Girard Farm – Apply now for 2022

Last Updated On: octubre 1st, 2021 at 10:42AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
385 Main St
Waterboro, Maine, 04087

Primary Contact: Joshua Girard
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 1207-332-4814
    Email: joshcoaster@gmail.com

Website: https://www.girardfarm.com

Internship information

General Farm Description: Girard Farm grows 4 acres of mixed vegetables and raises laying hens on pasture. We are entering our sixth season in 2021. We use a permanent raised-bed, no-till system and certified organic practices. We do all planting, cultivation, and harvesting using hand tools. We make our own potting mix, and use soil blocks to start seedlings. The laying hens are housed in an Eggmobile that moves over a 6-acre pasture. We sell a local farmers’ market, at our farm stand, through CSA programs, and wholesale accounts. The farm is split between two locations, one on leased land in Lyman, the other at our new permanent location in Waterboro. We are a young farm and this is a great opportunity to be a part of a growing farm at its early stages. In 2021 we intend to have a community of 6 apprentices living and working on the farm. Lyman has plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation, especially the four ponds in town. We are about 10 minutes from Biddeford which is a developing historic mill town, 20 minutes from the beach, 30 minutes south of Portland, and 1.5 hours north of Boston.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: May 2022
Internship Ends: September 2022
Number of Internship Available: 3
Application Deadline: April 2022
Minimum Length of Stay: Five months

Internship Details:

We will have some returning apprentices for 2022 and are looking to add at least three more.

In the early part of the season we will be:
*Mixing potting soil and seeding transplants, caring for seedlings
*Setting up irrigation
*Preparing beds and transplanting seedlings

As the season progresses we will do more:
*Cultivating with hand tools
*Setting up trellises for tomatoes, pruning tomatoes
*Opening and closing greenhouses
*Harvesting, washing, and packing vegetables
*Attending farmers market
*Running our CSA programs

We generally work 7am-5pm on field days Monday through Friday. On harvest days, Tuesdays and Fridays, we work from 6am to 4pm.

Apprentices participate in a rotation of additional work duties that include:
*Feeding laying hens, moving fences, collecting and packing eggs
*Attending farmers market on Saturdays from 6am – noon
*Running our farm stand for CSA pick-ups from 4pm-6pm
*Watering and managing the seedling greenhouse

We are committed to the principles of organic growing and are certified organic by MOFGA.

Educational Opportunities: There will be many opportunities for one-on-one training and conversations with the farmer because the farm is so small. You will have the opportunity to meet other local apprentices and attend MOFGAs apprentice workshops. Last year we organize farm visits to local farms, and lectures/workshops with other farm crews.

Skills Desired: A five-month commitment from the middle of May through the end of Septmeber is required. There is opportunity to stay longer. We do not require previous farming experience. However, you should be able to perform physical tasks with a positive attitude. Vegetables are heavy, the sun is hot, and the wash water can be very cold. We require that applicants have their own vehicle so that you can reach the field on your own and be able to enjoy the social and recreational activities in the area. It will also make it easier to visit other farms, and carpool to Farm Training Project workshops. ***We cannot accommodate couples, pets, or children at this time. Thank you***

Meals: We sometimes eat together, but do not have a formal commitment to this

Stipend: We offer $1000 per month stipend, along with rustic accommodations, vegetable extras, seasonal bonus

Housing: The farmer stays on the farm. Three second-year apprentices will return in the spring of 2021 and hope to add three more people to our crew. New apprentices will be offered: *‘Glamping’ style wall tent, bed, bureau, table *An outdoor kitchen with running water and electricity *Wi-fi *Outdoor toilet and shower *Access to the indoor bathroom *Outdoor communal area with picnic tables We often eat meals together, but it is not required, we could formalize this if the crew is interested There are currently no children on the farm, we have two cats Apprentices are expected to keep communal living spaces tidy, some individuals on the farm are vegan, gluten free and we accommodate these choices

Preferred method of Contact: Email