Good Rain Farm

Good Rain Farm

• 2 APPRENTICESHIPS

• PART TIME (24 hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: May - October

• $18/HR

• LOCATION: Troutdale  (Portland Metro Chapter)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 9

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING:  New Host Farm

• PRACTICES: Low-Till, Organic Practices (Not Certified)

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 1

• Vegetables, Culinary Herbs, Meat Production, Seed Production

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No 

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English

• BIPOC Owned/Operated, Women Owned/Operated

Good Rain Farm is a diverse operation focused on vegetable production, native plant propagation, and Indigenous First Foods. We primarily grow mixed vegetables and Indigenous crops, cultivating them through sustainable practices such as low-till methods, cover cropping, and regenerative soil care. Our marketing and sales outlets include a CSA program, local farmers markets, and direct-to-community sales. Our CSA, Save Our Seed, prioritizing culturally relevant foods and education. 

Training future farmers is essential to sustaining our food systems, and it’s critical to build a qualified, skilled workforce that values sustainable, culturally rooted practices. Mentoring Apprentices aligns with our mission to strengthen the community through hands-on education and cultural stewardship, helping to ensure a resilient, knowledgeable, and inclusive agricultural future. 

www.GoodRainFarm.com

@goodrainfarm

FARM OVERVIEW

Good Rain Farm is located on 13.5 acres within the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) and designated rural agricultural reserves, just 10 minutes from Gresham and Troutdale, Oregon. The farm includes 10 open-field acres dedicated to mixed vegetable production, providing a spacious and productive setting for diverse crops. Our proximity to the Sandy and Columbia Rivers adds to the richness of the environment, offering opportunities for recreational activities and connection to local natural resources. The setting provides both a quiet, rural atmosphere and convenient access to nearby communities, making it ideal for sustainable farming and community engagement. Currently farm owner Michelle Week and partner live on site with 1 dog, several cats, and meat rabbits. 

Our production is a blend of mechanization and hand labor, using tools like a BCS walk-behind tractor for efficiency while maintaining soil health. We use cover crops to enrich soil and support biodiversity, and we are committed to organic practices, exploring organic certification to enhance transparency. 

Our typical farm crew includes Michelle and seasonal Apprentices who engage in all aspects of the farm’s operations. We prioritize training Apprentices in sustainable methods, food sovereignty, and cultural revitalization, aiming to foster skilled farmers who carry forward these values. Community volunteers also join us seasonally, helping with planting, harvesting, and community events that support our broader mission of sustainable, inclusive agriculture. 

Farmer Michelle Week, founder and steward of Good Rain Farm, is a first-generation farmer from the sngaytskstx (Sinixt) Arrow Lakes Peoples. With a foundation in outdoor recreation and gardening, she refined her skills through a Farm Apprenticeship at Zenger Farm, which led her to establish Good Rain Farm to increase access to Indigenous First Foods. 

Michelle’s philosophy centers on food sovereignty, cultural revitalization, and environmental stewardship. Good Rain Farm was established in 2018 to blend traditional knowledge with sustainable farming, fostering ecological health and community resilience. Michelle’s goals include creating an inclusive food system, expanding education, and training future farmers who prioritize community and sustainability. 

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

Apprentices at Good Rain Farm will engage in a variety of tasks throughout the six-month Apprenticeship, including field work such as planting, cultivating, weeding, and harvesting, as well as care for livestock, including feeding and cleaning of our meat rabbits. Training will include 48 hours of classroom instruction (typically offered in 3hr weekly chunks) covering essential topics like crop planning, irrigation, seed saving, and soil fertility. Apprentices will also learn practical skills in washing and packing produce, basic marketing principles through CSA interactions, and safe equipment use and maintenance. Additionally, they will contribute to social media marketing and newsletter writing, enhancing their communication skills and understanding of farm promotion. While the focus is more on agricultural skills than business operations, Apprentices will receive a list of resources and recommendations for additional entrepreneurial education, and time to attend workshops can be accommodated. The program aims to provide a well-rounded experience, fostering both hands-on agricultural skills and an understanding of sustainable farming practices while encouraging collaboration and active participation. 

Apprentices at Good Rain Farm are expected to commit to three eight-hour training days per week, starting around 7-8 AM and ending around 3-4 PM, with appropriate breaks included. Farm activities are predominantly performed outdoors in various weather conditions, so employees must dress appropriately each day and wear closed-toed shoes. The role involves significant physical exertion, requiring frequent bending, lifting, and handling of heavy equipment and supplies, with the ability to lift up to 50 pounds repeatedly throughout the day and stand for extended periods outdoors especially during soil amendment & cover cropping days. Reasonable accommodation may be provided upon request to support apprentices in meeting these physical demands. 

To provide effective instruction and mentorship to an Apprentice, Michelle will use a hands-on approach that combines lecture, demonstration, collaboration, and open communication. Michelle will teach core concepts and skills through practical work, engaging the Apprentice in daily tasks while guiding them with clear explanations. Regular field walks will facilitate discussions about observations and questions, enhancing their understanding. Michelle will schedule regular check-ins to assess progress and address challenges, fostering an environment where the Apprentice feels safe to share concerns. Michelle aims to provide consistent positive reinforcement alongside constructive criticism, balancing firmness with gentleness. While the work is urgent, Michelle emphasizes that growth and learning are ongoing processes. Evaluation sessions will reflect on progress and set goals, ensuring the Apprentice gains confidence and independence as they develop their skills. 

QUALIFICATIONS

We are seeking applicants with a minimum of one year of outdoor field worker or farm experience that includes direct involvement in farm operations, with a focus on supporting and executing activities directed by the Lead Instructor or Farm Managers. Ideal candidates should have a working knowledge of organic, sustainable, small farm practices and a passion for learning about Native First Foods, alongside a commitment to land stewardship. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, competency with mathematics, and the ability to follow verbal instructions are essential. Additionally, applicants should be comfortable within a community-driven management process and demonstrate a strong work ethic, enthusiasm for lifelong learning, and an open mind. A food handler's card is preferred but not required. 

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

For our Apprenticeship position(s), we offer $18 per hour for three 8-hour workdays weekly, plus several benefits to enrich the experience. Apprentices receive a seasonal CSA box, Paid Time Off, Paid Sick Days, and a Gear Stipend to ensure they’re well-supported. We maintain a Hydration Station and snack basket (“snasket”), provide occasional hot lunches, and offer access to a network of educational and farming opportunities. Technical support for scholarships, grants, and other resources is available, along with comprehensive on-the-job training that emphasizes both practical farming skills and Indigenous approaches to agriculture. Together, these benefits create a holistic, supportive environment for Apprentices to thrive and prepare for futures in sustainable agriculture. 

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

At Good Rain Farm, equity and inclusion mean fostering a safe, welcoming, and empowering environment for all, particularly BIPOC and Queer individuals. Our Apprenticeship offers specialized training from an Indigenous-led perspective, promoting diversity and skill-building. We ensure accessibility with 50% of CSA memberships offered at reduced or no cost and by providing home delivery for those in need. Through culturally relevant programs like our Save Our Seed CSA, which teaches seed saving and sustainable agriculture, we advance food sovereignty and social justice. Our commitment to fair treatment, accessibility, and cultural reclamation reflects our belief that equitable food access and environmental stewardship are essential for a just community. 

Michelle Week (Photo Credit: Jaimie Thrower)

Sweet Water Farm

Sweet Water FARM

• 1 APPRENTICESHIP

• FULL TIME (35 hours/week)

• START/END DATES:  June - December 

• $17/HR

• LOCATION: Hugo  (Rogue Valley Chapter)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 19

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING:  1

• PRACTICES: Organic Practices (Not Certified) 

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 2.5

• Vegetables, Cut Flowers, Fruit, Hemp

• ON-FARM HOUSING? Yes

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English, Spanish  

The mission at Sweet Water Farm is to grow healthy food and take care of a special piece of the Earth at the same time.  We are honored and fortunate to be in the position to take on this beautiful and challenging task.  Both of our children were born on and fed from this land. The farm has been a conduit to connect with and nourish countless people in our community for the past 19 years.  We intend to continue using Sweet Water Farm to learn and push the limits of sustainable food production in the Rogue Valley.  We aim for Sweet Water Farm to be a place where humans can connect with the endless cycles of the Earth and return to their lives with purpose and energy.  

@sweetwaterfarmhugo

Farm overview

Sweet Water Farm is located in Hugo, Oregon about 15 minutes north of Grants Pass and 15 minutes east of the Rogue River.  Cool and wet winters contrast with hot and dry summers.  Spring and fall are world-class beautiful and mild.  Pine and oak savannah is the native ecosystem here with fir, cedar, and manzanita as other dominant species.

The home site is ¾ of an acre of sloping 75-foot beds for annual vegetable production, a circle garden with perennial flowers and asparagus, and a small variety of fruit trees and berries.  We also lease 2 acres from our next-door neighbor which has a section of 100-foot beds and a section of 200-foot beds for annual vegetable production plus potatoes, onions, winter squash, garlic, and hemp.  We have a propagation hoop house and two hoop houses for hot-weather crops in the spring and summer and cold-weather crops in the fall and winter.

We use a BCS and a 4-wheel Kabota for soil prep and mowing. We aim to leave soils covered with growing plants, mulch, or tarps as much as possible to limit erosion and preserve soil life. We only apply OMRI-certified amendments and compost to the soil. Lots of 5-gallon buckets are lifted, carried, and dumped at Sweet Water Farm.  Weeding and cultivation in beds are all done by hand and hand tools. Transplanting is done by hand, but this year we are going to experiment with the paperpot transplanter.

Sweet Water Farm is entering its 19th year as a primary vendor at the Grants Pass Growers Market. This farmers market is a bustling event every Saturday all year round and is the oldest market in the state of Oregon. We also provide produce for a few local restaurants, a natural food store, and a food co-op.  

Plans for 2025 include a half-acre expansion of veggie production, construction of a 90’x24’ foot hoop house and a 20’x18’ equipment building, the raising of a new flock of chickens and a couple of pigs, and planting of fruit trees, medicinals, and perennials. 

Sam and Denise live in the main house on the property with their 14-year-old daughter Ivory, 2 dogs Benny and Ricky, and a cat Pedro. Their 18-year-old son Ari lives in his own house and takes care of a small flock of chickens. There is also a house that is occupied by our friends-a couple in their 30s with a 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter.

Training and Expectations

We will teach Apprentices every aspect of running a successful season of farming.  

These include:

• Farming mindset and self-care strategy

• Understanding and implementing a full-year planting calendar/schedule

• Understanding time/labor requirements regarding calendar/schedule

• Record keeping

• Seed propagation and prop-house management

• Soil preparation and transplanting

• Soil cultivation and weed management

• Greenhouse management and trellising 

• Cut Flower cultivation and bouquet/floral design

• Harvesting,  washing, and packing of produce

• Growers’ market setup and marketing

The Apprentice will be expected to work 35 hours a week, split into five 7-hour days, with two days off per week. During the height of the season, the Apprentice may work extra hours if desired. A week off for a vacation mid-season can be scheduled. Tasks are physically challenging and repetitive at times, but the Apprentice will not be asked to do anything Sam and Denise have not done countless times each year for decades. The Apprentice will be taught body positioning for all tasks to maximize efficiency, avoid injury, and increase strength.

Apprentice will be integral to the success of Sweet Water Farm for the 2025 season.  As we plan to increase yields this year, develop farm infrastructure, and grow more food and independence than ever, Denise and Sam will develop a schedule and plan that is specific and realistic and aims to coincide with the non-negotiable flow of the Earth. As planting and harvesting dates are crucial to success, the Apprentice will be given significant responsibility in making this plan a reality. They will help Sam and Denise seed, germinate, transplant, irrigate, weed, harvest, clean, and sell hundreds of thousands of plants. Getting healthy food to the people is the mission. Simply put, this is how you can make farming an occupation that allows you the freedom to be your own boss and work from the land where you live. Managing the landscape in a way that keeps things neat and organized, manageable, productive, and beautiful while also doing so in a way that nourishes the Earth will be our goal. 

When the Apprentice arrives on June 1, much of the initial steps will already be rolling for the year. The first two large veggie successions, storage onions, leeks, the main flower patch, five salad/lettuce plantings, and one greenhouse will already be planted. The Apprentice will step right in and take over many of the day-to-day tasks that keep the farm running. Maintenance/Mowing Monday focuses on keeping the seeding and soil prep schedule flowing and the grass and edges mowed and trimmed. Trellis/Transplant Tuesday focuses on trellising greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers as well as getting the next transplants in the ground. Weeding Wednesday keeps our beds cultivated and our plants healthy and charging without too much competition. Thorough Thursday is our day to finish any needed tasks and start harvesting for Market. Friday is all harvesting, washing, and packing of produce.  Saturday is Market day when we get to bring the goods to the people!

We will harvest and cure garlic as well as transplant the summer veggie succession, melons, and winter squash in June.  Every 2 weeks we will transplant head lettuce and salad mix. In July we will transplant our second to last veggie succession, keep the onion and leek patch well-weeded, and plant out our hemp field.  In August we will transplant our final fall succession of overwintering veggies, harvest and cure storage onions, and seed overwintered onions. In September we will start to enjoy the warm days, cool nights, and the bounty of fall, harvest the potatoes and begin to pick and cure the hemp crop. In October we will harvest and cure winter squash, flip a greenhouse from tomatoes to greens, and pick sensitive crops and dried flowers before the freezes hit.  In November we will plant garlic and overwintered onions, fill up another greenhouse with cold-weather veggies, and clean the fields up and seed cover crops before things get too wet. In December we will rest and get ready to do it all again!

QUALIFICATIONS

The Apprentice must have at least two full seasons of farming experience and have the goal of operating their own farm in the future.  

Compensation / ACCOMMODATIONs

We will start apprentices at $17/hour.  The Apprentice receives 15 minutes of paid self-care per day. Accommodation is a tiny house on the property with electricity, a kitchen, a shower, a sleeping loft, and a composting toilet for $600/month. The cabin is separate from other housing on the farm, is private, and has a nice little deck.  

Equity and Inclusion

We appreciate anyone who wants to help us in the mission to grow healthy food and care for the Earth. Sweet Water Farm operates with the utmost respect for the people we employ and interact with in the community. We encourage honest and open communication and everyone is given equal opportunity to provide feedback and air grievances.  We do not judge others for who they are, and we expect the same in return. 

Sam and Denise at the Grants Pass Growers Market

Bel Avenir Farm

Bel Avenir Farm

• 1 APPRENTICESHIP

• PART TIME (15 hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: March/April - November

• $15/HR first three weeks (trial period), $18/HR

• LOCATION: Ashland (Rogue Valley Chapter)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 12

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING: New Host Farm

• PRACTICES: Organic Practices (Not Certified), No-Till, Rotational Grazing

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 5

• Meat Production, Poultry (Eggs), Value-added/Processing, Agritourism

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English (Fluent)

• Women-Owned/Operated

Bel Avenir (which means bright or beautiful future) is a 5-acre farm located in rural Ashland, on the ancestral lands of the Shasta, Takelma, and Latgawa peoples. Diane Choplin launched the farm in 2012 and firmly believes in serving the land as a responsible steward while building soil, producing nutrient-dense food, and maintaining high standards for animal welfare. Bel Avenir supplies direct-to-consumer rotationally-grazed lamb and pastured eggs, as well as value-added products. Dedicated to regenerative practices and the highest standard of animal welfare, Bel Avenir is Bee Friendly Certified, and a Jackson Soil and Water Conservation Stewardship Site. 

https://www.facebook.com/BelAvenirFarm/ 

@belavenirfarm 

Farm Overview

Bel Avenir is a no-till, 5-acre labor of love located just outside the town of Ashland, on the ancestral lands of the Shasta, Takelma, and Latgawa peoples. Myer Creek bisects the property. There’s a raised-bed kitchen garden, pond, fruit + nut orchard, and over three acres of perennial pasture which is home to a small herd of hair sheep, flock of laying hens, and a plethora of insects, soil microbes, and burrowing rodents. My 15yo son and I live in the farmhouse. For added income, I Airbnb the largest bedroom. 

Bel Avenir has historically been a one-woman show with very occasional hired help for tasks I can’t do alone or as efficiently. I raise rotationally grazed lamb and pastured eggs that I sell directly to clients. Meat is whole-animal to enable farm kill and encourage nose-to-tail consumption. Clients come to me by word of mouth. Additionally, I make value-added products from hides and orchard fruit that I sell to Airbnb guests and also by word of mouth. 

Though not certified organic, I hold to those standards, controlling weeds through mechanical means (hand pulling/digging/burning) and with grazing, tarping, and sheet mulch. I’m also an experienced boot-strapper, as any single person running a farm must be, having received multiple grants and one corporate sponsorship for infrastructure projects.

Farming is an exciting, challenging, and rewarding learning curve, especially having come from an urban existence! I’m grateful for all of the opportunities this valley and its supportive farming community offers to beginners. I’ve taken full advantage since beginning my journey in 2009 with workshops at OSU Extension, Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District, and online. I enjoy giving back to those programs and have hosted over 350 folks for tours and workshops on the subjects of noxious weed management, riparian restoration, rotational grazing, and economics and enterprise. 

I’m a member of the League of Women Farmers and the Oregon Forages and Grasslands Council. I also work part-time for OSU Extension (SOREC), Small Farms, and serve on the board of Our Family Farms, the organization behind the campaign to ban GMO crops from Jackson County.

For a deep dive into my farming philosophy and values: https://www.dianechoplin.com/writing

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

Lambing kicks off in spring (late March), which means ear tagging, cord dipping, potential lamb pulling, and health checks. At a month old, I band male lambs as means of castration. Rotational grazing season begins once all the lambs are on the ground and able to reliably find and follow their mamas. It runs through October/November, when forage growth slows and the flock is separated for breeding and slaughter. Rotational season means constant forage assessment and taking down/setting up of paddocks (weed whacking fence lines, moving electrified nets, etc.). I do FAMACHA scoring, hoof-trimming, and conduct my own fecal egg counts (collect poo, put it in solution, and look at it under a microscope). Other activities include collecting and delivering eggs, night penning animals, cleaning their coop/sleeping spaces, reducing fuels for fire resilience, and LOTS of weed management. Apprentices will learn to identify forages and weeds (including noxious, beneficial, and toxic), how and when to control them, and how to measure and maintain pasture density. 

All work is physical to varying degrees. There will be digging, weed whacking, bending, lifting, mowing, and working low to the ground. Hay bales are the heaviest item, at 60 pounds, but it’s rare that they need moving, at least not until rotating season ends in late fall. Well, sheep are heavier but we won’t pick them up. We’ll just move them around at hoof trimming. 

For 7-10 hours a week, I will work alongside you to teach skills and talk concepts as we work. I envision the experience as hands-on learning. We’ll also check in for the first and last 5-10 minutes of each workday. Questions are always welcome. Our first day will include a tour, a discussion of what the Apprentice is most interested to learn, deciding our schedule, and meeting the animals. We’ll have two evaluation sessions as per RFC guidelines, more if the Apprentice desires. Attending an irrigation district meeting is a possibility, as is assisting with any workshops, or selecting a personal project. 

I’m also happy for Apprentices to participate in and learn from my Airbnb farm stay and potentially take on a project of their choice on the farm. 

Schedule: No more than five hours of work per day, M-F, with possibility of some weekend hours as needed, for fifteen total hours per week. Regular schedule desired. Flexibility for days off, extreme heat, and poor AQI. Punctuality, clear communication, and advanced notice of vacation plans are expected.

QUALIFICATIONS

Reliability, good physical fitness, and a sincere desire to learn are paramount. Good communication (as mentioned above), listening skills, and accountability are also important. I’d rather someone admit they forgot how to do something and ask for help, than forge ahead, too embarrassed to ask, and cause harm to themselves or others, or make more work later. Please be detail oriented and have a strong work ethic. Be someone who wants to do their best in everything, versus get away with minimum required effort. Previous outdoor and/or physical work experience is a plus as it means you know how to take care of yourself in summer heat, deadlift properly, etc. Committed to agriculture, farming, and/or homesteading is another plus, but not required. 

I would prefer that the prospective apprentice visit in person to make sure it’s a good fit for all. In absence of that, a Zoom call would be necessary.

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS 

$15/hr for an initial trial period of three weeks.

$18/hr after successful trial period, plus farm-produced eggs and seasonal produce, when available. 

$250 completion-of-season bonus. 

The rental market in and around Ashland is tight and expensive, but the farm is just 2 minutes off of I-5, so commuting from Talent, Phoenix, Jacksonville, or Medford would be easy (10-20 minute drive). Look for housing through Craigslist, rental property management companies, and social media. If I learn of someone looking for a roommate or renter, I’m happy to share that information. As of the writing of this description, I know of no such opportunities. 

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

I make efforts to educate myself to the experiences of others so that I may be more mindful in my interactions and aware of the inequitable privileges accorded me, as well as subconscious actions I may take or have taken that reinforce division and oppression. I invite feedback and work cooperatively to address concerns. I recognize I have much to learn and actively seek out opportunities to do so. I read a lot of nonfiction, personal essays, memoirs, and biographies by BIPOC authors, attend DEI trainings and LGBTQIA events, and speak up when I see injustice and insensitivity. I advocate for greater BIPOC representation in my off-farm work and strive to avoid tokenism. I respect and honor people’s pronouns and lifestyle choices. I greet everyone warmly and pay attention to nonverbal cues regarding their comfort and safety. I am open to suggestions on how I can do better. My farm, unfortunately, is not ADA-compliant. 

Diane Choplin with Sheep

Wild Child

WILD CHILD

• 2 APPRENTICESHIPS

• FULL TIME (40  hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: April -December

• $16/HR
  
  

• LOCATION: Noti (Willamette Valley Chapter)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 5

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING:  New Host Farm

• PRACTICES: Certified Organic

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 5 

• Fruits, Vegetables, Seed Production, Poultry, Culinary Herbs, Medicinal Herbs

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No 

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English

• Women-Owned/Operated

Production on our farm is seed-to-seed and loyal to the soil at every turn.
With a dedication to regenerative farming practices we aim to build up the health and life of the soil under our feet.

https://www.soworganicseed.com/

https://www.facebook.com/soworganicseed

@soworganicseed

FARM OVERVIEW

We reside and farm on 16 acres of mixed fields and woods nestled into the foothills of Oregon's Coastal range. The farm is 15 minutes from Veneta and 40 from Eugene. We are a family of 5 on the farm: Alva(32) Osana(33)and our three kids. (Ages 6-13). There are two barns, several greenhouses and 5 acres of production land. 

On certified organic land we raise fresh market crops of fruits and vegetables for sale at Farmers Markets and wholesale outlets. Being able to vend throughout the growing season gives the farm the income needed to follow our second, deepest passion, Seed Farming. For years we have been growing and breeding open-pollinated heirloom seeds on contract for well known seed companies and starting soon, we are launching our own packet line.

Many of our employees are heading off to start a farm enterprise of their own and we are heading into the year ahead with plans of cultivating relationships with some new farmers who are looking to walk their own farming path with firmer footing. 

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

The exposure an Apprentice will receive on our farm is aimed to be the most well-rounded farming experience we can offer. Producing a high diversity of crops on a small scale, each member of our team will be exposed to every aspect of the farm throughout the seasons.
From tasks like seeding, planting, cultivating, trellising, selecting, harvesting, to washing & packing, and the proper use and management of the equipment needed to accomplish all of these tasks. 

Interns will additionally be trained in record keeping for both general farm management and Oregon Tilth Organic Certification requirements. 

Marketing of our fresh produce crops is done primarily at the local farmers market, with in depth training on sales, presentation and marketing.

Working side by side with the Osana and Alva will allow good time for instruction, clarification, and reassurance. We are expecting interns to commit to approx. 40 hours/week per week plus the RFC training sessions. Participating in the growing season in that manner will allow a participant to gain a well rounded experience and a better understanding of farming seed to seed.

**This job requires lots of physically demanding manual labor and the ability to comfortably lift 40+ lbs. Sitting, Standing, Crouching for extended periods of time, exposure to sun, heat, rain and cold and all the weather in between.** 

We will demonstrate and work alongside Apprentices and explain core concepts, ideas and skills. There will be time for questions and check-ins throughout the season.
Please note : There are no tobacco products or tobacco use permitted on the property. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Please share our passion for agriculture, local food systems and commitment to your community, understand and value organic and sustainable farming practices, and have a genuine passion for working with the land, plants, animals, and natural processes.
Apprentices should be interested in learning new farming techniques, gaining knowledge about crop management, soil health, and farm operations and have the physical ability to perform tasks that require manual labor and work in varying weather conditions.
We ourselves take great pride in the following attributes and seek them from our farm crew and friends:

Dependable: Shows up on time and consistently completes tasks to the best of their ability.
Motivated: Takes initiative and is proactive in completing farm duties without needing constant supervision.
Collaborative: Works well with others and contributes to a positive, productive team environment.
Respectful: Treats colleagues, customers, and farm plants and animals with respect, maintaining a harmonious atmosphere on the farm.
Flexible: Adaptable to different roles and tasks, understanding that farm work can vary based on the season or the needs of the crop at hand.

Previous farming experience is noted and appreciated, but never required. 

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

The wage for the season is $16/hr with the potential for raises throughout the year. 
As on many food production farms, we regularly get to feast on the freshest and highest quality produce around. We offer apprentices and employees access to as much fresh produce as you can eat throughout the growing seasons.
There is an end of the season bonus for Apprentices who complete the agreed upon season.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

At Wild Child Farm we are committed to honoring diversity and promoting equity in every aspect of what we do. We actively seek to create an inclusive environment where individuals from all backgrounds are valued, supported, and empowered. By embracing diverse perspectives and experiences, we aim to foster a farm crew that reflects the richness of our community and ensures equal opportunities for all.

Alva, Osana, and family.

Sweet Union Farm

SWEET UNION FARM

• 2 APPRENTICESHIPS

• PART TIME (20-32 hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: May /June - Early October

• $16-18/HR

• LOCATION: Klamath Falls  (Southern Oregon* / Satellite)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 8

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING:  1

• PRACTICES: Low-Till, No-Till, Organic Practices (Not Certified)

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 1

• Vegetable Production

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No 

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English , Spanish

*While outside of the Rogue Valley Chapter, some in-person educational events will be within a 90-minute drive from this Host Farm. Attendance at these events is highly encouraged. 

At Sweet Union Farm, we believe that vegetables are beautiful, land is to be respected and community is our strength. We are passionate about growing the highest quality vegetables for our community and making them accessible to everyone. We seek balance, intentionality and excellence in all we do ecologically, socially and economically.

Katie Swanson has been farming for 10  years and just completed her eighth season owning/operating Sweet Union Farm. Sweet Union’s farm Enterprises are diversified vegetables. Our sales outlets include Farmer's market, restaurants, farm-to-school and the local food hub Klamath Grown. Sweet Union is a very intensively managed and productive small farm. Sustainability is a top priority in making this farm healthy for all the species that live here, emphasizing diversity, soil-building, and water saving.

www.sweetunionfarm.com 

@sweetunionfarm

FARM OVERVIEW

Sweet Union Farm sits on the occupied land of the Klamath and Modoc tribes who cared for this beautiful place since time immemorial. Currently, what the community refers to as “The Tribes” are the Klamath, Modoc and Yahooskin tribes which are headquartered about 25 minutes north of the farm. Since federal recognition was restored in the 80s, The Tribes have been doing incredible community-building work, leading public health and environmental efforts that make Klamath Falls a better place to live. 

I, Katie Swanson, have been farming for 10 years and just completed my eighth season owning/operating Sweet Union Farm. I’ve lived in Oregon her whole life, growing up in Gresham and Boring. My husband and I live in our home on the farm. We just had our first child, John River, born August 2024. The Farm is about 10 minutes southeast of the metro area of Klamath Falls. The property is 7.5 acres total with about 1 acre in vegetable production and the rest is a mix of pasture, outbuildings, a home garden, irrigation pond and riparian habitat along the river. Our property is surrounded by a mix of similar sized hobby farms and a few much larger farm operations with hills in the distance and the Lost River running alongside the north edge. It’s very peaceful with lots of birds but is also very close to town.

Klamath Falls is a small city of about 45,000 people and the county seat for Klamath County, which has a population of about 70,000. Klamath has a small town feel, but because it’s the city center for a remote region, it has an energy to it with lots of great small businesses. It’s surrounded partially by wide open spaces of agricultural land (mainly hay, grain, potatoes, cattle, horseradish, garlic, etc.) as well as lakes, mountains and forests which provide endless outdoor recreation. It’s a mountain biking destination and the lakes provide lots of opportunities for canoeing, sailing, kayaking, SUP, etc. Crater Lake National Park is about an hour away to the north and the Lava Beds National Monument is 45 minutes to the south. The wide open skies make for some great sunsets and the high desert climate means lots of dry, sunny days. Klamath Falls is definitely experiencing an increase in population; some people like to say we’re the next Bend, but I like to think our grit gives us our own, unique character.

Living in a dry, drought-prone climate, water-saving efficiencies have become more and more of a focus every year on the farm. One of the main focuses is increasing the water-holding capacity of the soil through building organic matter with cover crops and compost and minimal tillage techniques. We use compost, cover crops and natural fertilizers to build the soil and are working to mitigate the compaction that has occurred due to the practices of previous owners.

We do a mix of hand work and mechanized with the tractor and BCS. We transplant by hand as well as use the Paperpot transplanter and use a jang seeder for direct seeding. We use tarps to suppress weeds and break down old crops. Drip tape is mostly used for irrigation, plus some overhead (micro sprinklers and handlines) for specific uses. We have one unheated high tunnel and are building another minimally heated tunnel this winter.

A few other production methods we use are crop rotation, planting hedgerows and borders of pollinator-friendly flowers and herbs, interplanting, natural fertilizers and various Integrated Pest Management techniques.  We are always experimenting and trying new things. Pigs are raised on pasture and get lots of farm scraps.

About Katie: Katie believes growing good food and making it accessible while taking care of the land is the best thing she can do for her community. Besides farming, Katie loves to be with her family, paddle on the water (canoe, kayak, SUP), search for wildflowers, camp, cross country ski, drink tea and cuddle with Kitty Ben.

Katie did not grow up farming, but always had a garden and some animals. She taught high school for five years, but fell in love with farming thanks to the thriving women-led small farm scene in the Portland area. She worked on a few different farms, including WWOOFing in Peru and working at 47th Avenue Farm in Portland. Katie started Sweet Union Farm in 2016 on one of the busiest roads in Klamath while working at Blue Zones Project as a food systems manager. Starting on about a quarter acre, she grew over 100 varieties of vegetables for CSA and restaurant customers and slowly expanded by leasing land. In the winter between the 2021 and 2022 season, she and Dallas were fortunate enough to move to their current property. During the 2022 season on the new property, Katie scaled down, got to know the land and built infrastructure, then re-started full farm operations again in 2023.  Katie also co-founded and is heavily involved in Klamath Grown, a non-profit food hub that aims to build a strong and equitable local and regional food system.

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

For the 2025 season, The crew will mostly consist of myself plus two part-time RFC Apprentices. There may be one other part-time employee that runs the farmers market booth. 

The Apprentice will gain experience in annual vegetable production in the following ways: flipping and prepping beds (hand tools, tarps & BCS), direct seeding (Jang), transplanting (by hand & Paperpot), greenhouse seeding, cultivation and weed management, season extension techniques, irrigation, harvest, wash & pack. Tractor training can be discussed, although this is typically reserved for one crew member per season who has at least one season on the farm. Apprentices will learn about the various sales outlets and have opportunities to work the farmers market booth. There may also be opportunities to work on other projects around the property, such as managing and expanding the native plant hedgerows and riparian habitat. Additionally, there will be opportunities to learn about the back end of farming and how we manage the business. If the Apprentice has another particular area of interest, I will do my best to arrange the schedule so that they can participate in that aspect of the farm.

In addition to farm work and farm business management, the Apprentice will have the opportunity to learn about community food systems work and how to develop partnerships in order to increase access to produce. In general, Klamath Falls is a small town and being one of few small-scale vegetable growers involved in food system work, there are a lot of hats to try on if the apprentice chooses.

The specifics of the schedule for 2025 are still being worked out. The days per week may vary between 2-3 with a possible fourth day if help is needed at the farmers market. The average day is 8 hours, although it can range from 6-10 hours depending on a variety of factors. All state laws regarding breaks and lunch are observed.

The Apprentice is expected to be able to do physical work in all types of weather and be on their feet for the hours described above with the ability to lift 40 pounds repeatedly. Provided training, the ability to operate equipment such as the BCS is important as well as other hand tools used on the farm.

More than anything, a positive attitude, willingness to learn and ask questions, and open communication would be expected of the apprentice. Beyond the on-farm communication, the Apprentice would be expected to communicate kindly and clearly to customers. 

We tend to utilize the “I do, we do, you do” format where we show the mentee how to do a task then do it with them providing feedback and answering questions. Once it feels like they have the hang of it, we give them space and do something else then come back to check in to see if they have any questions. At the beginning of the season we would expect to be doing more tasks side by side and as they learn more and fewer tasks are new, they would work more independently.

We typically have a weekly check-in and review the plan with the whole crew once a week, plus daily morning check-ins to clarify who is doing what and to provide any explanations.

A lot of discussions and mentoring naturally happen while we are working, but Katie also schedules individual check-ins with each staff member at least 2-3 times per season to discuss how they are doing physically, mentally and emotionally on the farm. These will also be times to touch base on what they are learning to make sure their goals are being met.

The Apprentice would have access to the farm library of 20+ farming books. Plus, we will inevitably share online resources with each other, podcasts, watch videos, etc. which would fuel great discussions in the field. I also recognize that people come from a diversity of backgrounds with different communication and learning styles, so I would ask them about their preferences at the beginning of the season and adjust accordingly. The apprentice is also welcome and encouraged to take on a project of their own on the farm. Once they arrive and get a feel for the place, we can talk about their ideas, see how they fit into the existing farm systems and discuss how to best support their project.             

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least one season of agricultural experience is preferred but not required. Most important is experience doing physical labor outdoors.

• Strong communication skills, ability to self-advocate and communicate needs

• Ability to work efficiently and consistently with others and independently

• Ability to follow instructions, open to constructive feedback

• Positive attitude and ability to have a good time while being productive.

• Learner mindset, asks questions and shares ideas from own experience.

• Observant, attention to detail and takes initiative to fill needs or solve problems

• Strong work ethic, desire to do high quality work

• Ability to do physical work in all weather

• Provided training, ability to operate hand tools and equipment, including the BCS.

• Ability to lift 40 pounds repeatedly

• Clean drivers license and reliable vehicle to get to work on time

• An in-person visit is preferable, but if that is not possible, we can work around that. 

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

$16-18/hr. $150 equipment stipend after 60 days.

At 60 day check-in, full-time crew members (32+ hrs/week) receive an additional 8 hours paid PTO and part-time crew members (less than 32 hrs/week) receive an additional 4 hours paid PTO.

Access to lots of farm veggies

$200 bonus when the season completed

Vacation requests need to be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance and coordinated with the farm schedule and rest of the crew so that no two people are off at the same time. Unless discussed at least 2-3 months in advance, time off requests are not likely to be approved during May and September. 

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

At Sweet Union, we strive to maintain a welcoming spirit and create a safe and inclusive environment where everyone is valued and respected for who they are. We do that by caring for each other and seeing each other as more than a laborer, but a whole, complex and unique human being. We help each other out, encourage each other, use kind and respectful language, and take a collaborative approach to solving problems on the farm. We stretch together before each harvest and check in with how our bodies are doing, making adjustments to the work plan as needed to allow for self care. We do a lot of check-ins to make sure each individual’s needs are met, they feel supported and that they are finding joy in their work. We welcome people of all backgrounds and strive to be open and honest about our faults while constantly doing the personal, inner work that we see as our own responsibility.

Klamath Falls is a place that struggles with poverty, water scarcity, and white supremacy among other things. In that context, I take the role of a farm business like Sweet Union very seriously. As a white woman in agriculture, I have a responsibility to speak out against white supremacy and inequity of all kinds. At a community level, I am working with the non-profit, Klamath Grown, to prioritize social justice within the organization and the broader local food promotion work. The farm also supports the local Pride Festival every year.  Ag and inclusivity haven’t always been paired together in this community, but the hope is to start changing that and for there to be no doubt where Sweet Union Farm stands on the Black Lives Matter movement, Indigenous rights, LGBTQ+ rights or other social justice issues.

Farm values & philosophy:

At Sweet Union Farm, we believe that vegetables are beautiful, land is to be respected and community is our strength. We are passionate about growing the highest quality vegetables for our community and making them accessible to everyone. We seek balance, intentionality and excellence in all we do ecologically, socially and economically.

At Sweet Union Farm, the vegetables are beautiful. We share that beauty with the community when we:

• Produce vegetables that are beautiful inside and out. This means that we provide consistently fresh, high-quality, diverse and delicious vegetables that thrive in our climate through sustainable and efficient farm management practices.

• Inspire our customers to cook with and enjoy the uniqueness of fresh and local vegetables. 

• Maintain a tidy and beautiful environment that serves as an inspiration for all who visit the farm.

• Prioritize professionalism, kindness and trust in all our community relationships.

• Always seek to improve our systems with a holistic lens. 

At Sweet Union, the land is respected. We are grateful to grow in such a beautiful place. In our efforts to be respectful and filled with gratitude, we: 

• Relish in working within the boundaries of our place, considering the climate and natural resources of the high desert (formerly a wetland basin, which is now drained and irrigated farmland and desert). We pay particular attention to soil health, efficient water management, and plant varieties that thrive in this environment.

• Value all parts of the farm ecosystem, including those that don’t produce cash crops by planting flowers for pollinators and implementing no or low-till systems that respect the microbial life in the soil. 

• Recognize and seek to better understand the reciprocal relationship between the land and ourselves. We have much to learn from the natural systems around us. 

• Are always improving, testing, innovating, learning and questioning our farm management practices with the goal to become more sustainable and regenerative. We are grateful for the teachers in our lives.

• We recognize that none of these practices are new and most sustainable farming methods were developed long ago by the original, Indigenous stewards of this land. ​

Our community is strong and we are fortunate to be a part of it. We feel a strong sense of purpose and as part of our commitment to community-building, we:

• Maintain a welcoming spirit and strive to create a safe and inclusive environment where all customers, employees, volunteers and visitors to the farm feel valued, respected and are treated as equals.

• Seek to build a stronger, more equitable and inclusive food system through collaboration and partnership with people and organizations who share these values.

• Increase access to nourishing and regionally appropriate food for the people of Klamath Falls as well as connect them to the land and each other through food.

• Choose to fight against an oppressive food system which has systematically disenfranchised Black, Indigenous and People of Color. We choose to be honest about our supporting role in this violent system, both historically and presently, as we seek to educate ourselves so we can do better and move ourselves and our farm towards justice.

• Prioritize balance in our lives and time to care for ourselves, which in turn allows us to care for those around us.

• Do not see decolonization as a metaphor. We acknowledge we farm on the occupied land of the Klamath & Modoc Tribes. We have not resolved the conflict between the unjust roots of our land ownership and our desire to be in a respectful and mutual relationship with the current tribal members who are survivors of the attempted genocide against their ancestors. Within this tension, we hope to find our proper role through partnership and the transfer of power.

PAST APPRENTICE TESTIMONIALS

“I learned a lot from Katie and her farm business, and I think Katie is a smart and thoughtful farmer, with lots of knowledge to share.” Three things that went well were “one-on-one time; regular discussions about issues in the small farms world; giving opportunities to take responsibility.” - 2021

Farm Owner Katie Swanson at Klamath Falls Farmers Market

Runnymede Farm

Runnymede Farm

• 1 APPRENTICESHIP

• PART TIME/FULL TIME (24-40 hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: March/April - November

• $15/HR

• LOCATION: Rogue River (Rogue Valley Chapter)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 25

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING: 5

• PRACTICES: Organic Practices (Not Certified), Mechanized/Tractor Farming, Winter Farming

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 9

• Diversified Vegetable, Fruit, Dairy, Poultry (Eggs), Cut Flowers, Nursery Stock, Value-Added / Processing

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English

• Women-Owned/Operated, Veteran-Owned/Operated

Runnymede Farm is well known for our fresh produce and nursery business in the local Rogue River community.  We strive to provide the Rogue Valley with high quality, local food while being good stewards to our land.  The farm uses intuition and intensive, chemical-free, non-certified organic practices to produce a wide variety of crops on their 10 acres, including vegetables, fruit, cut flowers, nursery plants, eggs, and dairy.

@runnymede.farm

FARM OVERVIEW

Runnymede farm is located in the beautiful Evans Valley of Southern Oregon, just 2 miles outside the town of Rogue River, a 10 minute drive to Grants Pass and a 20 minute drive to Medford. The 10 acres comprises 5 acres of pasture, 1 acre of wooded forest, 3 acres of hoop houses, nursery space, and growing fields, and 1 acre of living quarters. Teri and Arthur White, the farm’s owners, live on the farm with their dog Leche and the other farm animals. The Rogue Valley is a beautiful place at all times of the year, with plenty of hiking, river floats, and nature to explore.

Runnymede grows row crops and flowers in our fields and hoop houses.  We also have a small orchard of pear trees and blackberries, as well as a nursery with annual and perennial flowers, vegetable starts, fruit trees, bushes, and ornamental bushes and trees. 

Each year, Runnymede raises a new round of chicks for egg production.  There are about 15 goats bred for raw goat milk, and two calves to help maintain the pasture.  

Produce, eggs, nursery starts, and plants sell at 3 local farmer’s markets (Ashland, Medford and Grants Pass), as well as selling produce for a few other local farms. We do a 5 week CSA in the winter months. We also do on farm sales of our raw milk, eggs, and nursery stock.  

Due to the scale and intensity of the plantings, field prep is done with a tractor, while all other tasks are performed by hand with basic tools.  The farm employs 2 full-time employees, 1 part-time employee, and hires additional seasonal help as it’s needed.

The farm is operated by husband and wife team, Arthur and Teri. Together, they have over 25 years of farming and marketing experience. They have been on the farm since 1999. 

Nora Kendall is the primary mentor for the RFC Apprentice and was once herself a RFC Apprentice! Nora started working at Runnymede in 2021, and once completed with the RFC program, was hired on full time at the farm. She is now the field manager, organizes the daily on-farm operations, as well as works 2 of the 3 markets. Nora enjoys the diversity farming brings to each day, and appreciates being able to spend the days on her feet being active.  She is in the beginning years of starting her own farm, and loves educating others about farming and the importance of local food.  Nora also lives in Rogue River with her husband and looks forward to growing her own farm business in the years to come.

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

Apprentices joining the crew at Runnymede can expect to be exposed to all tasks involved in operating a small-scale, diverse, mixed production farm. Those tasks will include animal husbandry (including milking and milk handling) and planting, cultivation, harvesting, packing, and farmers market sales of produce, fruit, and nursery products. Additionally, there are a variety of farm-related construction projects here available for Apprentices to participate in if they are interested. We are looking for a market employee to operate our Saturday market booth in Grants Pass, a great opportunity if the right Apprentice is open to it! 

On-farm training time consists of between 24-40 hours/week for an Apprenticeship position, depending on the applicant, and will include some weekends and holidays. Training will be offered as RFC participants work alongside the host farmers and employees. They will work alongside the host farmers and employees, with some independent work as well, especially as the season progresses. The farm has many facets, and apprentices are welcome to gravitate toward the areas that interest them. Apprentices are given more leeway whenever possible in choosing their work than farm employees. Apprentices joining the crew at Runnymede can expect to be exposed to all tasks involved in operating a small-scale, diverse, mixed-production farm. 

The Apprentice will have tasks demonstrated to them clearly and thoroughly.  We require applicants come with no prior bias, and we may explain tasks that they have previous experience with to ensure it is done the way we like it. We are not providing instruction in biology, botany, or zoology. We are providing on the job experience from which apprentices will have to use their own initiative to further or codify their education.

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants seeking employment at Runnymede Farm must be mature, serious in their pursuit of farming, and physically capable of lifting heavy objects and being active and on their feet for long days. They must be capable of working independently without constant supervision. A positive attitude that brings a calm presence amongst the employees and animals is a must.

We encourage Apprentices to explore and enjoy Southern Oregon’s beauty, its proximity to the coast, the redwoods, the cascades, and the desert. We encourage Apprentices to make friends in the wider Rogue Farm Corps community and share experiences to fully understand that farming, like life, has many paths.

We prefer an applicant who can stay from March - November but can be flexible on start and end dates as needed. We prefer an applicant to visit in person before a placement decision is made. If you will hire on without an on farm visit, we will have an interview,  perhaps multiple interviews. 

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

Apprentices will start at $15/hr.

We do not provide On-Farm Housing.  Housing can be tight, but rentals are available in the area. Non-local applicants are encouraged to come early to get settled. We can provide a reference for employment and character for housing applications. 

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Our farm encourages and supports applicants from all backgrounds and is committed to creating a safe and supportive work environment. Runnymede is happy to share our knowledge of farming with anyone with an open mind towards learning and the world around them.  

One of the foundations of nature is variety, and as such, Runnymede Farm also welcomes all souls committed to tolerance, non-violence, and ethical and moral human values.

PAST APPRENTICE TESTIMONIALS

“[Arthur and Teri provided] a clear schedule and list of tasks. [They hosted] a welcoming environment and awesome coworkers… open to ideas and feedback from employees.” - 2021

Teri and Art White (Photo: David Hampton Photography)

Farm Mentor Nora Dennehy with one of the Goats at Runnymede

Valley Flora Farm

VALLEY FLORA FARM

• 1 APPRENTICESHIP

• FULL TIME (40 hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: May  - December 

• $15/HR

• LOCATION: Langlois  (Satellite Farm)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 18

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING:  1 

• PRACTICES: Organic Practices (Not Certified), Mixed Power (Draft Powered, Mechanized/Tractor Farming), Low-Till

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 6

• Vegetables, Fruit, Culinary Herbs, Medicinal Herbs, Value-Added, Agrotourism

• ON-FARM HOUSING? Possibly

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English, Spanish

• Women-Owned/Operated

Valley Flora is a highly diversified fresh produce farm located 2 miles outside of the small town of Langlois (population 300) on the beautiful southern Oregon coast. The farm is deeply dedicated to ecological, climate-forward farming principles and practices, and we play a central role in our local food system in this rural corner of the state. Our crew is tight-knit and hard-working, and we strive to create a fun and supportive workplace for everyone here. 

https://www.valleyflorafarm.com/

@valley.flora

FARM OVERVIEW

Valley Flora Farm encompasses 90 acres in a beautiful, quiet river valley, 4 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. Of that acreage, 40 acres are upland forest, 30 acres are in pasture, and the remaining 20 acres is rich river bottomland where we cultivate all of our row crops and orchard crops. The farm is nestled in a special microclimate where cool-weather crops thrive, but where we also have enough summer warmth to grow eggplant, sweet corn, peppers, and tomatoes outdoors - in spite of our proximity to the ocean. It’s a lovely climate to work and play in.

The farm is surrounded by natural beauty, with numerous coastal rivers running undammed from the coast range to the sea; uncrowded beaches; wild dunes and forests. The farm is 20 minutes from the picturesque coastal towns of Port Orford (to the south) and Bandon (to the north). We’re five miles from Floras Lake, an epicenter of kite and wind-surfing. There is also nearby mountain biking, surfing, hiking, fishing, and horseback riding. Floras Creek, which runs the entire length of the farm, offers numerous summertime swimming holes and wintertime salmon spawning grounds.

Valley Flora’s production is highly diversified, and so is our marketing. We distribute our food via four distinct sales channels: 

• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): Valley Flora operates a 140-member CSA from June through December during our main season, and a 70+ member winter CSA from January to May. We participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program to help break down barriers to fresh produce in our low income community.

• Farmstand & U-Pick: We have a bustling onsite farmstand that’s open from May to December, and a busy strawberry and flower u-pick that’s open to the public from June through October.

• Direct Sales: We harvest and pack orders for local stores, co-ops, and restaurants year-round.

• Foodbanks: Thanks to an Oregon Foodbank grant and some long-standing local partnerships, we distribute produce to four local foodbanks and community fridges every week.

The farm adheres to all the standards, rules, and principles of organic production but are not third party certified. We practice reduced tillage, have an unbridled passion for cover crops and biodiversity, and we do everything we can to minimize our carbon footprint and avoid waste. We’re a mixed power farm, relying on a combo of tractor power, solar power, human power, and draft horse power (Jack and Lily are Zoë’s team of Belgian/Morgan draft horses who work in harness on the farm). Our farm infrastructure is powered by a 12kW solar array that sits on the roof of our barn and runs our greenhouses, walk-in coolers, irrigation pumps and more.

We typically have six folks on our crew during our main season (some part-time, some full-time), from May through December. In the winter, we work a scaled-back schedule, employing 3-4 employees who stay with us year round but reduce their hours in the winter months.

Zoë has been farming for over 20 years, first as a hired hand on farms in Massachusetts and California, then as the crew manager at Sauvie Island Organics near Portland. In 2008 she returned to her birthplace on Floras Creek to start her own farm business in collaboration with her mother (Betsy) and sister (Abby), who both grow produce on the same family land. Abby grows salad greens and manages the orchard. Betsy focuses primarily on greenhouse production of peak-of-summer crops (tomatoes, basil, zucchini). Zoë and her crew round out the rest of the production, from artichokes to potatoes to strawberries to broccoli (and much, much more). Together they market collectively as Valley Flora. After 18 years in business, the farm is thriving and ever-evolving

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

Every person at Valley Flora is a crucial, invaluable part of our team. We all work hard, with the crew usually putting in 8-10 hours per day during our summer peak. Apprentices typically start in May and work full-time through October with us. By the end of October things ease up a bit and we sometimes reduce hours slightly for November and December. 

At Valley Flora, we “train-by-doing” and there is education built into every day, particularly when new employees are diving into a task for the first time. We always try to ensure that our crew members feel confident and capable before being set loose on a project. New employees spend a lot of time working alongside our seasoned crew to learn the ins and outs of everything we do. 

Because the farm’s production and marketing are so diverse, our daily to-do lists are ever-changing and multifaceted, which helps mix up the physical and mental demands of the job. That said, it is very physical work with certain intense seasonal peaks (for instance, harvesting the heavy storage crops of fall, or the constant weekly transplanting of spring/early summer). To help build strength and physical health, we train our employees not only in farming techniques, but also in proper body mechanics (we are fans of a set of body weight exercises called Foundation Training to keep our backs healthy and strong). 

Apprentices work as a member of the field crew on all manner of tasks that are part of operating a diversified produce farm:  

• Daily harvest for our 140-member CSA, farmstand, and direct sale accounts. The farm grows over 100 different crops, each requiring its own technique, tools, and skill set for harvest. Valley Flora has a long-standing reputation for high quality produce and we strive to uphold that. We’re sticklers for quality and consistency, so Apprentices are taught standard bunch size, standard weight, and quality control for every single crop in ever-changing conditions. We need Apprentices to achieve these quality standards while moving as efficiently and quickly as possible. It’s a steep and challenging learning curve that requires keen attention to detail, awareness of pacing, fast and nimble hands, and a willingness to accept and integrate constructive feedback throughout the season. We are at core a lean commercial operation (not a hobby farm), and hustle is part of every single day.

• Post-harvest handling: Apprentices are part of processing and packing the 100+ crops we harvest for four distinct sales channels, including CSA, farmstand, direct sales and foodbanks. Similar to harvest, the wash/packout process is distinct and unique for each crop and it changes with each season, as well as with daily weather conditions. Apprentices will learn post-harvest handling skills that rely on our dunk tank, wash table, sorting tables, dry curing room, and three climate-controlled walk-in coolers. You’ll learn to use various scales, different wash techniques, specific packout systems, and be trained in the selection of appropriate packaging materials, standards, and organization. Everyone receives annual food safety training.

• Weekly Fieldwork: These tasks include transplanting, fertilizing, trellising, mowing, weed control, pest management, irrigation, and plant care. Apprentices will be trained in operating the equipment necessary to perform these tasks safely and efficiently, including mowers, weedeaters, wheel hoes, oscillating stirrup hoes, collinear hoes, Japanese hand weeders, drop spreader, flame weeder, pressure washer, and hand trucks. Other than our delivery van, all our farm vehicles have manual transmissions so Apprentices will learn to drive stick if they don’t already know how.

• Weekly Delivery:  Apprentices will be trained to safely load, drive and complete our delivery route in our Sprinter van (weekly deliveries to wholesale customers and CSA pickup sites). 

• U-Pick Management. Apprentices will be responsible for overseeing flower and strawberry u-pick operations one or two days/week. This includes setting up the u-pick stand, communicating and interacting with customers to orient them to the u-pick, answering questions, and being the public face of the farm.

• Farmstand Management: The Apprentice might help manage our biweekly farmstand, including packing orders, setting up the farmstand display, selling produce, and tending the till. Our farmstand manager is a very public-facing role, involving lots of interaction with the public.

QUALIFICATIONS

Farming can be likened to an endurance sport that has some sprinting thrown into the mix (except our “sporting event” happens every day for a solid 8 months of the year). We try to cultivate physical and mental strength amongst our team so that we can “do hard things.” We are looking for someone who is up to this challenge and:

• Is a hard worker who loves spending their day outside, regardless of the weather (and has significant previous outdoor physical work experience on their resume).

• Knows how to hustle and optimize efficiency in their work.

• Demonstrates keen attention to detail, excellent observation skills, and an awareness of pacing.

• Is reliable, on-time, honest and kind.

• Has strong communication and listening skills.

• Has a good sense of humor and team spirit.

• Can gracefully accept and integrate constructive feedback whenever it’s provided, without the ego getting in the way.

• Is equally comfortable and productive working on a team or independently.

• Is calm and adaptable in the face of the unexpected. 

• Is not inclined to stir up human drama (plants and the weather provide drama enough on a small farm!).

We don’t require previous farming experience but a passion and deep curiosity about sustainable agriculture is very useful. For us, it’s more important that someone has the grit and good humor to learn new tasks and stick with it through the challenges of an entire season than it is to already know how to do the job (often folks who have previous farming experience have to relearn our systems anyway). 

Applicants should be in strong physical condition, capable of safely lifting 50 pounds, and able to squat, bend, lift, carry, and kneel for prolonged amounts of time over an 8-10 hour work day, five days a week, for the entirety of the season. Ability to drive a stick shift is VERY helpful, since our primary farm truck has a standard transmission.

We strive to be a warm, fun, welcoming workplace where our sense of team is paramount. To that end, it’s super important that new employees are team-oriented, but they also need to be able to work independently and productively on their own (there are plenty of tasks that crew members tackle solo throughout the week).

We are all constantly striving to improve ourselves, our efficiency and the farm’s productivity, so good problem-solving skills, innovative creativity, humility, and critical thinking are exciting traits in a Valley Flora applicant.

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

We work closely with our local Small Business Development Center, which offers a three month On-the-Job Training wage subsidy for new hires. Applicants who qualify for that program will start at $15/hour. Otherwise, new hires typically start at the local  minimum wage (currently $13.70/hour), with a wage reevaluation after the first month to assess the possibility of a performance-based raise. 

All employees have access to farm produce, and between June and December get a weekly CSA share from the farm, valued at $1000+/season. Employees also have unlimited access to “house” produce (seconds or grade B produce that doesn’t meet our sales standards), as well as gleaning opportunities throughout the season. For employees who complete the entire season we give out an end-of-year bonus, calculated based on the farm’s profitability and the number of hours worked. The farm will also reimburse half of an Apprentice’s RFC tuition if they complete the season.

Local housing options are somewhat limited, however we are well-networked in the community so it’s very possible that we could help a new employee find housing if on-farm housing is not available.

There is limited cell service at the farm, depending on the cell carrier. We have Wi-Fi that is available to everyone on the farm.  

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Valley Flora is committed to open, non-violent communication and does not tolerate any form of bigotry, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or discrimination, ever.

Since the beginning, the farm has been a bilingual workplace. English and Spanish are both spoken everyday and Zoe makes a concerted effort to ensure that language never leaves anyone out of the loop. We are owned and managed by women, and we make our absolute best effort to give everyone on our team opportunities to take ownership of various aspects of the farm and to feel appreciated for their contribution to the farm. We try to assign tasks based on what people are excited and qualified to work on and never along gender-biased lines. We actively solicit input and feedback from the crew to make sure that the farm is being managed in a way that feels good, fair, inclusive and respectful. 

Being a small farm, our crew is very familial, which gives us a lot of opportunity to grow and learn together in wonderful ways. 

PAST APPRENTICE TESTIMONIALS

“Zoe worked alongside us and trained us on a number of things, which I really appreciated. The two other long-term farm crew members have been great in teaching/training me as well, but I know Zoe made an effort to be there with us as much as she could. That showed me that she cared about my learning and progression as a farmer, and she always made time to thoroughly answer any questions.” -2023

Zoë, Jen, Alexa, Sarah, Allen, Roberto, Abby, Bets.

Winter Green Farm

WINTER GREEN FARM

• 2 APPRENTICESHIPS

• FULL TIME (40 hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: March - November

• $15.25/HR

• LOCATION:  Noti (WIllamette Valley Chapter)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 44 years

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING:  1

• PRACTICES:  Biodynamic, Certified Organic, Mechanized/Tractor Farming

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 25 

• Vegetables, Fruit, Culinary Herbs, Meat Production, Hay Production

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No 

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English, Spanish 

• Women-Owned/Operated

Mission Statement:

A productive farm in harmony with the earth, humanity, and ourselves.

www.wintergreenfarm.com

FARM OVERVIEW

Winter Green Farm is owned and operated by Chris and Shannon. Our farm is nestled in the foothills of the coast range about 25 miles from Eugene and 40 miles from the Oregon coast. The farm is about 100 acres, and we lease 34 acres down the road as well. The closest town that offers basic amenities is Veneta which is five miles away. 

Our farm enterprises include a CSA (500 members), 3 farmers markets a week, direct wholesale to stores and restaurants, plus wholesaling to schools, Organically Grown Company and a small grass-fed lamb operation. We grow 22-25 acres of mixed fruits and vegetables a year that are certified organic by Oregon Tilth. We also use biodynamic farming methods. We practice a six year rotation where our ground is mixed vegetables and forage production for our animals for three years, and then a beef herd managed by neighbors is on the farm for 3 years. We make all of our own compost on-farm which is our main source of fertility. We have an average of 20-25 people on payroll during the year. 

Apprentices would work closely with harvest managers as the primary mentors, rather than the farm owners. We grow a variety of fresh market vegetables and most are hand harvested, although we do have specialized mechanical harvesting equipment. Most of our tillage and cultivation is mechanized and done with tractors. 

Winter Green Farm was founded in 1980, has been certified organic since 1984, has had a CSA since 1992. Chris came to the farm in 1995 with no agricultural experience, a degree in biology and a commitment to help make the world a better place. His initial role on the farm was to help process medicinal herbs. He then went on to become the irrigation person. As his passion grew and knowledge base broadened, he was given more and more responsibility on the farm. In 2008 He and Shannon were given the opportunity by the other owners to partner in the farm and in 2015 they purchased all of the assets and secured a long term lease to run the vegetable operation on the farm.

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

We are looking to teach people production agriculture. They will take part in planting, harvesting, and processing of fruits and vegetables. Depending on experience and aptitude they may also get to take part in tractor work and other equipment operation. Depending on experience and desire to learn, Apprentices will be exposed to record keeping, fertility management and food safety protocol.

Apprentices will be given all the training they need for tasks that they are asked to do. Ideally they would work on average 40 hours a Monday through Friday. If someone is interested in doing farmers markets, their schedule would be adapted so they would work on Saturdays and still average 40 hours/week. 

Farming is hard work. An Apprentice should be able to work hard at an efficient pace during all types of weather. Time off is honored if scheduled in advance (unless for urgent needs). Apprentices will get paid sick time as well. We provide instruction by explaining, showing and working with the skill being instructed on. The people learning the task are given goals and techniques that we have worked on over the years to make the job more efficient , safe and less taxing on the body and mind. They will be given the chance to ask questions and work on their own after hands-on instruction is given. We follow up a couple of times after the training to make sure that the skill has been acquired and that the person is reaching their fullest potential at that skill.demonstration, gaining independence, offering time for questions or field walks, regular check-ins/meetings, evaluation sessions, etc.):

QUALIFICATIONS

People with previous farm experience would be ideal but not necessary. We appreciate: outdoor work experience, a commitment to organic agriculture, attention to detail, good communication and listening skills. Will need a car.

 It would be nice but not necessary to meet in person beforehand.

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

We start all crew workers at $15.25 an hour. Workers are given a 50 cent raise after 250 hours of employment and then raises are given based on hours accrued after that on July 1st and January 1st. Bonuses are given at the end of the year if the farm is profitable. 

Every employee is given paid sick leave (up to 40 hours a year) and if necessary can get paid family leave as well.

Apprentices will receive a 1⁄2 share of our CSA and are able to access other farm produce as well.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

We believe that workers have the right to meaningful work, fair treatment, and decent compensation. We are eternally grateful for the love and care that our employees invest in our farm. In a very real way our farm is the manifestation of the energy of our workers. Many deep relationships have developed over the years at the farm, among workers and between workers and owners. We see our workforce as our farm community and look forward to supporting this important aspect of our farm. Just as Winter Green Farm’s ecosystem exists within a global ecology, so does our social activity exist within a broader community and societal context. We believe that supporting local community organizations, specific cause related endeavors, and certain agricultural organizations are important. Similarly, we believe that by opening the farm as a place where members of the community can support us, we help strengthen the bonds of community and help heal the rural/urban divide.

PAST APPRENTICE TESTIMONIALS

“It is [a great farm] to learn about larger scale production.” - 2024

Shannon and Chris.

PCC ROCK CREEK LEARNING GARDEN

PCC ROCK CREEK LEARNING GARDEN

• 1 APPRENTICESHIP

• PART TIME (14 hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: March - November

• $15.45/HR

• LOCATION: Portland  (Portland Chapter)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 13

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING:  1

• PRACTICES: Low-Till, No-Till, Organic Practices (Not Certified)

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 3/4

• Vegetables, Fruit, Culinary Herbs, Medicinal Herbs, Seed Production, Vineyard
  

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No 

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? No

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English , Spanish

• Educational Farm

The PCC Rock Creek Learning Garden is part of a network of 5 gardens across the PCC district designed to create safe, welcoming, educational spaces that were built for and by students. The gardens promote interdisciplinary academic achievement, leadership development, curricular and co-curricular opportunities and model sustainable food systems through dynamic and responsive hands-on education. These living classrooms work to offer equity-centered learning opportunities, cultivate a sense of belonging and promote community on campus in our support of food sovereignty.

https://www.pcc.edu/sustainability/on-campus/rock-creek/rock-creek-learning-garden/

FARM OVERVIEW

Portland Community College is the largest higher education institution in the state of Oregon. The Rock Creek Campus rests on 250 acres of  Tualatin Kalapuya land in Washington County, 20-30 minutes outside of downtown Portland. The Learning Garden is nestled near the main buildings on campus and consists of 3.5 acres with 50 fruit trees, 50 blueberries, grapes, brambles and many fruits and vegetables. Our campus is also home to wooded trails, the riparian habitat surrounding Rock Creek, a large recreational public park with sports fields operated by Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District, as well as the 5 Oaks Museum. 

The Learning Garden produces thousands of pounds of food each season, which are primarily donated to the food pantry on campus. We rely primarily on hand work, but also keep a new BCS walk-behind tractor just in case! We are no-spray, practice extensive cover cropping and are moving towards the production of our own usable compost. Our farm crew is always in flux - we have volunteer hours 10am-1pm Tuesday-Friday and we meet whoever is volunteering where they're at and re-prioritize based on inclusion. 

The Learning Garden in its current iteration was established in 2012. Miriam has served as the Rock Creek Campus Learning Garden Coordinator since 2017. She ran her own 8-acre farm from 2011-2016, co-owned/operated a 25-acre production from 2006-2011, and worked on other peoples' farms from 1999-2003. She is interested in seed-saving, seed stories and the dignity of all living creatures.  

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

Crop-planning is collaborative. Greenhouse work begins in February. We plant, cultivate, harvest, wash and deliver food together. Efficiency does not dictate here! However, Miriam can offer insights based on her 15 years of production experience. 

Our production is highly unpredictable because of our ethic of working in community, where building trust and creating learning opportunities are valued more highly than task completion. That said, because the majority of work is by hand, it is possible and probable that work will be physical and conditions may not always be easy. 

The goal is to co-create a schedule that allows for 10-12 hours of labor in partnership, 1-2 hours of solitary labor pursuing a special project, and 45 minutes to an hour a week for check-ins, questions, and reflection.                                                                                                              

QUALIFICATIONS

• Willingness to learn, honest communication, reliability, and attention to detail 

• Considerate communication skills 

• A genuine delight for people and plants

COMPENSATION AND ACCOMMODATIONS 

$15.95 per hour. The Apprentice can attend on-farm community education classes for free. Also available is: a share in the harvest, seeds and entry into the PCC hiring system and diverse community of students, staff, faculty and campus neighbors. 

The PCC Rock Creek site  is located in a semi-urban area of Portland with various options for housing close by. There is low-cost housing in the area, and the campus is served by public transportation. 

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

As LG coordinator Miriam has been building relationships for years with colleagues in Accessible Education and Disability Resources, the Dreamer Center, English for Speakers of Other Languages, and so many other departments on campus. This has guided the direction of the garden and created a welcoming space for everyone who wants to be in the garden.

Miriam, Learning Garden Coordinator

Saur Farming

SAUR FARMING

• 2 APPRENTICESHIPS

• FULL TIME (40 hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: April - November

• $16/HR

• LOCATION: Parkdale  (Portland Chapter)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 14

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING:  New Host Farm

• PRACTICES: Organic Practices (Not Certified), Draft Powered

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 2

• Vegetable Production, Culinary Herbs, Cut Flowers

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No 

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English

• BIPOC owned/operated, Women owned/operated

Our goal has been to build healthy community through healthy soil and food. We farm using organic methods but are not certified. Cover crops, compost, and ecological habitat projects help to maintain soil health and biodiversity. Our fields of veggies are farmed intensively using much hand work. We are a detail oriented farm crew that strive to do good work; we value clean rows and high quality crops. In order to make a living farming, us and our crew must be efficient in all we do; working intently, smartly, and quickly is the name of the game. 

We take ‘field trips’ throughout the season to either do something fun or to go check out other farms in the area. We work hard but laugh a lot and have a great time. You will feel like family by the end of the season.

Saurfarming.com

FARM OVERVIEW

Anastasia and Ben started Saur Farming in 2011 just outside of Hood River, Oregon. After four seasons we moved up the valley to Parkdale, where we have been farming since. We farm on 10 acres; 2 acres in veggie production, 2 in pasture, and 5 in forest. We provide produce and cut flowers to our local thriving Farmers Market, a small CSA, and to many restaurants and wholesale customers in the area. 

We use draft horses for many tasks around the farm including soil preparation and cultivation, compost and manure spreading, forest management, etc. We also use a BCS walk-behind tractor for mowing and final bed preparation.

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

Our crew members will be doing nearly everything on the farm, including  soil and bed prep, transplanting, trellising, weeding, harvesting, manure management, wash & pack, etc. We do not require previous experience, but we do require that staff come with an attitude that is ready to learn and continually progress in their skills and tasks. You will learn a ton about organic systems, small scale efficiency, and the thousand day to day tasks it takes to run a small vegetable farm.

Our staff does not work with the horses on a daily basis, but they do interact with them at times throughout the season. 

The work will be full time during the main season (May through mid November), with possible part-time work before and after. Expect lots of manual labor: lifting, carrying, bending, shoveling, etc. Staff needs to be able to lift and carry 50 lb bags repeatedly. We work outside all day long throughout the season, so being able to work joyfully in all weather is essential. We are a small, tight crew where each member is a large part of what makes this farm function and if staff doesn’t show up for work the entire farm suffers. We can accommodate some time off requests, but that should be the exception not the rule, come ready to work.

Training and teaching will consist of daily morning meetings, in field instruction, as well as weekly check-ins to ensure the apprentice is understanding the week’s work. You will be learning from the farmers as well as our crew leader. There will be monthly ‘classes’ for bigger picture teaching that will address the seasonal dynamics of the farm and general organic farm practices. We love to teach and encourage our staff to ask questions and be inquisitive. 

We also have seasonal employee reviews where we give feedback on job performance as well as provide time to listen to each staff member. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Apprentices must have good communication skills, stable mental health, the ability to follow directions and take feedback (not always positive). Attention to detail, good physical abilities, and an overall pleasant demeanor and good attitude is mandatory. You must work well with a team and show up everyday with a desire to learn and do good work. 

Communication is a key component for how our farm is run. We communicate our expectations and instructions and expect our crew to be communicating with us. 

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

Starting wage is $16/hr with reviews and probable raises throughout the season. We also offer bonuses throughout the season based on performance, and an end of year bonus for those who finish out the season. 

No housing offered. Housing in this area can be challenging (expensive), but we do know a lot of people in the area and can help to find something.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Farming on a small & sustainable scale often attracts people from different backgrounds and marginalized communities, everyone is welcome here.

Anastasia and Ben.

Sunbow Produce

Sunbow Produce

• 2 APPRENTICESHIPS

• PART TIME/FULL TIME  (March-May: 18-28 hours/week, June-October: 28-40 hours/week, November-December: 15-20 hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: March -December

• $15/HR

• LOCATION:  Corvallis  (Willamette Valley Chapter)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 9 

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING:  1

• PRACTICES: Certified Organic

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 8

• Vegetables, Fruit, Culinary Herbs, Seed Production

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No 

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English, Spanish 

• BIPOC-Owned/Operated, Immigrant-Owned/Operated, Women-Owned/Operated, Public Education 

We practice a model of stewardship regarding soil, water and land use. Much of our field work is done by hand but we do use tractors for field prep, mowing, harrowing, tillage (spading, rototilling), spreading mulch, moving compost, and some weeding. We teach and encourage ergonomic practices to keep our bodies in good working condition. We do not employ mechanical harvesting, it’s all by hand with the exception of potatoes. Our fertility program includes deliberate rotations, cover cropping, mulching with leaves, and using minimal purchased inputs.

https://sunbowproduce.com/

@sunbowproduce 

FARM OVERVIEW

We grow certified organic fruits, vegetables, pulses, and herbs through a customer direct e-newsletter and online store. We sell at the Philomath Farmers Market and provide weekly distribution through Linn-Benton Food Share through two channels. Our farm crew consists of Yadira and Nate plus two to three part-time employees and occasional work-trade helpers who are compensated with our farm currency, Sunbacks. We have a comprehensive liability insurance policy and carry workers comp insurance. Our business is licensed in Oregon, we do not distribute out of state. 

We have two locations. The main one is at Sunbow Farm, a 14 acre property located on the outskirts of Corvallis and Philomath. We farm between 3-5 acres at Sunbow depending on the year. There are fields, 5 high tunnels, an orchard, a lot of wildlife habitat, a few old barns and some old crumbling out-buildings. There’s a house, a bathroom building, a market room and a pack/wash area as well as a cob structure. Four people reside here, including us. 

The other location is in Philomath in a residential area. It’s approx 3 acres that are gated and fenced and is part of a larger residential plot managed by the owner. Our leased zone includes a greenhouse and access to the fields.

Sunbow Farm was established in 1972, we took on management and created Sunbow Produce in 2015. We’ve both been farming between 10-12 years including some volunteer work and internships/apprenticeships. Before we became farmers, Bea worked in a social justice/social services agency and Nate worked for the State of Washington. We came to this farm independently and met here. We’re devoted to organic and regenerative practices, and are certified by both Oregon Tilth and the Real Organic Project. 

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

● All-season growing techniques in high/low tunnels: bed prep, annual crop planting, harvesting, and maintenance of crops and infrastructure. 

● Perennial crop harvesting and maintenance 

● Soil conservation and water management; irrigation techniques; water catchment 

● Dry farming techniques 

● Wildlife conservation and coexistence; pest management in an organic operation; agro-ecological practices 

● Field work: weeding with tools and by hand; harvesting; prepping beds for transplanting; transplanting, planting; clearing beds; setting up protection (low tunnels, bird netting, etc.); installing, maintaining, moving, and removing irrigation; seeding cover crops 

● Highly diversified crop production, identification, and management 

● Consumer-direct marketing techniques and farm stand/farmers market work

Time management/efficiency/work pace

● Harvest, wash and pack skills

● Food safety standards and management 

● Possible tractor operation depending on the person 

● Small equipment operation (weed whacking, root washer operation, water pump problem solving) 

The first 8-10 weeks will be hands-on training with one or both of us. Independent tasks may be assigned after a successful training period. The work week will change with the seasons but is likely to start with two days/week and expand to up to 5 days/week. Lunch times will be 30-60 minutes depending on shift length.

Slower season: exertion is expected to be medium high with decent pace. Labor is medium. Harvest, wash, pack and deliver orders twice a week; field work two to three days a week. Minimum of two consecutive days off can be expected during the slower parts of the season. 

Busy season: exertion is high with a fast pace. Labor is heavy, a lot of repetitive work and heavy lifting. Farm managers work 6 days/week. 

Harvest, wash, pack and deliver three days a week; field work three days a week; farmers market and farm stand once a week. During the months of August-October harvesting becomes part of daily field work and is performed by all crew members. All crew members are expected to be present for all shifts during the busy season with the exception of illness. 

On excessively hot days, there will be unpaid time off during the hottest part of the day. Schedules will be adjusted in order to avoid heat stress but still get work done. This may mean early starts and late endings.

Evaluation will be based on performance, engagement, consistency, availability, and reliability. We will provide hands-on training, engage in frequent discussion, and provide opportunities to practice. Daily feedback will be given during the training period. In-person check-ins will be done as needed but minimally, at three and six months. We encourage Apprentices to let us know when they need to discuss progress, interests, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Enthusiasm, eagerness, and self-respect. Curiosity, resourcefulness, and grit. Drive, desire to learn, desire to excel, attention to detail, investment in the operation (emotional, not financial), food systems interest, food, land and social justice. Excellent communication skills, good boundary setting. 

• Applicants must be able to: 

• Lift 50 pounds safely and regularly 

• Follow directions 

• Ask questions 

• Spend extended periods of time doing repetitive work such as standing, crouching, kneeling, etc. 

• Understand how to work safely around a tractor, within/around old buildings and crowded spaces. 

• Be willing to get dirty, wet, cold and hot (sometimes all in the same day!)

• Use equipment as directed and utilize suggestions for best ergonomic practices Respect all crew members 

• Problem solve and discuss possible solutions before acting

• Avoid using violence, both physically and verbally 

• Avoid using alcohol, drugs (including marijuana) and cigarettes during work shifts. 

• Arrive sober, free of any intoxicants and fully functional to all assigned shifts. Arriving incapacitated in any way will not be tolerated as it could be a safety issue.

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

Apprentice will receive an hourly wage of $15/hour. We also offer up to $30 of our produce, weekly. Increase in pay will be considered after the first 90 days. See Sunbow Handbook for details on pay increase considerations. We may offer additional increases or bonuses based on consistent, excellent work performance. Lunch breaks are not paid, 10 minute breaks are paid. RFC hosted events, community building events (Grange meetings, potlucks, social time) and elective educational workshops/meetings are not considered payable hours. An end of year bonus may be issued based on the farm’s success that year and the Apprentice’s performance, reliability, and willingness to return the following season. The pay period is the 22nd of the month through the 21st of the following month. Paychecks will be issued no later than the 28th of each month for the prior payroll period and can be picked-up at the farm.   

Occasional crew meals and gatherings will be offered but are not mandatory.

We’re happy to grant access to personal growing space as long as there are no conflicts with time and resources (watering schedule, tool use, etc.) 

The farm will pay for up to $100 for local workshops per Apprentice.

Successful completion of the Apprenticeship could lead to a management or crew boss position with us. 

We provide basic equipment (tools) required for work and have loaner rain gear and rubber boots depending on shoe size.

No on-farm housing is offered, but we are more than willing to help find affordable housing within our community (with people we know and trust). 

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

We welcome everyone, and do our best to engage with people positively and directly. We’re an equal opportunity employer, and are reasonable people who respect others and expect the same. 

We host Growing Ancestral Roots, a BIPOC organization of growers, providing them a high tunnel to further their efforts and grant them access to other parts of the farm during the main season. We connect people who have been disadvantaged and are looking for land access to resources and opportunities whenever we can. 

We provide hands-on job training to young adults who have disabilities through a school district program. 

We acknowledge that Oregon was home to Indigenous people well before white settlers arrived. 

We often find ourselves having open discussions about the intersection of race, class, history, policy and access. 

PAST APPRENTICE TESTIMONIALS

“I appreciated how often my host farmers would stop to explain why and how things are done at Sunbow. Nate especially really seemed to enjoy sharing his knowledge and thoughts about whatever task we were working on at the time. I also appreciated that when I shared that I needed to talk with them about something, they found the time to listen.” - 2024

Yadira and Nate.

FOOD For Lane County Youth Farm

FOOD For Lane County Youth FarM

• 2 APPRENTICESHIPS

• PART TIME (28  hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: March - November

• $17/HR

• LOCATION: Eugene (Willamette Valley Chapter)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 29

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING:  1

• PRACTICES: Organic Practices (Not Certified)

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 5

• Vegetable Production, Culinary Herbs, Fruit, Nursery Stock, Cut Flowers

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No 

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? No, we are located close to public bus line

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English, Basic Spanish

• Urban, Public Education, Non-Profit Farm

We are a program of FOOD For Lane County (FFLC), the regional nonprofit food bank in our area.  FFLC is a well respected and innovative organization with the mission of “Reducing hunger by engaging our community to create access to food”.  The Youth Farm has been in operation for over 25 years, serving the community healthy food while creating opportunities for youth, beginning farmers and volunteers. We have worked with and trained well over 100 interns over the years. Many are still involved in agriculture, including some as farm owners.

www.foodforlanecounty.org/gardens 

https://www.facebook.com/fflcyouthfarm/

@fflcyouthfarm

FARM OVERVIEW

On the Youth Farm, we  cultivate 5 acres of diverse vegetable crops as well as approximately 70 mature fruit trees (apples, pears, Asian pears, plums), strawberries, thornless blackberries and a young blueberry patch. We are not certified organic, but we use all organic methods. We have two small tractors that we run on biodiesel that we use for discing, tilling, bed shaping and mowing.   Most other work on the farm is done by hand, including transplanting, weeding, harvesting, and post-harvest handling.  Approximately half of our produce is delivered to the FOOD For Lane County warehouse for distribution through our network of partners to those experiencing food insecurity in our county.  The remainder we sell through a 180-member CSA, and an onsite produce stand on Saturdays.  We also grow vegetable, flower and herb starts for two very large plant sale fundraisers each spring.

Our primary farm crew consists of a Farm Supervisor, Education Coordinator, Field Coordinator and Youth Crew Coordinator, who work from mid-January-early December.  During the main growing season, we hire 14  teens to participate in a part-time work experience and job skills program where they attend classes and are trained to do farm work as well as operate our farmstand.  Some of our stellar youth are in leadership positions and return for up to 4 consecutive seasons. Our Gardens Program Manager oversees the program.  We also host numerous volunteers and volunteer groups at our farm each year, which creates a dynamic and unpredictable element to our crew size on certain days of the week. Overall, our crew each day can range from 4-25 people, depending on the time of year.

The Youth Farm is located on a 10 acre site within Springfield city limits.  The land is owned by the local school district and is surrounded by single family homes, duplexes, apartment complexes and a city playground.  We share the land with a separately managed community garden as well as a garden project connected to Springfield School District. The only facilities on site are storage sheds, including several shipping containers, roofed, open-air structures, two walk-in coolers, and several high tunnels with over 16,000 square feet of growing space.  We are close to city bus lines and bike routes, and both downtown Springfield and Eugene are a 10 minute drive away.  The neighboring town of Eugene is a large college town with plenty of entertainment and recreation opportunities, including bike paths, close-in hiking trails, lakes and rivers for boating.

In 2024, we purchased a new 25 acre farm, which is located just outside of Eugene City limits and 15 minutes away from our current farm. This will become our new, permanent home! We are actively developing the new site with plans to be farming there exclusively in 2026. This is a very exciting new development and will create an incredible opportunity for Apprentices to take part in developing a new farm.

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

Apprentices will be trained in various aspects of the operation including orchard care (pruning, thinning, pest management), nursery and greenhouse management, and growing a wide variety of annual produce (over 40 crops). Work will include seeding, planting, cultivation and weed management, fertilization, harvesting, wash/pack, irrigation set-up and watering, composting, CSA and market set up and distribution, and use of small farm equipment (barrel washer, salad spinner, vacuum seeder, walk behind tillers, flame weeders and lawn care equipment).

Apprentices will also have the opportunity to help run our onsite produce stand, including set-up, take down and customer service.  They will be involved in packing boxes for our CSA customers, which we do 2 times per week for a 25 week season.

Depending on interest, Apprentices will have the opportunity to lead volunteers and youth participants once they are trained.

We would like Apprentices to begin on  March 4th, four days/week (Tuesday-Friday),  with some additional weekend duties on occasion.  8:30am-4:00pm is a typical work schedule.  An early start to the season will give Apprentices the opportunity to learn pruning on some of our fruit trees.  They will also be integrally involved in preparations for our two plant sales, including seeding and tending starts, and organizing for the sales that occur in April and May. The Apprenticeship will end on November 25th. Apprentices can request up to two weeks off, and will earn vacation time and paid holidays.

Our staff works alongside Apprentices, and we train as we introduce new tasks.  We hold morning check-in stretching circles as well as frequent crew meetings.  We take monthly field walks, and will do  our best to address topics that Apprentices are interested in. Our Apprenticeship educational program consists of lectures, occasional field trips, hand-outs, and mostly hands-on learning.  We have a curriculum of educational topics, including composting, nutrient management and soil testing, plant propagation and nursery management, orchard management and fruit tree pruning, crop planning and rotation, winter farming, greenhouse management and construction, irrigation, cultivation and weed management, food preservation and cover cropping. These on farm classes will supplement Rogue Farm Corps online Educational Event Series and weekend intensives.

QUALIFICATIONS

Passion for organic farming, gardening or outdoor work

Previous experience in working with plants outdoors, agriculture, landscaping, etc. (Prefer 1-3 years experience)

Interest or experience in working with youth and community members

Ability to lift 50 pounds and perform physical farm tasks in adverse weather conditions

Excellent attention to detail

Good communication skills

Organized and reliable 

Share FFLC’s values of Compassion, Inclusion and Collaboration  

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

$17/hr for 28 hours/week. Vacation time accrual, sick time, and holiday pay are included. Apprentices receive 2 paid 10 minute breaks, and are required to take a half hour unpaid for lunch.  RFC events are not part of payable hours.

Shared housing as well as apartments and studios can be found in both Eugene and Springfield. Check Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace to get an idea.

Pay will be by check, directly deposited, into your bank account every two weeks.  Vacation time accrual, sick time and holiday pay are included. Details are in the FOOD For Lane County Employee Handbook. Reimbursement of RFC tuition is included if you complete the full season. Farm Produce and starts are provided as available.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Inclusion is one of the values of our organization, FOOD for Lane County.  We are all invested in and strive to create a  safe, open, productive work environment for everyone involved, and prioritize community building, straight forward communication, and validation and appreciation.

FOOD for Lane County has an Equity Manager, and all of our staff take monthly trainings which include: understanding privilege and inherent biases, microaggressions and how to interrupt them, racism and other forms of oppression, intersectionality, how to celebrate diversity, and creating equitable and inclusive workplaces.  In addition, our supervisors have received training in conflict resolution and neurodivergence.      

PAST APPRENTICE TESTIMONIALS

“The mentors are both teachers and farmers. There are many opportunities to learn new things and be in leadership roles with volunteers and youth farmers.” -2024                   

Youth Farm staff.

Camas Swale

Camas Swale

• 3 APPRENTICESHIPS

• FULL TIME (26-40 hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: May - October 

• $15/HR

• LOCATION: Eugene  (Willamette Valley Chapter)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 16

• YEARS HOSTING: 1

• PRACTICES: Certified Organic

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 14 acres

• Vegetables

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No 

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English, some staff competency in Spanish Women owned/operated

We focus on healthy soil, high quality crops, and staff wellness. We keep a close eye on soil organic matter percentages– we use reduced tillage practices and return plants to the soil through cover cropping, working past crops into the field, and through applying compost. We are certified organic with Oregon Tilth and have always grown with awareness of organic because we value and enjoy the use of natural materials. We also grow habitat for beneficials– on the farm you’ll find hundreds of perennials in our hedges. Synthetic chemicals and GMOS are never used on our farm. Crops are grown using a mix of human power and tractor power. We use four specialized tractors to get the work done, for hauling, pallet lifting, spading, harvesting roots crops and more. However, most of the harvest work is done by hand, with hoes, knives, wheelbarrows etc. Come work out with us!

www.camasswalefarm.com

@camas_swale_farmer

FARM OVERVIEW

Camas Swale is owned by Amber and Jonah and located in Oregon’s Southern Willamette Valley Our farm grows vegetables, culinary herbs and some fruit for wholesale (grocers, restaurants, food hubs, distributors) and for our Community Supported Agriculture (250-300 CSA families per year) program. With about 14 acres in rotation– about 10 acres are producing food at any time during the main season. 

We are grateful to be located just 1 mile north of Coburg and 15 minutes from the university town of Eugene. On both sides of our farm are other small farms selling produce, nursery crops and/or flowers. You can see the Coburg hills from our fields and a big open sky. Migratory birds and birds of prey frequent the farm as well as small animals– some friend, some foe of the vegetable crops. We are a few miles from swim spots on the Mckenzie River. Owners Jonah and Amber along with their two children live on the farm, staff commute (sometimes together) from Eugene or Springfield. 

Jonah and Amber started farming on a small-scale farm, following bio-intensive methods of production yielding a high value per acre but it was intense on our bodies. Utilizing a mix of human power and tractor power has worked better for our staff and our bodies over the last ten years, while also meeting soil health goals. We keep a close eye on soil organic matter percentages, using our tillage implement minimally and returning plants to the soil through cover cropping, working past crops into the field, and through applying compost.

During the work week six to ten employees work on the farm from 8:00 - 5:00. In addition, about four volunteers are on the farm two mornings per week. The farm has a family friendly environment while also maintaining work efficiency to meet our production goals. There tends to be common interests amongst staff including appreciation for music and outdoor sports, and always a respect for one another regardless of race or gender identity. Diverse skills and people are very welcome. We often find that passionate workers have super strengths in at least one important area and we match skills with the task as possible – such as seeding or CSA packing.

Camas Swale Farm sprouted in 2009. The farm has operated from this location since 2015. Jonah and Amber both started farming about 20 years ago, as employees for other organic produce farms.

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

Everyone learns planting, cultivation, harvesting, washing/packing, and use of relevant tools. Rogue Farm Corps Apprentices will also get exposure to seeding. Depending on strengths and interests of the Apprentice and the farm’s needs, staff often have the opportunity to take on special duties once adapted to the farm. 

We prefer full -time employees over part -time, but there is a place for part-time work. For this Apprenticeship we think that our typical full time schedule would best meet the needs of the program. Our full time employee schedule during the months of May - October is M-F, 8am - 5:00 with a 30 min- one hour lunch break daily. Training will be woven into the work day and we will make a schedule for dedicated training check-ins and trainings with specific experienced staff.

We will provide mentorship and training by teaching core concepts/skills, working alongside participant(s), demonstration, opportunities to gain independence, offering time for questions or field walks, regular check-ins/meetings, and two evaluation sessions. Apprentices will also be given the opportunity to log what they learn via a weekly form that we provide to assist with integrating on and off-farm learning.

Training will be coordinated by co-owner Amber and multi-year employee Miranda. Some elements are best taught by owners Jonah (field management and maintenance lead) or Amber (business management and harvest lead). Others will be delegated to one of two experienced staff, Miranda (4th season) and Jason (12th season). The mentor team approach collectively offers a well rounded experience for an Apprentice while not pulling any one person away from their regular duties on the farm. We look forward to meeting you.

QUALIFICATIONS

We expect all employees to come to work on time and be a good listener during morning meetings and during training, to ask questions as needed and to stay focused on the goals of the day. Respect, kindness and good communication are very important as are the ability to learn and do the job efficiently. Our product is certified organic local produce that looks and tastes good and is very fresh. Providing this product requires good attention to detail balanced with efficient methods of production and harvest. If you take pride in doing a good job and love working on a team outside – this could be a good place for you. There is often an acclimation period, that's understood - and we are extra supportive during the onboarding time. But, we expect to see progress and to see that there is an interest in being an effective employee and apprentice.

 As for experience, we know that experienced employees come in the door with more dexterity in their hands and more understanding of what a good bunch of turnips looks like. Experience in related jobs or personal experience with vegetables should also be valued and expressed. We’ve had employees demonstrate plenty of transferable skills from working in restaurants and produce stores, for example.

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

The wage for a first yearApprentice will be $15/hr. There is a potential for an increase in pay over the course of the season. Our benefits include a gear stipend of $200, PTO, reimbursement of half of the RFC Apprenticeship fee amount if/when they complete the season, any farm-produced food). Scheduled time off is allowed and encouraged to promote a healthy balance of work and play but we define what is reasonable in our work agreement. Time off should be requested well in advance and approved and added to the staff calendar once approved. A reasonable amount would be 1-2 occasions of taking 1-2 days off per occasion in a coordinated fashion so that vacations do not overlap with other staff. 

No housing is offered. We are 10 minutes from Eugene and Springfield. Seasonal workers in the past have had good luck with finding housing via the traveling nurses portal and finding rooms in houses in Eugene where there are college students coming and going.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

We make our policies known in a document called Employee Work Agreement, this document includes how evaluations are done, time off policies and benefits and our process for making wage adjustments and hazardous work environment procedures and more.  Job roles are presented to all staff in a document called the Command Tree and via job descriptions. 

Staff and owners are welcoming to each other every day at work. As owners we try to model communication that is kind, necessary and true. On the farm we  foster community among workers including Wednesday staff lunches and occasional events. We aim to  keep our produce accessible to all income levels – including weekly donations to Burrito Brigade, a non-profit that makes thousands of burritos per week for the houseless in Eugene and Springfield; taking SNAP benefits for CSA payment; providing  a scholarship fund for low-income; and via our  Working CSA Member program. 

PAST APPRENTICE TESTIMONIALS

“The environment at Camas Swale is so welcoming, and the roles are ever moving, so you get a taste of all [the] pieces of the farming operation. “ - 2024

Amber and Jonah.

Goodfoot Farm

GOODFOOT FARM

• 1-2 APPRENTICESHIPS

• FULL TIME (32-40 hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: Mid April-end of November

• $18/HR

• LOCATION: Kings Valley/Philomath  (Willamette Valley Chapter)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 13

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING:  1

• PRACTICES: Biodynamic, Certified Organic 

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 2 vegetable, 1.5 berries, 0.5 tree fruit, plus forage

• Vegetable Production, Fruit, Nursery Stock

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No 

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English 

• Women-Owned/Operated

The farmer and farm philosophy is aligned with biodynamic agriculture and sociocracy. Goodfoot Farm’s goal is to implement an agricultural model that is ecologically sound, socially responsible, and economically viable.

www.goodfootfarm.com

@goodfootfarm

FARM OVERVIEW

Beth is the primary operator of Goodfoot Farm. We grow mixed vegetables year round; some tree fruit, mostly apples and asian pears; blueberries. Sales outlets include Farmers’ Market plus CSA that we run as a farm credit with market pickup. Certified Biodynamic and Organic. Some tractor cultivation; but the farm is mostly people powered. Animals are incorporated into the biodynamic farm organism; layer hens for egg production and a few pet sheep that mow the grass. A resident horse and neighboring beef cattle provide the foundation of our composting/fertility program. Farm crew (in addition to primary farmer) is 1-4 depending on time of year. Total farm crew hours (minus primary farmer) are about 5000 hours per year.

Rural community 30 minutes outside of college town; farm owners live on the farm (grown children are gone). Apprentices will have access to forest and river. There is some farming in the local community; lots of neighboring parcels are in forestry.

Beth, the primary farmer has been farming or on the land most of her life in some capacity. Her assorted educational background includes a graduate degree in Plant Pathology. The farm has been at market for 12 seasons.

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

Apprentices will be trained in almost all aspects of the farm production system; limits would be in 4 wheel tractor use (training/use in 2 wheel tractors) and irrigation. Farm operations are conducted with a management system called holacracy which supports a high degree of autonomy and ownership.

Training is pretty comprehensive and rigorous as farmhands are expected to work with a great deal of independence and autonomy and are also expected to be able to delegate and coordinate others when needed to complete their roles/tasks. Training methods are well rounded with verbal instruction, modeling/demonstration, and written resources. Management system is based on holacratic principles. Check-ins and field walks happen regularly.

QUALIFICATIONS

No prior experience necessary, but we do need to understand the interest/commitment of potential applicants. Goodfoot has a desire to work with individuals who are seriously exploring farming as an occupation.  

Preferred qualities include a high attention to detail, ability to manage competing priorities, being self-organized, a strategic thinker and systems thinker, having a high degree of professionalism in work and person, excellent communication skills, and an interest in meeting people where they are at.

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

$18/hr.  

32 hours paid vacation for full season work; unlimited sick PTO. Apprentices will have access to free produce from the farm and an opportunity to trade at market. Most work gear is provided. There is a potential for partial reimbursement of RFC fees.

No on-farm housing is offered. Corvallis is a college town 30 minutes away; other communities are also about 20-30 minutes away. There are limited local, rural opportunities for housing.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

We do not have traditional hierarchical labor systems; the farm operates on principles of sociocracy. We pay fair wages. 

PAST APPRENTICE TESTIMONIALS

“I appreciated how available and communicative the mentorship was, and the focus on comprehensive training to inspire confidence and autonomy. I also appreciated the conscious choices around how we practiced farming, and I understood that there was a solid reason for why we did everything the way we did--always with room for experimentation and new ideas.” - 2024

Beth Hoinacki

Harbinger Farm

HARBINGER Farm

• 1 APPRENTICESHIP

• PART TIME/FULL TIME (30-40/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: April - October 

• $15/HR

• LOCATION: Myrtle Creek (Umpqua Valley*) 

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 5

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING:  2

• PRACTICES: Organic Practices (Not Certified)

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 2

• Vegetables, Fruit, Culinary Herbs, Value-Added/Processing.

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English

• Women-Owned/Operated

*While outside of the Rogue Valley Chapter, some in-person educational events will be within a 90-minute drive from this Host Farm. Attendance at these events is highly encouraged.    

Harbinger Farm’s main goal is to successfully grow a wide variety of seasonal foods without the use of pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers. We believe that our environment shouldn’t suffer from our cultivation of this space, it should only benefit and flourish because of it. Our intent is to let the seasonal changes in our natural surroundings signal our actions, allowing the earth’s cycle to determine the unique timing for the growing season. While keeping permaculture methods in mind, we wish to find balance between stewarding the land with thoughtfulness and care while also maximizing its growing potential so we can serve more outlets within the local community.

https://www.harbinger-farm.com

https://www.facebook.com/harbinger.farm

@harbinger.farm

Farm Overview

Harbinger Farm is located about 10 miles (15 minutes) outside of Myrtle Creek. Property owners, Matt and Lucie, are the sole residents, operating the farm business out of their home. The property itself is 12 acres in total with 2 acres currently in crop production. It has about an acre of cultivated space dedicated to annual row crops, the rest being a fruit tree orchard and other perennials which were planted when they bought the property in 2020. North Myrtle Creek runs through the property, leaving about 500 ft of creek frontage–the creek runs year round and is a great place to cool off in the summertime. As of 2023, the farm also began leasing a field from a neighbor down the road, increasing production space by another half acre.

The farm currently raises annual vegetable, fruit and herb crops–a versatile assortment of 70+ items over the course of the growing season. Value-added products are also produced when time and quantity permits, including cottage foods, vegetable ferments and dehydrated goods. Harbinger Farm vends at a local farmers market, utilizes an online sales platform for curated pre-orders, offers a 20+ week CSA, and wholesales to a local restaurant, as well as several private chefs.

The only time mechanization is utilized is during bed prep when a walk-behind tractor does some mowing, shallow tillage, and bed-shaping. Otherwise, weeding, cultivation and harvest is all done by hand. Field blocks are cover cropped over-winter and crop families are rotated between seasons. All transplants are started from seed in a propagation nursery on-site and a total of 8,600 sq.ft. of field tunnel space will be utilized for row crop cultivation in 2025.

Matt and Lucie serve as the core farm crew. An Apprentice would fill an assistant position to them in almost all necessary field tasks. A handful of volunteers and/or work traders may join for harvest days or big projects during peak season.

Matt and Lucie share over a decade of previous farming and marketing experience combined and were duly inspired by the rewarding nature of the lifestyle, enough to find their own land to tend. Harbinger Farm was founded in March 2020 and the couple immediately began breaking ground and creating growing space. They joined the winter market in Myrtle Creek that November and have continued marketing while expanding their business ever since.

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

An Apprentice would receive a relatively well-rounded hands-on experience, encompassing most aspects of small-scale produce farming. The bulk of their hours logged will be spent on field production-related tasks, including but not limited to seeding, planting, cultivation, irrigation, harvesting, washing/packing and taking inventory. Heavy equipment usage is limited; however, an apprentice would certainly be trained to use the BCS walk-behind tractor, if interested. Farm business management methods will be conveyed when it comes time for decision making regarding crop planning, weather and climate, seasonal production trends, market demands, etc.

Being that we are operating a newly established farm, there is much value to be gleaned from learning the progression of a small-scale farm in “real time”. An apprentice would have the opportunity to actively engage as we grow our business, develop new systems, problem solve and overcome challenges for the first time, capturing a unique involvement that can only be enhanced by our varied previous farming experiences.

An Apprentice should expect to work maximum hours in the given range (depending on full or part time) per week during peak season (May-September) and closer to the minimum hours in the range per week on the front and tail ends. Ideally, hours per day and days per week would be flexible depending on fluctuating needs. However, if a set schedule is preferred, that can also be arranged. On average, one should expect to complete 8-hour workdays. During peak season, the expected daily start time would be 8am. Time off should be requested as far in advance as possible, but at least two weeks prior. No more than three consecutive days off will be allowed during peak season (unless an exception is agreed upon during the interview process). All time required for RFC training/events off-site, including commuting, will be gladly accommodated.

Introduction to the farm will take place initially, including lay of the land, basic farm practices and principles, familiarity with mentors, and general expectations. Detailed training will occur with each new task, even if the Apprentice has prior experience. Guaranteed demonstration of assigned duties and continually working alongside the apprentice until both parties are confident in adequate completion of the task at hand. The teaching of core concepts will take place over appropriate periods of time, with mentors helping the apprentice hone their skills and become comfortable in their position as they acquire more knowledge and experience.

Questions and constructive feedback will be welcome at all times. Field walks will occur each week after days off. Check-ins will take place monthly. Evaluation sessions will be scheduled at the end of the 30-day trial period and again around the end of September.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Applicants with previous farm experience are preferred but not required–as long as the desire to learn and motivation to excel are clearly present.

• Outdoor physical work experience is a must–our summer daytime temps average between high 80s and low 100s.

• Ability to comfortably lift and carry 50 lbs is required, accompanied by repeatedly bending, kneeling, squatting and standing throughout the day.

• Adeptness at learning new skills while pertaining the ability to override previous learned experiences with newfound direction.

• Exhibits attention to detail and thoughtful predictability.

• Exercises strong listening, comprehension and communication skills.

• Ambition to pursue a demanding lifestyle and arduous career path within an industry struggling against countless social and environmental challenges.

• Appreciation for and respect of natural science and organic chemistry.

• Practices a favorable attitude and a pragmatic outlook; is flexible, adaptable, open minded, down-to-earth and easy-going in nature.

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS 

$15/hour to start, plus access to ample farm-produced food (seconds) to take home each week.

Housing is not provided. Opportunities are available for rent in our neighborhood, Myrtle Creek and the surrounding area, including Roseburg.

There is no cell service within about 5 miles of the property; however, wi-fi connectivity is available within 20ft of the private residence. 

Introducing an Apprentice to other local farmers in the area is absolutely intended–especially to some who are raising livestock and/or different crops, such as cut flowers. They would certainly be welcome to attend local farmers markets and other networking opportunities and, depending on their scope of interests, we will assist in making connections with persons involved in the local food system.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Folks from all walks of life are welcome to join our farm crew–as long as we share the same drive and determination for the work, how we got here doesn’t matter. We strive to treat every person we encounter with dignity and respect, with our only expectation being to receive the same from them in return. Simply put, discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated.

Lucie and Matt Day with doggo Zevon

Lucky Crow Farm

Lucky Crow Farm

• 2 APPRENTICESHIPS

• FULL TIME (40  hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: April - October

• $15-$18/HR

• LOCATION: Monmouth  (Willamette Valley Chapter)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 7

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING:  2

• PRACTICES: Dry-Farming, Mechanized/Tractor Farming, Organic Practices (Not Certified)

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 3

• Vegetable Production, Fruit, Culinary Herbs, Nursery, Cut Flowers

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No 

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? No, but reliable transportation to work is required

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English

• LGBTQIA2s+-Owned/Operated, Women-Owned/Operated

Eden’s mission is to feed her diverse, local community delicious, nutrient rich food seasonally. She is driven by her investment in environmental sustainability, social equity and economic profitability. As a young, queer, female farmer, she embraces her responsibility to set an example and to create a  working model for sustainable food production and thriving rural business within her hometown and beyond.

https://www.luckycrowfarm.com

https://www.facebook.com/luckycrowfarm 

@luckycrowfarm

FARM OVERVIEW

We grow mixed vegetables for a 75-member CSA, the Independence Farmers’ Market, local restaurant accounts and our online store. We do some of our bed prep at the urban farm manually, while our larger farm location utilizes tractor implements much more frequently. Though we are not certified organic, we employ natural farming methods and do not use synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. Our small farm crew is made up of Eden (owner/manager) and 2-3 other employees. 

Lucky Crow Farm operates a 1-acre urban farm in the heart of a small neighborhood in Monmouth, OR. Adjacent to the neighborhood (past the urban growth boundary) is the 60-acre, rural farm where our greenhouses, pack shed and cold storage is located. We spend the majority of our time alternating between these two locations.

Eden’s family has been farming in the Willamette Valley for six generations. She went to Scripps College in Claremont, California to pursue a degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Policy. After school she managed farmers’ markets in the Bay Area and worked on livestock/vegetable/tree farms in California and Washington. She started her own operation in 2017 on family land.

The farm in Monmouth is within a five-minute drive to downtown Monmouth and Downtown  Independence. They are both small towns with populations of about 10,000. There are plenty of outdoor activities available in the nearby area including hiking and kayaking on the Willamette River, which runs right through Independence. Monmouth houses Western Oregon University so there is a college town feel. A trolly was recently acquired to shuttle residents between both towns (for free!) The farm crew members live nearby and commute to the farm each day. 

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

Apprentices will receive training/participate in: bed preparation, harvest, planting, wash/pack, farmers’ markets, CSA distribution, customer interaction, marketing, pest management, nutrient management, and propagation. Eden does most tractor/machinery work.

Full-time employees are expected to work 40 hour weeks from the beginning of April through the end of October. Spring days are generally shorter (with an average of 20-30 hours per week, depending on weather). Employees are not expected to work more than 40 hours in a week, even in the height of summer. Taking vacation days (unpaid) is permitted with advanced notice.  

As we switch tasks regularly, training takes place throughout the day as needed. Apprentices are regularly required to sit, kneel, stand, bend, climb and reach; regularly lift up to 50 pounds  without assistance; have the ability to work outside in all weather conditions, often for long durations; be capable of performing repetitive tasks with endurance. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Appropriate gear is required for all weather conditions. 

Beyond our scheduled training sessions, Apprentices will work one-on-one with either Eden or an experienced staff member every day. We are committed to teaching as we work and having impromptu training sessions when needed. We provide regular check-ins and can make time for meetings/questions if requested. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

Required:

• Detail oriented and fast learner 

• Self-motivated and able to streamline workflow 

• Ability to work efficiently alone or in a group 

• Experienced/licensed driver 

• Excellent interpersonal/communication skills and willingness to work with a diverse group of people 

• Ability to keep clear, handwritten and electronic records 

• Positive attitude in all types of weather 

• Commitment to work entire season (with potential for unpaid vacation time)

• Organized and thorough

• Ability to show up on time and ready to work

Preferred: 

• 1-3 years of prior farm work 

• Strong love of food, nutrition and healthy local economies 

• Manual transmission operation 

• Basic mechanics 

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

Hourly rate $15-$18, depending on experience.

Each employee receives a CSA share.

The farm does not offer Apprentice housing. As Monmouth is a college town there are plenty of seasonal, diverse housing options depending on the time of year. Past employees have lived in their own studio apartments, campus housing and in a house with roommates. 

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Eden is queer-identifying farmer who strives to empower those who are not  historically/fairly represented in agriculture. Lucky Crow, first and foremost, is a safe and inclusive space for anyone interested in farm business and local food economies. We believe a more diverse and equitable food production system is imperative in our work towards a sustainable future.

PAST APPRENTICE TESTIMONIALS

“The work environment was comfortable, supportive and educational. Eden always took the time to come over and help any of us when we had questions, I don’t recall any time she didn’t drop what she was doing to give us advice and guidance” - 2024

Eden

Tumbleweed Farm

Tumbleweed FaRM

• 2 APPRENTICESHIPS

• FULL TIME (40 hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: April - October

• $16/HR

• LOCATION: Parkdale  (Portland Chapter)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 13

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING:  2

• PRACTICES: Organic Practices (Not Certified), Mechanized/Tractor Farming

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 2.5

• Vegetables

• ON-FARM HOUSING? Yes 

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English

Our strongest farming value is to add more to the soil than we are taking.  Our goal is to continue to produce/sell more on the same amount of land each year.  We strive to achieve this by improving our strategies, infrastructure and equipment to make things easier, simpler, smoother and faster.  Off the farm our interests include raising two wonderful girls, cooking, skiing, trail running, golf, pond hockey and whackin’ a few beers whenever the opportunity presents itself.  

https://gotumbleweed.com

@tumbleweed.farm

FARM OVERVIEW

Taylor and Andrea Bemis have owned and operated Tumbleweed Farm since 2012.  We learned how to farm on Taylor’s family’s 60 acre organic vegetable and fruit farm in Massachusetts.  We started out on our own on leased land up the road from us, then purchased this land in 2013 and have been farming here ever since.  

We are on a 6 acre parcel on the North side of Mount Hood.  We cultivate 2.5 acres of that.  We have one propagation house and 2 unheated hoop houses (20x96 and 30x96).  The East Fork irrigation canal is our Eastern property line and our irrigation source.  We are a 6 minute drive to Parkdale and a 15 minute drive to Hood River.  Lots of recreational opportunities nearby.  The Mount Hood Parkdale community is fun, welcoming and supportive.  

We grow a diverse array of vegetables (along with melons and strawberries) for our 150 share CSA and the Hood River Farmers Market.  Though we have not pursued certification we grow organically and are committed to a zero spray policy.  For pest control we use row cover and crop rotation.  For soil health we incorporate 150 yards of compost and 6 tons of chicken manure every Spring.  For field prep we use a spader and rototiller behind a 23 horse power tractor.  For final bed prep/stale bedding we use a BCS 853 with a power harrow.  For weed control we use scuffle hoes, trapezoid hoes and tractor mounted basket weeders, finger weeders and sweeps.  We do 75% overhead irrigation, 25% drip.  Our farm crew is typically made of four members on harvest days and 2-3 on other days. 

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

The primary tasks our crew members are responsible for are propagation, planting, deploying row cover, hoeing/weeding, harvesting, washing, packing and the farmers market.  Irrigation, some BCS work, flame weeding and direct seeding are tasks that can be explored.  Additional duties arise throughout the season including thinning carrots/beets and cleaning garlic and onions.  

Start and end dates are flexible within 1 week.  The work day is generally 7-4 with a one hour lunch break.  The focus of work is on quality initially and speed once quality is understood.  Crew members are expected to be able to carry and stack heavy crates.  Time off is ideally avoided but is allowed for crucial circumstances.  

We will be working alongside the crew a lot of the time but not always.  We always include the crew in the full picture of what is going on and what is happening to the field before and after the crew’s roles.  There is always time to ask/answer questions and to accompany the pre-harvest field walks.

QUALIFICATIONS

We are most excited by applicants who are enthusiastic about farming and motivated to work hard and fast.  Previous farming experience is not required.  Previous experience working in fast-paced and sometimes stressful situations is preferred.  

Our housing opportunity is a 7 minute drive to the farm so some form of transportation is required.

COMPENSATION AND ACCOMMODATIONS 

Compensation is $16/hr plus any and all produce you’d like to bring home.  

On-farm housing is offered for both Apprentices. The housing we are offering is a 2 bedroom ADU on 4th Ave in downtown Parkdale. It’s a 7 minute drive from the farm (5 miles away), and an extremely short walk to the grocery store, laundromat, coffee shop, and restaurants. For employees of the farm,  rent is $300/room, utilities included. 

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Anyone willing to put forth their best effort is welcome here.  We stay in constant communication with crew members directly as well as our crew leader about how everyone is getting along and will address issues as they arise.  We have employed a crew for seven seasons now and have found farming to be a great uniter. 

PAST APPRENTICE TESTIMONIALS

“He knows his systems, and he knows why they work. He's always willing to explain, unhurriedly, if you ask, and he'll encourage efficiency without rushing. He trusted us with new tasks and let us work independently often, but was ready to jump in when needed…

Taylor was still learning how to be a mentor this season, and I think he is searching for the right balance of exposure to new and interesting farm tasks, and the repetitive grunt work of the farm. I think with more practice he'll strike the right balance.” - 2023

Taylor, Andrea, and kids

Nella Mae's Farm

Nella Mae’s FarM

• 1 APPRENTICESHIP

• FULL TIME (30-40 hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: April - October

• $17/HR

• LOCATION: Cove  (Satellite Farm)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 12

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING:  2

• PRACTICES: Low-till, Rotational Grazing, Winter Farming

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 1/2 Vegetables, 15 Pasture

• Vegetable Production,  Meat Production

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No 

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English, Spanish

• Women-Owned/Operated, BIPOC-Owned/Operated, LGBTQIA2s+-Owned/Operated

Nella Mae’s Farm is a high desert produce farm managed with low-till, regenerative, and holistic practices at the base of the Wallowa Mountains in northeast Oregon. Nella Mae’s philosophy is influenced primarily by Holistic Management, Lean Farming, and soil science. The farm’s purpose is to feed our community, steward soil, and enhance the well being of the land and those who tend it. 

www.nellamaesfarm.com 

@nellamaesfarm

FARM OVERVIEW

Nella Mae’s Farm is just outside the “city” of Cove, population 500. Cove is on the east side of the Grande Ronde Valley, population 26,000, one of the largest round valleys in the world. While this is technically high desert, the snow melt, rivers and a high water table make this place rich for agriculture. We also face a short spring, extreme temperature swings in the summer, and increasingly variable weather. We are learning to adapt every year.

Most of the farms in the valley are hundreds or thousands of acres and grow grass, grains and sunflowers for seed, alfalfa, mint, and sugar beets. There is a healthy number of small-scale farms growing meat, produce, and nursery crops, and our small group of small farms is mutually supportive and highly collaborative. We have a huge amount of support locally large and small, as well as fellow business owners, customers, and neighbors as we have grown the farm. We look forward to enhancing an Apprentice’s experience at the farm through sharing experiences with her own mentors and farmer friends.

The farm also raises a few beef for market with a neighbor. 

Produce sells at the on-farm farmstand, the La Grande Farmers Market, several retail outlets, one CSA, the local and regional food banks, and restaurants in two counties. 

The farm crew is small and tight-knit. We have a friendly, fun crew and focus on collaboration, teamwork, improving systems together, and eating well. Nella Mae cooks lunch for the crew every harvest day (Tuesday and Friday.)

2025 will be the 12th season of Nella Mae’s Farm, but she grew up on her family’s farm and started selling at the La Grande Farmers Market when she was 10 years old. However, due to the difficulty of farming, she was encouraged to leave agriculture behind and go to college. Her return to agriculture was a surprise to everyone, and was made possible by the local food movement of the 2000’s.

2025 adds Samirah Miller as a farming partner at Nella Mae’s Farm. Samirah is a past RFC Apprentice who just completed her masters in Regenerative Agriculture. She also has a masters in nutrition. 

Samirah also hails from the desert west, Arizona, where she worked on several farms before coming to eastern Oregon. Samirah’s holistic approach to health and sustainability is an inspiration to those around her, as she strives to make the world a healthier, more sustainable place. She has focused on adding winter farming and flowers into the mix at Nella Mae’s Farm.

TRAINING AND EXPECTATION

Skills taught at the farm include seed starting, transplanting, direct seeding, harvesting, produce processing, marketing, use of equipment, farm business management skills, sales, and customer service. 

An Apprentice at the farm will have the opportunity to go as deep as they are interested in learning marketing, business, and staff management as well as the best practices on propagation, harvest, food safety, soil care, irrigation, plumbing, light construction, and the importance of developing a farm network.

Apprentice will generally work 6 hour days 4-5 days per week.

                                                                                                                                               Time off is flexible with one or two weeks’ notice.

Heavy exertion is typical with farm work. Most work is done by hand. Carrying boxes of produce, tough work such as post pounding or broad forking, and working in hot and cold conditions is typical.

Training is integrated into work. Teaching and farming are linked in every activity on the farm. We take hour-long lunches to discuss finances, bookkeeping, no-till practices, etc. Every day at lunch is our check-in time. The rest of the training happens each morning as we plan out the day together, walk the fields, and review best practices. Discussion happens in real time while we work together. Nella Mae works side by side with others on the farm for 80-90 percent of the day and talks in depth about ag practices, books, why we do things the way we do them, and how we got here. 

Nella Mae and Samirah love to discuss big ideas and are very involved in the policy and politics of agriculture, social justice, natural resources, and rural places. 

Fingers crossed that Apprentices will find us funny because we love to laugh while we work. :)

We always put hoes down to visit with neighbors who stop by and learn from elders in the neighborhood.

We also host outdoor schools and class visits several times per year at the farm, so we have the opportunity to teach and learn from kiddos.

QUALIFICATIONS

We are looking for a hard-working, self-motivated person who is able to communicate in a timely, and direct manner. Most important is someone who is curious, thinks deeply, asks questions, problem solves, and helps the farm improve by giving feedback and utilizing their human creativity. An Apprentice must be able to work quickly and deftly with their hands. 

We are happy to host Apprentices with no gardening or ag experience. We are looking for an Apprentice who is interested in plants and has some demonstrable experience doing physical labor. 

Attention to detail and adherence to our food safety procedures is critical. Applicants should be ready for physical work and to lift 30 lbs regularly. They should also be able to work outside in all weather conditions from rain to heat. We invite a person of any skill level to apply for as long as they are excited to learn about farming and work outside. 

Due to our very rural location, the Apprentice should have their own reliable transportation.  

An in-person visit is not required before a final placement decision is made but candidates may visit if they like. 

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

Compensation is $17/hour plus reimbursement of RFC tuition if/when the season is completed. This additional benefit works out to an equivalent of about $18/hour. Apprentices get all the produce they can eat and preserve, use of farm kitchen for food/preservation projects, a very flexible schedule for time off, hot lunch on harvest days, and use of farm library. 

No on-farm housing is available, but the nearest town, La Grande, is a college town (Eastern Oregon University.) Summer rentals are available. Rentals in Union, Oregon, 10 miles away, may also be available. 

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and feminism are guiding principles in how Nella Mae and Samirah live their lives,  run the farm, and operate the business. Understanding their own privilege, checking it, and ensuring that they are sharing knowledge and resources with new and beginning farmers is paramount to what they do.  

PAST APPRENTICE TESTIMONIALS

Samirah says: ” Working with Nella Mae at Nella Mae's Farm has been an inspiring and transformative experience. Nella’s commitment to innovative farming practices and community engagement has profoundly shaped my approach to sustainable agriculture. This year, I am thrilled to continue as a farming partner, co-leading collaborative projects that focus on food security, community education, flowers and regenerative practices. Nella’s mentorship and dedication to fostering growth both in the field and within people have been invaluable, and I look forward to building on this foundation in the coming season!”  -2024

Nella Mae

Samirah

McPherson Farms

McPherson Farms

• 1 APPRENTICESHIP

• FULL TIME (32-40 hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: April - September

• $15/HR

• LOCATION: Klamath Basin  (Southern Oregon*)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 45

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING:  2

• PRACTICES: Rotational Grazing, No-till, Low- Tillage, Mechanized/Tractor Farming

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 750

• Meat Production, Hay Production, Small Grains

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No 

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English

*While outside of the Rogue Valley Chapter, some in-person educational events will be within a 90-minute drive from this Host Farm. Attendance at these events is highly encouraged.  

McPherson Farms raises hay, cattle, hogs, and grain. Most of our labor involves tractors and other machines. We practice no-till cultivation where possible, manage our cattle with rotational grazing, and utilize cover crops to improve soil health. Through our work, we strive to maintain both a healthy ecosystem and a productive farm to the best of our ability. 

www.highdeserthighlands.com

https://www.facebook.com/highdeserthighlands 

@highdeserthighlands  

Farm Overview

McPherson Farms sits on 750 acres just outside of Midland, a small community 10 miles south of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Our farm is run by Josh and his mom, Jani, with help from his wife, Marlena, and one employee during the summer months. We raise hay, cattle, hogs, and grain on our farm. We have a small number of our cattle and all our hogs butchered at an inspected facility to sell meat direct-to-consumer through our farm store, the local farmers market, and online marketplace under our brand, “McPherson’s High Desert Highlands”. Our hay is sold locally with a limited number of deliveries, and most of our calves are sold at the local auction yard. Our farm is somewhere between conventional and regenerative. Most of our labor involves tractors and other machines. 

Our area is defined by open farmland with the Cascade Mountains to the west and desert hills to the east. Our farm is in the Pacific Flyway, near several National Wildlife Refuges, providing an important rest area for migratory birds. It is a home for many different species including sandhill cranes, eagles, hawks, coyotes, and the occasional badger or weasel. There are many opportunities for outdoor recreation such as hiking, biking, and fishing within a short drive. Our community is one of family farmers who are generous and look out for each other.

McPherson Farms has operated since 1980, when the McPhersons bought their property. Josh was raised on the farm and has been helping run it his whole life. He has managed irrigation, operated equipment, and helped manage cattle for 25 years. Over that time he has taken over management of the farm. He has long term experience in farm planning, accounting, crop establishment, irrigation, grazing management, crop harvest, livestock care, equipment repairs, and direct-to-consumer sales. He graduated with a degree in geography with minors in philosophy and land use planning. Josh believes that farming can be a way to make the world better by rediscovering traditional practices and embracing new farming methods. This helps integrate our farm with the landscape while still providing for our family and the community. As such, our farm is and may always be a work in progress.

We would like to host an apprentice to pass our skills and knowledge to the next generation of farmers. We have opportunities on our farm to learn through work and experience, the same way Josh did growing up. It would be nice to spend time training someone who wants to participate in all aspects of farming and is eager to learn.

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

Josh has been training and supervising employees on the job for the last 7 years and will be the primary mentor to the apprentice. His wife, Marlena, is a science teacher with 10 years of experience in the field of education. Although she works off the farm during the school year, Marlena works on the farm during the summer and will provide some additional training and support. 

The Apprentice will learn irrigation management and maintenance for hand line, wheel lines, pivots, and flood irrigation. They will learn to construct and maintain both electric and wire fences for livestock. They will help provide daily care for cattle and pigs, as well as how to manage grazing cattle in a rotational system. They will help fulfill online sales and help operate a booth at the farmers market for direct to consumer sales every one to two weeks. They will help plant and establish forage and cover crops. They will help with basic maintenance and operation of farm equipment based on their own comfort and skill level. They will help with the planning and budgeting for one crop from planting to harvest.

We are part of an active community of family farmers and ranchers and will help the Apprentice meet local farmers and coordinate visits to other farms approximately once a month. We will include opportunities to participate in farm community events put on by farm groups like the Klamath-Lake Farm Bureau and introduce them to the people involved in our local food systems non-profit, Klamath Grown.

The position will start on/around April 14th and last until approximately September 14th. We have some flexibility on start and end dates of the Apprentice’s work season if necessary. There will be between 6 and 10 hours of training in a day, 5 days a week. The Apprentice will be expected to show up between 7am and 8am as needed. The schedule can be irregular depending on the harvest schedule, with blocks of training in the morning and evening. The Apprentice will have the opportunity to take a week off from training sometime in July or August. As for physical expectations, the Apprentice should be able to walk 3-4 miles a day and lift 50 lbs easily. The Apprentice can expect to be asked to move bales of hay, lift sacks of seed, carry irrigation pipes, drag irrigation hoses, and pound in fence posts.  

Each morning there will be a check-in and explanation of the tasks for the day, with an opportunity to answer any questions. When the Apprentice is given a new task or project to begin, we will be present to explain and demonstrate the techniques and expectations involved and help get them started. The Apprentice will be given the opportunity to work independently, but a mentor will be a phone call away if troubleshooting is needed. At the end of the day, we will check in and talk about the progress that day and address any concerns or answer questions the Apprentice might have. There will be a whole farm meeting once a week to review everything that we've done and talk about what the next week will look like. Periodically, we will have the Apprentice tag along to get an understanding of jobs on the farm that are outside of their direct experience.    

Qualifications

We would like an applicant who enjoys working outside without close supervision. Some experience around livestock is preferred, and the applicant should have some physical work experience. Applicants should be interested in farming as a future occupation and be willing to work with and cooperate with people of a different mindset. Our family includes children who are intertwined with our farm life. As such, we would prefer family-friendly applicants, and no smoking, alcohol, or drug use.

A vehicle is necessary given the location of our farm. Being able to drive a manual transmission is preferred, but we are willing to train someone who is eager to learn.     

Compensation / Accomodations

The position will start at $15/hr. 

We will provide a stipend for fuel to help with travel to and from the farm and to help the Apprentice participate in the Rogue Farm Corp program. Following a successful season, the Apprentice can expect an end-of-season bonus. The Apprentice will receive an employee discount of 20% on any food purchased from the farm store.

Rentals are available in Klamath Falls and surrounding areas. We will happily advise an Apprentice on good locations to rent in. That being said, we are actively networking to find off-farm housing that we can assist with for the season.

Cell service is available on the whole farm. Wi-fi is available at either of the two houses on the farm.

Equity and Inclusion

On our farm, the only thing we don't tolerate is intolerance. We only ask people that work for us to do jobs that we would be willing to do ourselves. We try to ensure that anyone can afford and access our products, while still providing us and our employees with a living wage.

Past apprentice Testimonials

“There was a great amount of respect and kindness given to me by my mentors. They showed a genuine interest in my progress as a farmer. In addition to teaching me a lot, they also asked my opinions on operations and really listened to my ideas.” - Apprentice, 2023

Marlena and Josh McPherson with their child.

Feral Farm

Feral Farm

• 1-2 APPRENTICESHIPS

• PART TIME(20-32 hours/week)

• APPROX START/END DATES: April - October

• $15/HR

• LOCATION: Jacksonville / Applegate (Rogue Valley Chapter)

• YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 8

• PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING: 3

• PRACTICES: Certified Organic, Mechanized/Tractor Farming

• ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 4

• Seed Production, Nursery

• ON-FARM HOUSING? No

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English, Spanish (basic)

• Women-Owned/Operated

Feral Farm was founded on a love of seed and a passion for stewarding the genetic and cultural diversity of our food system. We believe in health from the ground up, and grow our seeds in a way that honors the soil and our native ecosystem. Feral Farm is dedicated exclusively to organic, open pollinated seed and heirloom garlic production. The farm consists of four fields along a five mile stretch of the Thompson Creek watershed in the Applegate Valley of southern Oregon, where long dry summers and a county ban on GMOs favor healthy, clean seed production. Owned and operated by Cacia Huff and with the help of neighbors along Thompson Creek.

https://feralfarmseeds.com/
@feralfarm4

Farm Overview

The majority of the farm is in wholesale vegetable and flower seed production (80%), seed garlic for wholesale and direct local sale (10%), and an on-site honor system farm stand selling garden starts and seed packets (10%).  Everything is certified organic. All fields are drip irrigated and cover cropped in winter. Straw mulch is used on many crops. We use a small tractor for bed prep, hand tools for weeding, and mostly small/hand scale tools for seed processing, though some will be mechanized. Overall, a wide variety of tools will be employed to grow and process a diversity of seed crops - between 50-100 varieties per season, including flowers and herbs and a full spectrum of vegetables. There is a nice seasonal flow, with early springtime being heavily focused on greenhouse work, seeding and transplanting; late spring being focused on weeding and crop supports like mulching and trellising; summer begins seed crop harvest; and fall continues harvest and begins seed processing and cleaning. There are lots of opportunities to learn new skills!

Feral Farm is spread across four isolation fields along a 5 mile stretch of Thompson Creek - a rural and fairly close knit community of homesteaders, farmers, and ranchers. Thompson Creek is located approximately halfway between the cities of Medford and Grants Pass. The home field is where I live as well as three other people including my landlord and his partner and another renter, and my house will be accessible during work hours to the Apprentices. The other three fields do not have bathroom access. There are ample hiking trails to explore, rivers and creeks to swim in, proximity to Applegate Lake, and opportunities to connect with others in the farming community. 

Feral Farm has been in operation since 2017, and is run by Cacia Huff. It started with a small lease on the established farm I, Cacia, was working for at the time. Prior to that, I spent 2 seasons in the Puget Sound area of northwestern WA, Apprenticing at the Organic Farm School, where I learned business management, farm-scale vegetable and contract seed production. My background prior to that was an Environmental Studies degree at UCSC. My studies in agroecology led me to spend time in southern Mexico establishing school gardens and garden classroom curriculum, and opened my eyes to the worldwide struggle to maintain and preserve rapidly disappearing seed diversity. It then led to a few years of work in organic certification, before I decided that I wanted to be out in the field and on the ground rather than in the office. I’m passionate about being outdoors, working with my body, being surrounded by natural beauty, and expressing creativity in the work I do. I love pushing myself mentally and physically, and this type of work never fails there!

TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS

I will be working alongside the Apprentices for the majority of the time, taking time to demonstrate each individual task as it arises. I am always available for feedback, and encourage questions. I embrace the idea of allowing greater independence on tasks that an Apprentice enjoys or shows particular aptitude for - there is flexibility there. I’m happy to schedule regular check-ins and foster open communication.

Early Spring: greenhouse production of many types of plants for seed crops as well as farmstand/nursery plant production. Soil blocking, hand seeding, potting on, and managing the flow of the farmstand. 

Mid to late Spring: bed preparation, which will include tractor work (done by me), hand fertilizing, bed marking, direct seeding with an Earthway seeder, and hand transplanting from soil blocks. Setting up drip irrigation systems. String trimming and weeding with a walk-behind electric tilther, wheel hoe, and stirrup hoes. Plant protection (hoops and row cover), and early identifying and roguing of off types in seed crops.

Late spring to early summer: continued weeding, laying straw mulch on cucurbits, and setting up crop supports like trellises and, in some cases, isolation netting to prevent undesired crossing of seed crops. 

Summer: garlic harvest, proper curing, and cleaning for wholesale and local sales. Early seed crop harvests begin in July and August, mostly dry-seeded crops which will be cured, threshed, winnowed, etc. Each crop is a different process.

Late Summer/Early Fall: later season seed crop harvest and processing, which includes many wet seeded crops like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash and cucumbers. Mechanical and hand processing, fermenting, decanting, and cleaning - each crop is a different process! This is also the time we finish clean garlic and pack large wholesale orders for shipping.

Late Fall: continued seed cleaning, packing and shipping.

Throughout the season:  Keeping the farmstand stocked and running, plenty of weeding, gopher trapping, and keeping irrigation water flowing. 

Feral Farm offers an average of 20 to 32 work hours per week from approximately April through October, Monday through Friday. Hours start on the low end and increase as the season progresses, with a slight lull in July. I am flexible with time off if requests are made ahead of time. The heaviest crunch times are May and September/October, so those are not great times for extended time off requests. While I do work to switch up the work tasks throughout the day and week to avoid monotony, Apprentices should expect to be doing a fair bit of physical exertion in all kinds of weather! Southern Oregon will get hot, averaging daily between 90-105 in the summer. Apprentices should plan to use a respirator for a few weeks in the summer due to wildfire smoke.

QUALIFICATIONS

I work best with people who already love being outdoors, enjoy challenging themselves, and enjoy doing physical work in all weather. Also, those who enjoy learning new things and thinking creatively about how to approach tasks. Flexibility and the ability to go with the flow of work that is often weather-dependent and, therefore, unpredictable is important. Attention to detail is critical when it comes to maintaining varietal integrity of seed crops, garlic, and vegetable starts, which is relevant through all parts of the season. Good communication and mutual respect - listening and asking questions as well as speaking up about any issues that arise, respecting each other's time (showing up on time, communicating scheduling needs), and also being attuned to your own physical needs. Previous farming or landscaping work is desirable but ultimately not as important as enthusiasm to learn!

COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS

$15/hr plus reimbursement of RFC tuition if/when season is completed.

Apprentices will also receive plant starts and seeds for personal garden use, any edible portions from processing seed crops (eg, melon and squash flesh), and garlic for personal use.

Verizon and US Cellular service is available, though not always stellar in the fields. Wifi is available at the home farm house and will be accessible (as will the house itself for breaks, bathroom, shower if needed). There is no housing on-site at this time.

I would prefer to meet prospective Apprentices if possible to make sure we both feel like we would be a good fit. I have found paid working interviews to be a helpful way to go about this. If this isn’t possible, I’m open to getting to know each other over the phone.

EQUITY AND INCLUSION

I do not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexuality, ethnicity, or age. I encourage open and respectful communication.

Cacia, with kitty friend