Quackenbush Farm Apprentice

Last Updated On: January 22nd, 2024 at 07:37AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
Rogue Farm Corps, Portland Area Chapter
Eagle Creek, Oregon, 97022

Primary Contact: Kait Crowley
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 541-588-3550
    Email: training@roguefarmcorps.org

Website: https://www.roguefarmcorps.org/host-farms/quackenbush

Website: https://www.quackenbushfarm.com/

Internship information

General Farm Description: Quackenbush Farm is located in the beautiful Clackamas River Valley, about 30 minutes southeast of Portland. Our focus has primarily been diversified, organic, fresh market veggies. The farm is a thriving business with our main markets being our weekend farmer’s markets, wholesale (school districts), restaurants, and a small on-site farm stand. Our production methods revolve around intensive, sustainable annual crop production. We are certified organic and utilize a variety of conservation practices to minimize our impact on the land and soil, including cover cropping, crop rotations, reduced tillage, pollinator plantings and hedgerows, and more. The farm family and crew this year will include Jennifer and Matt, our assistant farm manager, two to three farm crew members and apprentices, 2 market crew, and our team of weekly harvest volunteers and workshares. Quackenbush Farm started in 2013 as a partnership between 4 friends. We were young, motivated, and wanted to grow a business based around community health and vitality. Each of us contributed a thousand dollars as startup, or seed money, and kept our day jobs. We found a rental with property with a brave landlord and within a month of signing the lease, we plowed the field. Over the years the farm has evolved, growing and reaching new markets and customers. In 2017, the farm found a permanent home when Matt and Jennifer purchased 18 beautiful, flat acres of pasture and oak savanna in Eagle Creek, Oregon. Through all the changes over the years we have stayed committed to our ideals, and remain idealistic in our hearts and actions. Our focus is on producing high quality produce for small and mid-scale markets, with an emphasis on heirloom and old-world varieties where flavor is more important than shelf-life.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: 4/1
Internship Ends: 10/31
Number of Internship Available: 2 positions, full time (40/hrs/wk)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until positions are filled by early-mid March
Minimum Length of Stay: 500 training hours (~3-4 months minimum)

Internship Details:

An Apprenticeship is part of Rogue Farm Corps’ beginning farmer training program. Hands-on field training at the Host Farm is complemented by a series of classes, farm tours, discussions, and networking events organized by Rogue Farm Corps.

EDUCATIONAL EVENTS
Apprentices join other beginning farmers for an Educational Event Series facilitated by Rogue Farm Corps.
The full event series includes:
24 classes focused on foundational sustainable agriculture concepts, skills, and knowledge and the food system.
7-10 farm tours which showcase practical skills and individual farmers’ stories, as well as provide insight into diverse production and marketing systems.
3-5 discussion circles with topics including Food Justice / Food Sovereignty, and Next Steps for Beginning Farmers.

RFC strives to make all educational events inclusive and welcoming to people from all backgrounds and identities. Classes, tours, and discussions are led by Rogue Farm Corps staff, agricultural professionals, and expert farmers. Scholarships are available.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Apprenticeship applications are accepted on the Rogue Farm Corps website on a rolling basis until positions are filled (usually by early-mid March), but early applications are considered first. Approved applications are passed onto the host farmer. Quakenbush will decide which applicants to interview and offer placements to.

Rogue Farm Corps seeks to train an inclusive next generation of farmers and encourages applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply.
Applications. https://www.roguefarmcorps.org/apprenticeship

Educational Opportunities: The flow of a typical farm year for our staff follows the 3 seasons of spring, summer, and fall: Spring (April, May, early June) – The focus of this season is greenhouse work, field preparation, building/refurbishing farm infrastructure, and planting. Summer (Late June, July, August) – This is the time for our biggest markets, big harvests, weeding, pruning and trellising, and more planting. Fall (September, October, November) – The pace starts to slow a little here, with planting mostly over, our focus now is harvesting, weeding, marketing, farm projects, and eventually turning the fields over and planting cover crop. By the end of the year, we will provide exposure to virtually all aspects of farm operations, including all steps between the seed and the plate. These are full-time positions, typically 40 hours per week with some flexibility for longer days in the peak season (July/August) and shorter days in the shoulder seasons (April/October), 5 days per week with two days off. Work days typically start at 8am and go to 4:30pm, with a lunch break mid-day. Farming is physically demanding work, so we expect our staff to manage the demands of frequent lifting, stooping, repetitive motions, and to be able to work in all weather conditions. Working directly with the farm owners in all aspects of day to day operations, you will gain an in-depth understanding of growing for farmer's markets, local restaurants, and our surrounding community. With 4 acres in production of annual vegetables and the remaining 14 acres managed for grazing, wildlife habitat, and other projects, our apprentices will have the opportunity to gain a well-rounded sustainable agriculture work experience. Overall duties include field work, irrigation, small equipment work, farmers market sales, seeding/propagation, planting, animal husbandry, volunteer coordination, and record keeping (to name a few).

Skills Desired: An ideal candidate would be one who is seriously considering a career in agriculture, either working for another farm or starting their own, and is actively pursuing these opportunities. Farm work experience is preferred, but NOT required. However we do expect a willingness to learn. We value clear and open communication and expect that our staff are actively engaged with questions, comments, and input on the farm operation. Demonstrated experience doing repetitive manual labor and a strong physical and mental work ethic IS required. While we do not require an in-person visit prior to making a placement offer, it is highly recommended.

Meals: A CSA share for the season.

Stipend: Compensation for our apprenticeship starts at $15/hr and includes a CSA share for the season.

Housing: We are not offering housing this year. The Estacada area typically has affordable housing available, or we are a 30 minute drive from Portland.

Preferred method of Contact: email / website