Internship/Apprentice Cane Creek Farm
- Date Posted February 03, 2017
- Location Cumming, GA
- Category Agriculture
- Job type Internship/Apprentice
Cane Creek Farm is a small family owned, CSA farm in suburban Forsyth County, Georgia. Located about 40 miles above Atlanta, the land has changed rapidly in the last 15 years with subdivisions springing up around the farm. The farm’s seventeen acres of pastures, fields, and woods are surrounded by a creek, with most of the growing area in the fertile creek bottom land. Small numbers of sheep, cattle, and chickens have been added in recent years. There are 3 unheated hoop houses and a solar-heated greenhouse for transplants.
In addition to a production farm, Cane Creek Farm is also an educational farm. We offer a variety of learning experiences from classes to internships to work shares to incubator farms for those interested in discovering or deepening their understanding of how to grow food, using sustainable, chemical-free growing practices. Our students include the beginning backyard gardener, the experienced farmer wanting to learn more, and school children spending a day or a week on the farm..
Our mission is to encourage others to create a more sustainable lifestyle for themselves, their families and their communities. We are a Certified Naturally Grown farm, as this grass-roots organization best fits our philosophies and goals as a small-scale producer selling locally and directly to our customers.
Apprentices will be involved in all aspects of raising a crop from soil preparation, seed starting, greenhouse work, field planting, cultivation, harvesting, preparing for the CSA pick up each week, record-keeping, maintenance, and more! Our ideal apprentice has a passion for farming and sustainable living. In addition, the best candidate will have open and positive communication skills, a mind for detail and efficiency, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to learn and be part of a team. Apprentices must be in good physical condition and be able to handle heat and humidity. Previous farming, construction or machinery experience is a plus but not required. This is a full time job for the growing season.
Apprentices will work closely with the farm manager in the performance of daily farm activities, so ample opportunities will exist for on-the-job Q & A. In addition to hands-on experience, our training program includes farm and market tours, weekly discussions of selected readings, access to the Cane Creek Farm Organic Growing Class materials, and a final independent project. Topics covered may include soil science, biological pest management, irrigation and water management, tool maintenance, marketing and record keeping, and crop planning. Apprentices are encouraged to choose a topic or project on the farm that they would like to delve into deeper for their independent project. Examples of independent projects include conducting best crop variety trials, writing a business plan for your future farm, and developing a harvest manual.
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