2015 Apprenticeship Great Song Farm Biodynamic Horsepowered CSA Red Hook, NY

Great Song Farm, located in New York’s Hudson Valley, works to create a community farm based around an on-farm CSA supplying fresh vegetables to 110 families through the summer and 30 through the winter. In addition we offer other local biodynamic and organic products including honey, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples, breads, soft and hard cheeses, yogurt, eggs, teas, herbs, and fermented vegetable products through add-on shares and a small farmstore. Farmers Anthony Mecca and Sarah Hearn strive to craft a just, accessible, and transparent food system that is economically viable and fulfilling for both farmers and supporters. Our 2 Suffolk Draft Horses help us with field work and cultivation. A small cow herd grazes our pastures and provides manure, milk and processed products for home use. A beekeeper tends 20-30 beehives. We create and use our own prepared compost from our draft horse and cow manure as the basis for fertility. Our farm is leased from 2 gracious landowners.

Cultivating an experience of the farm and developing a personal relationship to the plants, animals, and soils, as well as the human and social community, and cosmic rhythms is of central importance. We are constantly exploring, observing, asking, thinking, and doing. Great Song Farm is in the beginning stages of development — Anthony started the farm in 2010 after 5 years working as an apprentice on other farms. Apprenticing at Great Song is an opportunity to contribute to and learn from a young farm that is still refining its systems and has great potential.

Size of farm: 90 acres: 5 acres cultivated, 25 acres pasture, 10 acres wetland, and 50 acres in forest. Nearby an additional 40 acres of hayland is leased.

Diversity of livestock and produce: A wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers for a 110 member on farm Summer CSA and a 30 member Winter CSA. 2 Suffolk draft horses for field work, a small beginning cow herd of 3 cows, a bred heifer, a bull, and 2 bull calves, 20-30 beehives and a small flock of laying hens for home use.

Apprenticeship details: We are seeking 2 apprentices for the 2015 season from March until November and 2 interns from May until Late August. Please contact us for more information on the internship as the details around housing, compensation, and work schedule differ from the apprenticeship.

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 practices and experience. We are beginning to save a variety of seeds for farm use. Carpentry Projects and Machine/Equipment maintenance and repair is regularly needed. General farm upkeep, cleanliness, and organization will be integrated. 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.

We participate in the local CRAFT (collaborative regional apprentice farmer training) -http://www.glynwood.org/programs/glynwood-farm/craft/ – program which is a group of farms in the area who host apprentices for a tour of their farm and a presentation on a particular aspect every other week.

We are a NABDAP Mentor Farm – https://www.biodynamics.com/nabdap

Ideally, candidates would visit the farm for a workday interview before November to get a sense of the farm when it is up and running. Please contact us for a short questionnaire and other application details, which will help us determine if you will be a good fit. We will then set up a visit.

Housing: There are a couple private housing options on the farm. There is a shared bathroom and kitchen facility which also serves as the farm’s office.

Compensation: We share vegetarian lunches. Apprentices are welcome to any vegetables the farm produces as well as dairy products and eggs when available. A general stipend of around $500/month is included – we are willing to converse if more is needed.

Work schedule: 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, rotating weekend animal and greenhouse chores.

Mentor Farmer: Anthony Mecca
Address of farm: 475 Milan Hill Road, Red Hook, NY 12571
Phone: 845-758-1572
Email: greatsongfarm@riseup.net
Website: http://www.greatsongfarm.com