Apprenticeships

Whole Farm Apprenticeship

All Hawthorne Valley Farm apprentices experience farming through hands-on learning on our diversified Biodynamic farm. Whole Farm Apprentices rotate through all areas of the farm, working with the field vegetables, Corner Garden, milking herd, and livestock operation. The farm focuses on both production and education.

Apprentices work with the farm team to learn the daily rhythms in each part of the farm. The Whole Farm Apprenticeship focuses on the overall picture of the farm, including:

• Biodynamics
• Milking and livestock management
• Vegetable production-field and market garden
• Grazing and pasture management
• Community supported agriculture

Advanced Livestock Apprenticeship

The Advanced Livestock Apprenticeship provides the foundational knowledge for beginning farmers to pursue a career in animal husbandry. The central focus of this apprenticeship is the management of an organic dairy herd. The applicant must have spent one full season on a production farm and also must have experience working with livestock, experience with cows (dairy, beef, or draft) is highly encouraged.

The responsibilities of the Advanced Livestock Apprentice are as follows:

• Monitor cow and calf health including administering homeopathic treatments
• Assisting in calving
• Setting up fence for daily rotation of cows
• General maintenance of barn
• Milk cows daily
• Maintain manure compost
• Oversee and delegate tasks to whole farm apprentices
• Daily Feeding of young stock and pigs
• Maintenance of pig pastures/indoor housing

This apprentice must also work well with others, be organized, be able to multitask, and enjoy working in all conditions outdoors.

Advanced Vegetable Apprenticeship

The Advanced Vegetable Apprenticeship provides the foundational knowledgefor beginning farmers to pursue a career in vegetable production. The central focus of this apprenticeship is growing vegetables for Hawthorne Valley Farm’s 300-member Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and Greenmarket stands in New York City. The applicant must have spent one full season on a production farm. Experience managing field crews is helpful.

Duration

At Hawthorne Valley Farm, there are two minimum time periods for an apprenticeship. Apprentices may stay longer by arrangement with our farm staff.  Whole Farm Apprentices are encouraged to consider staying a second year to become a Farm Assistant. There are many farming opportunities for apprentices who have the experience of more than two years of working on a farm.

• December 1 - December 1: Whole farm apprenticeship *** FILLED ***
• January 1 - January 1: Whole farm apprenticeship *** FILLED ***
• December 1 - December 1: Livestock assistant *** FILLED ***
• December 1 - December 1: Vegetable assistant *** FILLED ***

Compensation

On-site housing and a monthly stipend are provided for all apprentices. Each apprentice has his/her own bedroom in a shared flat on the farm with a communal apprentice kitchen, baths, and living space.

Other Learning Opportunities

Thursday Morning Breakfasts

This season we are continuing a tradition of inviting our Farm team to join for breakfast for approx. 10 separate sessions. Aside from sharing and enjoying breakfast together, the time will be devoted to answering questions that may arise during the work time relating to Hawthorne Valley, agriculture, Biodynamics, anthroposophy, or anything else that strikes one's interest.

The Nature Institute

We exchange one CSA share with the Nature Institute for six workshop sessions for HVF apprentices during their work time. These include three workshops in the spring about plant observation and three in the fall about animal observation. Each session is about one and a half hours long.

The Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) Program

HVF is one of the founding members of the original CRAFT program. We expect apprentices to attend each CRAFT event. We create apprentices' work schedules around these events to allow you to participate. CRAFT is an all-volunteer organization. We appreciate and respect the efforts that each farm extends toward educating the CRAFT group apprentices. Please make an effort to read about the CRAFT farms ahead of time and to ask questions the events. For more information, please visit the CRAFT website.

Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program

There are many walks, tours, and lectures open to the public. Amongst other programs, the FEP also coordinates a Farmers' Research Circle. See the Farmscape Ecology Program website for more information on FEP activities. Please put yourself on the Farm Ecology Program's email list if you would like announcements of FEP events as they come up. The North American Biodynamic Apprenticeship Program (NABDAP) For those of you who find yourselves interested in the ideas behind Biodynamic practices and techniques, please ask about the possibility of joining the NABDAP. This program offers a structured way to become increasingly proficient in BD agriculture through hands on and classroom experiences. As a HVF apprentice, you are already fulfilling some of the requirements for this program. Further, the farm offers partial payment towards the classroom portion of the work. If you are interested, please ask at the HVF Learning Center for more information on this program.

Hudson Valley Farm Beginnings Program

The Hudson Valley Farm Beginnings Program, also run by the HVF Learning Center, helps aspiring and practicing farmers to: create detailed goals, to strategically plan for the growth of their farming enterprises, to learn the basic skills around financial planning and marketing, and to look at various land tenure options. In additional to 7 class sessions, there are also private mentoring sessions with a farmer of one’s choosing and 4 field days on local farms. The Farm Beginnings Program starts in late October and ends in late winter. Please ask at the Learning Center for more information.

Events Around Town

The Farm Staff will make an effort to keep the apprentice team informed about general upcoming events. However, apprentices are encourages to keep their eyes and ears open to the many activities that spring up in our community. We encourage you to look at bulletin boards, read local papers, and ask around about what's happening.