Mentorships and on-farm learning resource list
To encourage gardens to develop internship programs for young people, AABGA publishes and distributes an annual listing of more than 500 internships. The latest Intern Directory lists summer jobs and internships in grounds management, education, collections, curation, and more at 97 botanical gardens, arboreta, and other horticultural institutions. Order form for directory may be downloaded from website. Price is $10.00.
Publications Department
351 Longwood Road
Kennett Square, PA 19348
Lists college and non-governmental organizations offering both classroom and practical education and training. Request free copy of Educational and Training Opportunities in Sustainable Agriculture or see searchable website.
National Agricultural Library
US Department of Agriculture
10301 Baltimore Avenue, Room 132
Beltsville, MD 20705-2351
301-504-6559 fax: 301-504-6927
https://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/edtr/sustainable-agriculture-education-directory
Website portal for posting jobs and internships, finding jobs and internships, and additional resources for both employers and job seekers. Includes opportunities for loans and grants, starting a farm, and military veterans.
http://www.beginningfarmers.org
http://www.beginningfarmers.org/internship-and-employment-opportunities/
EarthDance Organic Farm School offers a part-time, hands-on organic farming and gardening apprenticeship program in the Midwest, giving beginning growers an introduction to the skills and practices of sustainable agriculture. Includes topics in organic gardening, market farming, and applied permaculture
Linking opportunities with farmers and food artisans, policy makers and purveyors, retailers and restaurateurs, economists, ecologists, and more. Includes listings of on-farm internships and programs that offer certificate programs in organic and sustainable agriculture.
Apprenticeship opportunities in biodynamic farming systems, including biodynamics, livestock and dairy production, vegetable production, field and market gardening, grazing and pasture management, and Community Supported Agriculture.
327 County Route 21C
Ghent, NY 12075
518-672-7500
https://farm.hawthornevalley.org/apply-for-an-apprenticeship/
Maintains nationwide database of internship and summer job opportunities. Collaborative effort of 37 U.S. colleges and universities. Operates through a partnership with Student Center, a program to help college and graduate students identify personal strengths, define career goals, and learn about careers and employers that best match their career interests.
Intern Center
Bowdoin College
4900 College Station
Brunswick, ME 04011-8440
MOFGA’s Farm Apprenticeship program connects people wanting to learn organic farming with experienced farmers willing to share their expertise. Includes farm apprenticeship opportunities in organic vegetable, herb and flower production, marketing techniques, direct marketing, Community Supported Agriculture, livestock production, draft animals for crop production, dairy farming, cheese making, maple sugar production, orchard production, seed saving, value-added production, and grass-based and intensive rotational grazing farm systems.
PO Box 170
Unity, Maine 04988
207-568-4141
mofga@mofga.org
http://mofga.org/Programs/FarmApprenticeships/tabid/502/Default.aspx
Miriam Weinstein, Sageworks Press, 2005.
This book profiles 75 colleges that educate for a healthy future for our communities, our nation and our planet. Features colleges that offer unique, experiential ways to earn college credit including farm apprenticeships.
Farmer-to-Farmer Mentoring Program pairs experienced organic farmers with farmers who are new to organic farming. This 1-to-1 guidance helps new farmers understand organic practices and encourages their success.
Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service
P.O. Box 339
Spring Valley, WI 54767
715-772-3153
fax: 715-772-3162
e-mail: info@mosesorganic.org
MESA is a non-profit that strengthens sustainable farming communities around the world by coordinating training and cross-cultural opportunities for international farmers and their U.S. counterparts. Currently, MESA sponsors an annual 8-12 month on-farm training program for global farmers, matching them with U.S. host farms practicing organic and/or sustainable agriculture. The program offers practical, vocational training that exposes young aspiring farmers to every aspect of small-farm management. U.S. farmers provide hands-on training, housing, meals and monthly program fees for the opportunity to host an experienced international trainee. MESA also arranges organized farm training programs for Americans with our partner networks abroad.
5245 College Ave #508
Oakland, CA 94618
The National Young Farmers Coalition supports practices and policies that will sustain young, independent and prosperous farmers now and in the future. Their website includes a directory of farming internships, jobs, land access opportunities and a land link portal.
PO BOX 1074
Hudson, New York 12534
518-643-3564
A land-based, non-profit organization that promotes small farm development by providing information and training for aspiring, beginning and transitioning farmers. Maintains an extensive resource collection; produce publications; develop and offer innovative, farmer-guided programs; and advocate for policies that encourage sustainable small-scale agriculture.
275 Jackson St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
413-323-4531
This program helps aspiring farmers develop the skills and knowledge they need to build successful organic and biodynamic farms. The program combines a 24 month structured on-farm training and mentoring program with independent, on-farm projects and in the classroom study on biodynamic systems.
1661 N Water Street
Suite 307
Milwaukee, WI 53202
262-649-9212
info@biodynamics.com
Describes educational and training programs about organic or sustainable agricultural methods in the north eastern region of the United States.
Northeast Organic Farming Association Massachusetts Chapter 411
Sheldon Road Barre, MA 01005
978-355-2853
e-mail: nofa@nofamass.org
Certificate program in Organic Agriculture. Web-based and campus-based educational courses and programs at four universities in Canada. Identifies and links to research in many aspects of organic crop and livestock production.
Nova Scotia Agricultural College
P.O. Box 550
Truro, Nova Scotia Canada B2N 5E3
902-893-7256
fax: 902-896-7095
e-mail: oacc@nsac.ns.ca
Hands-on farm training programs for aspiring organic farmers and food-systems advocates. Includes a degree program, and internship opportunities in an organic farm-to-hospital institute, organic farm research with field plots and greenhouse trials, an agriculture supported community model for bring high-quality organic food to underserved communities, and a livestock institute that includes organic animal and veterinary care.
A guide to university and college campus farms, organized by region.
http://www.newfarm.org/features/0104/studentfarms/directory.shtml
On-line clearinghouse of academic agriculture education opportunities and a directory of student farms around the nation.
On-line clearinghouse of agriculture education academic programs around the nation.
https://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/edtr/sustainable-agriculture-education-directory
This on-line directory of on-the-job learning opportunities in sustainable and organic agriculture in the U.S. (and some in Canada) has been published since 1989 as a tool to help farmers and apprentices connect with each other. The listed farms are primarily seeking interns/apprentices from North America. Farms offering internships or apprenticeships may be found in a registry maintained by ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, an organization that provides information and resources to the U.S. agriculture community.
ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
P.O. Box 3657
Fayetteville, AR 72702
SOIL is a Canadian organization that acts as a liaison between the farmer willing to take on apprentices and those wishing to work and learn on a farm which uses sustainable practices.
alm@islandnet.com
The Viva Farms business incubator helps new farmers learn how to farm and experienced farm workers establish their own business while minimizing prohibitive start-up costs. Includes land parcels between 0.25 – 5 acres for beginning farmers, equipment and infrastructure, bilingual training in both English and Spanish, marketing training, access to capital, and courses and workshops developed by Cultivating Success TM.
P.O. Box 1714
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
360-969-7191
info@vivafarms.org
On-line directory of WWOOF opportunities throughout the world. WWOOF is a worldwide network that started in the UK in 1971 and has since become an international movement that is helping people share more sustainable ways of living, primarily through agriculture. In return for volunteer help, WWOOF hosts offer food, accommodation and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles.