions contact Mike directly at:
kolaporegardens@gmail.com
or send a resume with cover letter.
Thank you.
