Microgreen production + Agritourism Internship Opportunity at TerraSol Organics with Rogue Farm Corps

Last Updated On: febrero 25th, 2022 at 10:56AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
Rogue Farm Corps
Williams, Oregon, 97544

Primary Contact: Rogue Farm Corps
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 541-588-3550
    Email: training@roguefarmcorps.org

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

Internship information

General Farm Description: TerraSol Organics is located in the beautiful Applegate Valley, a rural area, located 4 minutes from rural Williams, 30 minutes from Grants Pass and 45 minutes from Medford. Our farm is 26 acres with creek frontage and flat former hay fields. Owners Christi and Kyle Reilly live on the farm with their two sons and mother-in-law. The greenhouse is 13,000 sq. ft. with an attached equipment house and historically registered barn. There is nearby BLM and USFS land suitable for mushroom hunting, biking, hiking, rockhounding and the creek is nice for a relaxing dip. Within a short drive is the Applegate River, perfect for a float or soak, and hundreds of wonderful hikes located within 30 minutes. The farm has been Certified Organic since 2016, and focuses on producing organic microgreens and edible flowers. Wholesale to retail stores and restaurants make up 60% of sales, with the remaining revenue generated at the Farmers Markets. In 2022, we’re doing a big marketing push with grant funding (USDA Value Added Producers Grant). Production is a mix of mechanized and hand work, and manual dexterity is important. The RFC participant will focus 1-2 days per week on microgreen production and attend 2-3 weekly farmers markets. We also have a field component, with a fall pumpkin patch and growing agritourism push. We have had 2 pumpkin patches that are growing in attendance. The area isn’t highly trafficked, so we need to improve marketing to improve visitation. RFC participant will assist in spring land prep, planting, irrigation and weeding management, and fall festival preparation. The RFC participant will gain experience in running our automated flat filler and vacuum drum seeder, seedling management and production, flower production, tractor work and implements, field crop rotation and management, plus customer service at the farmers markets.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: 3/1/22
Internship Ends: 10/31/22
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: ASAP
Minimum Length of Stay: 6-8 months

Internship Details:

TerraSol Organics is a participating host farm with Rogue Farm Corps Internship program. RFC’s Internship Program provides connections to existing farm operations for aspiring farmers who want to gain significant farming or ranching production experience and don’t have a lot of previous exposure. The Internship Program is an entry/intermediate-level, immersive program that combines hands-on training with skills-based education. No experience is required to apply, however some host farms do prefer applicants have some previous outdoor or physical work experience.

RFC Internship programs are based in two distinct geographic chapter locations in Oregon: Rogue Valley and Portland Metro.

Weekly hours and start/end dates vary by host farm (please see host farm descriptions for details). In addition to the on-farm training experience, participants engage in a series of farm tours, classes, and discussions (~3-5 events / month) focused on a broad array of sustainable agriculture and food system topics organized by Rogue Farm Corps (see a sample Internship Program events schedule here). Internship Program participants are exposed to farm knowledge, skills, and networks, through their experience with their host farm and Rogue Farm Corps.

Full season positions generally run spring through fall. Short season Internships run for 8-15 weeks and are perfect for students or others who want to dip their toe in into farming and attend the concurrent Internship classes, farm tours, and discussion events.

APPLICATIONS / SCHOLARSHIPS
Applications are accepted on our website on a rolling basis until positions are filled, but early applications are considered first. Apply by January 27th, 2022 for priority consideration. RFC has limited tuition scholarships available for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, veteran, and low-income applicants.

RFC has developed COVID-19 safety protocols according to state and federal guidance and will adjust them as needed to protect the health and safety of our participants, staff, host farmers, and communities. In-person educational events are held outside with social distancing in place.

TYPES OF AGRICULTURE
Rogue Farm Corps partners with dedicated mentor host farms and ranches that focus on sustainable, regenerative, ecological, and/or organic approaches in their production methods. Host farm enterprises vary by farm and include animal (meat, dairy, eggs, etc) and plant-based production (vegetables, herbs, fruit, seeds, etc). Host farms are commercial, small-to-mid scale operations marketing to their local and regional community via a range of sales channels including farmers market, CSA, wholesale, and more. RFC participants are exposed to various farm production and marketing systems via RFC’s farm tour events.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Rogue Farm Corps is committed to an ongoing learning process around privilege, power, inequality and systems of oppression. RFC has a goal of making our programs welcoming to, inclusive of, and accessible to communities who are under-represented as farm operators in Oregon, including women, Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA+ individuals, low-income individuals and immigrants. Our desire to create a more equitable food system is reflected in RFC’s programs and collaborations.

Learn more and apply: http://roguefarmcorps.org/training

Educational Opportunities: The RFC participant’s main focus will be microgreen production, from planting to production to harvest to wash/pack to sales at the Farmers Market. The RFC participant will also do the following: ● In May, tasks will include ground work and planting the pumpkin and winter squash patch. ● Over the summer, weeding and watering as needed. ● In the fall, the participant will work with the owners to improve marketing and prepare the site for the pumpkin patch in October.

Skills Desired: Must be able to stand for multiple hours and be able to lift up to 50lbs. An eye to food safety is critical in microgreen production. Time off can occur with adequate notification for schedule adjustments. We are open to extending the season past November if the RFC participant is available. We produce the microgreens all year, and have participated in previous winter markets. Attention to detail and retention of learned skills will be expected to advance through the positions.

Meals: No.

Stipend: RFC participants will be paid a standard staff wage, on payroll with a W2 report. Wages will range from minimum wage to $15.00/hr, depending on experience. Hours are typically 40 hours per week, although there will be some seasonal variation depending on work projects. Our location is beautiful with a nearby creek for after work dips. We often have microgreens available, and market employees are given a trading budget for market goodies. We often have a little extra growing space for personal gardening projects.

Housing: There is no housing on site. Local housing is tight, but finding roommate options is possible. Grants Pass is 30 minutes away and Medford is 45 minutes away. We might be open to discussing an intern living on property if they provide their own trailer. We do not have an on-farm kitchen or bath facility.

Preferred method of Contact: email / website