Farm Apprentice – Yancey Community Garden

Last Updated On: February 21st, 2024 at 08:15AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
744 Blankenship Creek Rd
Burnsville, North Carolina, 28714

Primary Contact: Kavita Hardy
Primary Phone:
    Type: Office
    Number: 828-536-0414
    Email: farmer@diginyancey.org

Website: https://diginyancey.org

Internship information

General Farm Description: Dig In works to increase community food security in Yancey County (Western North Carolina) through building the capacity of groups and individuals to grow their own food in community. They tend a 2 acre farm using organic methods with staff, volunteers and guests, cultivating practices that provide fresh and nutritious food for everyone by harnessing the resources, diverse traditions, and vision of people who participate in our work. Food grown at the farm is distributed through multiple collaborative community food sharing programs.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: 5/1/2024
Internship Ends: 11/30/2025
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: 4/15/2024
Minimum Length of Stay: 18 months

Internship Details:

Dig In! Yancey Community Garden is offering a two season farm apprenticeship for individuals wanting to become farm managers on a diverse vegetable farm or market garden. This position is a registered apprenticeship through the Center for Environmental Farming Systems. In order to meet the requirements of the registered apprenticeship, the apprentice must also complete hours at a partnering market farm. 

The apprentice works under the direction of the Farm Manager and alongside interns and volunteers to receive in-field, hands-on training in all agricultural operations and educational programming. During the growing season, the apprentice will commit to approximately 3 days or 20-25 hours a week of mentored labor, with reduced hours during the winter months.

The apprentice also will commit approximately 2 days or 10-15 hours a week of mentored labor at a market farm during the growing season, with reduced hours during the winter months, with the specific farm dependent on apprentice interest and location. We can connect applicants with a couple of market farms in Yancey and Madison counties, or if an applicant is already employed part-time at another regional farm, we can explore coordinating with that farm. 

The apprentice will be expected to enroll in the CEFS Sustainable Vegetable Production Registered Apprenticeship. Through this program, the apprentice will also pursue 180 hours of off-farm education and/or skills training paid at $22/hour. The apprentice will have regular meetings with CEFS staff to review learning goals and progress. Read more about this opportunity through the Center for Environmental Farming Systems. 

To apply, prepare a cover letter and resume specifically tailored for this opportunity and email them as a Word or PDF document to farmer@diginyancey.org; the subject line of the email should include your name and the position title. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but priority will be given to applications submitted by 4/1/2024.

Data shows that women and BIPOC candidates more frequently do not apply to a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed. Our job descriptions are general overviews, not a mandatory comprehensive list. If you feel passionate about our efforts and believe that you have the skills to contribute to our farms, we want to hear from you! Dig In is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and is pursuing Living Wage Certified Accreditation.

Educational Opportunities: This apprenticeship is a Registered Apprenticeship with the NCApprenticeships. The program includes 180 hours of off-farm education and/or skills training paid at $22/hour. The apprentice will have regular meetings with CEFS staff to review learning goals and progress. Read more about this opportunity through the Center for Environmental Farming Systems. 

Skills Desired: Familiarity with farming practices specific to organic vegetable production desired

Meals: No

Stipend: $17/hour at Dig In and $13-17/hour at a secondary market farm (dependent on farm and experience) with progressive raises every 6 months

Housing: Dig In does not provide housing, but some of the potential partner market farms have rustic, off-grid housing available if needed. Because the position is located across two sites, applicants must have access to reliable personal transportation. 

Preferred method of Contact: email