https://www.wholesystemsdesign.com/employment-and-internships/

Interns and Apprentices at Whole Systems Research Farm II (with time at WSD’s original site)

Whole Systems Research Farm II will be hosting internships at a newly developing 175 acre farm in central Vermont, starting in April/May 2014.  They are accepting interns on a rolling basis and are offering the following opportunities:

• Hands-on practice in developing a regenerative commercial farm with multiple enterprises: including raising animals, seed-saving, medicine-making, grazing, vegetable production, aquaculture, plant propagation and tree planting, forestry systems, earthworks and keyline, hay-making and more. Interns will work alongside Ben Falk, Erik Shellenberg, Erica Koch ND, our entire Permaculture Design Instructor team, and others experienced in these systems.
• Experience at the original WSD research farm in Moretown with maintaining and enhancing established systems.  This work at an established site will go along with work at the larger new site to form a whole picture of permaculture land use from year 0 to year 10.
• Planting and map-making at the new site, laying out farm-scale plantings on swales, planting, labeling and mapping all systems.  (This will be a massively learning-filled experience by itself).
• Farmer’s market management
• Assistance with and connection to the WSD permaculture design course and other Whole Systems Skills
  courses is possible through this program, applicant dependent.
• Housing provided and experience provided, no charge and no stipend.
• Apprenticeships, employment and eventual land procurement opportunities are possibilities for those engaging in this program.
• 20-40 hours/week of internship available.
• Possible design experience in the WSD studio available to design and graphics professionals, as well as students in landscape architecture, architecture and other students with formal training and design consultancy experience with Ben Falk in the field on project sites.

What skills will I be exposed to and practice?

General:

Medicine making, and plant system establishment
Pollinator promotion
Hand tool use and maintenance

Design, system layouts, map-making, recording via plans
Tree planting Earth shaping and earthworks
Site design and management day to day
Animal husbandry
Grazing/rotations/animal care and fencing
Keyline ID and design/layout
Animal processing

Vegetables: 

Garden design
Companion planting
Crop rotation
Weed control
Sowing/broadcasting, plant spacing
Successional planting and management
Season extension techniques
Composting Remineralization and biochar
Erosion control Tractor use Irrigation/gravity feed
Fertility management

Tree/bush crops: 

Propagation techniques
Plant ID Water/irrigation systems
Produce processing and marketing

And much much more as part of the daily life on a farm and homestead.

If interested, send a letter of qualifications and resume or portfolio to skills@wholesystemsdesign.com.
https://www.wholesystemsdesign.com/employment-and-internships/
Ben Falk, M.A.L.D.
Whole Systems Design, LLC
802-343-9490 (c)
ben@wholesystemsdesign.com
www.wholesystemsdesign.com