Churchtown Dairy

A project of the Foundation for Agricultural Integrity, the Churchtown Dairy is a working biodynamic dairy farm that intends to serve as a beacon for those working to promote regenerative agriculture and restorative communities.  We strive to raise public awareness of the positive impacts ecological agriculture can have on ecosystems, communities and economies.  We also endeavor to create a healing environment by imbuing all our work with beauty--the buildings, the landscape and the economic and social systems within which we work.

As part of our work the Churchtown Dairy has dedicated two acres to the growing of medicinal plants to bring health and beauty to the landscape of the farm, to the earth, and to people who benefit from what herbal practitioners produce from these plants. 

For the 2019 growing season (mid-March to mid-November) Churchtown Dairy seeks two apprentices to work with and learn from Medicinal Plant Grower Jean-David Derreumaux.  Jean-David brings 40 years of biodynamic farming experience including 20+ years specifically in the growing of high-quality medicinal plants. 

Learning opportunities are many and focus primarily on the growing and harvesting of medicinal plants. Apprentices will be involved in:

• All tasks associated with growing starters in greenhouse
• Raising plants from seed to seed
• Soil tillage, composting and garden maintenance
• Working in both a healing garden and a row-crop setting
• Many biodynamic practices
• Drying of medicinal plants and to a limited degree making extracts from them. 

Time is set aside for focused education sessions with Jean-David and with the plants, but the learning is primarily through the work itself.  We are looking for individuals with gardening experience who understand the rigors of working on the land and who want to learn specifically about growing biodynamic medicinal plants in the context of a healing garden.

The apprenticeship can be associated with the biodynamic apprenticeship program if desired. See https://www.biodynamics.com/farmer-training

Apprentices are paid an hourly wage and are expected to work 40 hours-plus per week, on a schedule to be defined.  We do not have on-site housing and apprentices will need to secure their own accommodation.

A minimum of two-years gardening or farming experience is preferred.