Biodynamic Horsepowered Vegetable CSA Apprenticeship

Great Song Farm, a Horse powered Biodynamic Vegetable CSA, is beginning to interview applicants for our 2014 season apprenticeship. We are seeking apprentices from late March/Early April until Early November. Details are below:

Great Song Farm
475 Milan Hill Rd
Red Hook, NY 12571
845-758-1572
greatsongfarm@riseup.net
http://www.greatsongfarm.com

Farmer Anthony Mecca

Great Song Farm is a community centered farm, providing fresh vegetables for 90 member families through the summer and 25 families through the winter months through an on farm CSA. We cultivate around 5 acres, around half planted to vegetables, herbs, and flowers, and manage 25 acres of pasture, 50 in forest, 10 wetland, and an adjacent property of 40 open acres for hay and 50 in woods. We apply biodynamic and organic principles in managing the farm. I am the main farmer, assisted by landholders Larry and Betti Steel and many wonderful friends and community members. 2014 will be our 4th season.

We use 2 Suffolk Draft horses for all of our field work. We also have 2 cows, a bred heifer, a young heifer, and a bull. We hand milk the lactating animals for our own use. These animals provide manure for compost and graze our pastures along with their other wonderful gifts. There is also a small flock of 10 chickens for eggs.

We are looking for 2 apprentices from late March/early April through early November. Our workweek is Monday through Friday and Saturday Morning. Workdays are 6 am to 6 pm with an hour for breakfast and an hour for lunch. Saturdays are 6 am til 12:30. There will also be shared weekend animal and greenhouse chores.

Apprenticeship focus will be on vegetable production including greenhouse seeding and care, direct seeding, field preparation, making and applying compost, weeding and cultivation, transplanting, harvesting, washing, and interaction with CSA members. We are passionate about biodynamics and are happy to share our experiences. Carpentry Projects and Machine/Equipment repair is regularly needed. Daily care of cows and horses will also be included, including pasture management. Other work, such as handmilking cows and working horses, depends on applicants skill and willingness.

Great Song Farm is a mentor farm in the North American Biodynamic Apprenticeship Program (NABDAP). Participating in this program is entirely voluntary. I will be using it as a structure to help facilitate my personal apprenticeship program, but the formalities are not obligatory. See here for more information: https://www.biodynamics.com/nabdap

We also participate in the local CRAFT (collaborative regional apprentice farmer training) program which is a group of farms in the area, most of which also have apprentices, who host the apprentices for a tour of their farm and a presentation on a particular aspect. There are usually visits every 2 weeks or so during the season.

There are a couple rustic housing options on the farm. There is a shared bathroom and kitchen facility which also serves as the farm’s office. We share vegetarian lunches. There are some staples such as grains around the farm and apprentices are welcome to any vegetables the farm produces as well as dairy products and eggs when available. You are responsible for all other food. A general stipend of $500 per month is provided.
Please fill out the following questionnaire and include your resume in the same document, saved as a .doc (not docx), as well as three references. We will be in touch regarding setting up a visit if it seems like you will be a good fit.

a) Please give a little background about yourself, your interests, and your future plans.
b) Why do you want to farm this coming season? What do you personally hope to learn and experience? Why do you want to farm at Great Song Farm?
c) Please describe your physical condition and any relevant physical experiences.
d) Do you have any special diet, health, social, etc concerns we should know about?
e) Please describe any relevant work experiences.
f) How do you see yourself fitting in at Great Song Farm? What do you have to offer?
g) How do you feel you work in a team, living in close quarters with others?

Please fill out the questionnaire and include your resume in the same document, saved as a .doc (not docx), as well as three references.

-Anthony