Internships with FIELD
In 2012 we will offer 9 month internships starting March 15th. We prefer and give priority to applicants who are able and willing commit to the full season (March through November). It is difficult to gain meaningful competence and appreciate the seasonal changes of the farm with shorter stays. Furthermore, it is more rewarding to be on hand for the culmination of early season work later in the season. We will begin to finalize our decisions about internship applicants at the end of January.
We are founding members of the FIELD program and the purpose of an internship with us is to help prepare young and beginning farmers by developing their skills in diverse activities. We provide interns with exposure to many different food and farm business models and modes of living and working in agriculture. Simultaneously we encourage interns to focus on individual areas of expertise through independent learning projects and through responsibilities on the farm. Our interns are students in a internally motivated learning program and are not employees or contractors in any sense.
Interns are enrolled in the FIELD program, an enriching educational cooperative that provides weekly classes, field trips, access to community programs and events, structured independent learning goals and a network of other local farm interns. The FIELD program enrolls between 5 and 15 interns scattered on small farms in our community participating. Classes are held weekly on different farms and businesses in the local area and class topics range from business planning and finance through animal husbandry and slaughter , to agroecology and beekeeping. Participation by SpringRain Farm interns is mandatory. By default, interns are enrolled for CEUs through WSU Extension. In 2012, the farm will once again pay the enrollment costs for accepted interns. Interns who desire to receive college credit for their experiences can explore this option with Evergreen State College or through WSU. In general, credit is given for independent study in agriculture and in all cases the intern will be responsible for enrollment and tuition/credit charges associated with credit granting options.