Fox Run Environmental Education Center

Last Updated On: enero 24th, 2020 at 08:16AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
PO Box 174
Falmouth, Kentucky , 41040

Primary Contact: Ame Vanorio
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 8592421037
    Email: foxruneec@gmail.com

Website: https://www.foxrunenvironmentaleducationcenter.org/internships

Internship information

General Farm Description: Fox Run Environmental Education Center is a 501c3 nonprofit on a 16-acre sustainable farm in Falmouth, Ky. Our mission is to provide environmental education opportunities in alternative energy, organic gardening, green building, Native American spirituality, and wildlife conservation. As part of our educational mission, we have several demonstration gardens and teach onsite gardening classes. You can check out our Events page to get a feel for what type of classes we offer. We sell organic produce and plants off the farm and at other local markets. In addition, we raise a variety of poultry, honey bees, dairy goats and have a rescue horse. We are also a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility and take in 75 – 100 mammals and reptiles per year. Agriculture interns are not responsible for wild animal care. We offer separate internships in sustainable agriculture and wildlife conservation.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: Internships can begin April 15, 2020 or after
Internship Ends: All Interships end by October 15, 2020
Number of Internship Available: 8
Application Deadline: until filled
Minimum Length of Stay: 2 weeks

Internship Details:

Our internships provide hands-on, practical learning experiences. By providing discussions and lessons in the field you will be able to put your bookwork into action. Work is challenging, emotionally stressful (rehab people) yet rewarding and sometimes difficult. You will get tired and have sore muscles!

All interns are expected to have a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, and a desire to learn. We encourage you to ask questions. “I don’t know, tell me” does not work. We will challenge you to think and apply what you know so that you expand your learning and grow in your chosen field.

You will be working on individual and team tasks.

Interns choose between Organic Agriculture and Wildlife Conservation or a combination of the two. Both internships have an environmental education component. We also offer an Advanced Garden Internship with a 50/50 profit share.

Educational Opportunities: Interns will have opportunities to meet other interns and visit other farms or rehabs. Some of the things we have done in the past are visiting other sustainable farms in our area, observe/assist with our veterinarian, gone to bee school, visited a shrimp farm, and met with local agriculture and wildlife conservation agents. Interns can come to classes that we teach and farm meetings/classes that the owner attends. If I ask you to help with a presentation then that counts towards your hours. Interns may be able to earn college credits through there university program. We will gladly work with your college/professor to provide an appropriate curriculum for you to earn credits.

Skills Desired: 1. Daily garden tasks such as watering, hoeing, weeding, planting, seeding, cultivating. 2. Assisting with building raised beds. 3. Planning and designing garden spaces 4. Assisting with classes and programs 5. Physical Requirements – High fitness level with the ability to lift 50 pounds, outside in all types of weather, standing for long periods of time, walk on uneven terrain. 6. Willing to follow safety procedures. 7. Assisting with care of farm livestock including feeding, watering and cleaning stalls 8. Marketing garden produce 9. Assisting with the “business” side of organic gardening, marketing, and helping with YouTube Videos and Podcasts. 10. Must have an up to date tetanus vaccine. Interns must have their own health insurance. 11. Education – college student or recent graduate, preferably in agriculture, sustainability, biology or environmental science degree. 12. Advanced Garden Interns may have their own garden plots on a 50/50 split. This is a full-season commitment. Email Ame if this is something that interests you.

Meals: Yes. Food is basic country food. We do raise a lot of our produce, eggs and some honey. I trade with other farmers for things we don’t have and go to a local pick your own for some fruits. Ame typically makes dinner. Breakfast is on your own. Lunch is a toss-up depending on schedules. Interns are expected to pull their weight with meal prep and clean-up. If you have allergies, special diets, or love steak you are on your own. That said, we can easily accommodate vegetarians and vegans but know that we do raise bees, dairy goats and chickens on the farm. In addition to farm foods, there is typically pasta, bread, rice and whole grains, peanut butter, and jelly, tuna for you to make a meal with. You are more than welcome to use the indoor or outdoor kitchens to cook with. Part of your learning experience may be helping to process garden produce or make homemade baked goods.

Stipend: No Stipend. Room and Board for students that live more than 50 hours away.

Housing: Yes. For those living more than 50 miles away. Currently, intern housing is in Ame’s home or a room in the main barn. Interns have a private bedroom with bunk beds and a dresser. You may share with another person of the same sex. My dogs and cats also live in the house. You have access to a shared kitchen/living room. The house is off-grid and fairly primitive compared to “modern” standards. We heat with wood and do not have central air conditioning. Rooms have box fans and lighting. We have a composting toilet and an outdoor enclosed shower.

Preferred method of Contact: email for initial questions