Internship Opportunity at our Organic Farm

Eater's Guild Farm
26041 C. R. 681
Bangor, MI 49013
Contact@eatersguild.com

Lee, Laurie and Iris Arboreal
269.427.0423

Eater's Guild Farm is positioned in the Black River watershed within the Lake Michigan fruit belt of South West Michigan. As well as being one of the first farms settled in the region, these 40 ares were also producing at the beginning of organic certification in Michigan. The farm has been certified organic uninterruptedly since 1973. Our stewardship began in the 2001 season, continuing and extending the practices of the School of Homesteading before it.

We are vegetable growers with an eye toward developing permanent crop and animal systems. We currently use diesel traction for tilling, cultivating, and transplanting. Seeding, weeding, and harvest is all done by hand. Where possible, we work on reducing tillage and design growing systems that reduce energy consumption. We raise our own transplants and consider on-farm propagation a requisite for expanding existing cane and tree plantings.

Our internship program is well-sited for collaboration and exchange with nearby organic farms. From within a robust (if not all organic) agricultural economy, interns gain experience in propagation, crop planning, and implementation. They also experience and practice navigating markets, marketing dynamics, continued certification requirements, permaculture, equipment maintenance, logistics and networking. Part of the Intern's stipend is linked to farmers' market sales that interns coordinate and execute, heightening their satisfaction of payment and deepening their integration with the interpersonal context of the farm. The learning environment is more horizontal than many farms because all of us are engaging as co-learners through the course of the season.

A living space is provided. It is tailored mostly to the needs of the intern. All farm produce is free to interns, who can purchase other foodstuffs through two buying clubs. Stipend is set at $50/week in April and May, then expands as a percentage of market sales that interns manage ($100+/week). Expected hours are 40-60/week. During hot weeks, this could be a split day of 6:30-11:30 and 4-9:30. Interns may take a week-long off-farm stint for rest or other learning opportunities during the April 1st to Nov. 1st program.

Major plans for the 2011 season include the continued investment and excellence at vegetable farming and marketing, expansion and refinement of of our poultry operation, further development of our aquaculture activities, upgrades to the cowshare program, and a big push toward opening our learning and sleeping inn.

This is just an invitation to consider the experiential program we are offering. We encourage you to communicate your questions and interests further by email or calling.

Also, a visit to the farm is usually requested to make sure the match is a mutual benefit.

Regards,
The Arboreal Family