Red Barn Farm Bentonville

Last Updated On: febrero 11th, 2020 at 10:19AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
1601 NW A Street
Bemtonville, Arkansas , 72712

Primary Contact: Melissa Millsap
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 4178277046
    Email: farm@redbarnbentonville.com

Website: https://redbarnbentonville.com/year-round-urban-farming/

Internship information

General Farm Description: Red Barn Farm is the heart of the first "Agrihood" in NW Arkansas. We are a residentially situated, small, urban, market-farm. Local agriculture sustains vibrant communities. That’s why we’ve incorporated farmland on the Red Barn campus. Our farmers will produce crops and raise animals without relying on chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or practices that degrade the soil, water or other natural resources. By growing a variety of plants and using techniques like crop rotation, cover cropping, livestock husbandry and minimum tillage, our urban farm is working to protect this special ecosystem.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: Now
Internship Ends: 2/11/2021
Number of Internship Available: 2
Application Deadline: ASAP
Minimum Length of Stay: 3 months (6-12 month preferred)

Internship Details:

Intern candidates are people who want to explore agriculture from the inside out, with a relatively short commitment (minimum 3 months). Interns should be willing to work hard, learn fast, and adapt. There’s a lot to learn if you’ve never worked on a farm before, and it’s important that intern candidates be willing to jump in feet first and learn as they go. Sense of humor is important and goes a long way toward making the work enjoyable, along with an appreciation of the outdoors, in all different scenarios.

Our ideal apprentice candidate is someone who desires to farm on their own at some point in the future, who wants to learn sustainable agriculture from the inside out, who is willing and able to work long and hard, who has a sense of humor, who is able to take instruction and give constructive feedback, who can interact with our customers in an intimate setting, is responsible and committed, and able to live and work closely with us. Ability to self-educate about particular areas of interest, plus interest in talking about why we do things the way we do are also important to the apprentice experience. Experience farming and/or working with equipment, including tractors, hand tools, mowers, construction tools, etc., would certainly be a plus, but is not completely necessary. Flexibility is key, and we will provide the know-how.

Accommodations

Housing is provided here at Red Barn. These accommodations will be shared by apprentices, interns, and/or volunteers working on the farm. Sleeping quarters will be segregated according to varying occupancy and the preferences of the occupants. Meals are self-provided except for a weekly farm lunch.

Stipend

In return for 40 hours a week of work, apprentices and interns will receive a hands-on education in sustainable farming. Apprentices will receive room and board, plus a monthly stipend to be determined by experience and commitment.

Farming Techniques

With lofty production goals and limited land, we will make use of many practices that allow for maximized yields year after year while maintaining sustainability and environmental responsibility. Some of the season extension techniques we employ include:

Heated Greenhouse
We make use of a heated greenhouse to grow healthy transplants that are field-ready at appropriate times.
Movable High Tunnels
Passively heated structures under which crops are planted directly in the ground. These structures allow us to extend our growing season significantly at both ends (we will grow earlier and later). The structures rest on tracks, and each structure will have three plots, one of which it will cover at any given point in the season.
Row Cover
Covering crops with a thin textile in the field allows them to endure ambient temperatures that would otherwise kill them. This can be used to get an early start on production, extend production, and overwinter some crops. This technique can also be used to combat some pests and diseases.
Productivity and Soil Health
Composting
We compost on the farm and make use of local composting resources to improve our soil.
Bio-Intensive Techniques
Organic Soil Management
Cover Cropping
We make use of cover crops for soil health, erosion control, and weed management.
Ecological Impact
Water Conservation
Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation places water directly where it is needed and minimizes water waste.
Small Scale Equipment
Walk behind tractor
Lots of handwork
Intensive Record Keeping
Thorough record keeping will allow us to constantly review our practices and determine what is working and how we can improve.
Our records will also be made available as learning resources for others.
If you’re interested in teaming up with Red Barn Farm, please send your résumé to farm@redbarnbentonville.com.

Educational Opportunities: Productivity and Soil Health Composting We compost on the farm and make use of local composting resources to improve our soil. Bio-Intensive Techniques Organic Soil Management Cover Cropping We make use of cover crops for soil health, erosion control, and weed management. Ecological Impact Water Conservation Drip Irrigation Drip irrigation places water directly where it is needed and minimizes water waste. Small Scale Equipment Walk behind tractor Lots of handwork Intensive Record Keeping Thorough record keeping will allow us to constantly review our practices and determine what is working and how we can improve. Our records will also be made available as learning resources for others.

Skills Desired: Our ideal apprentice candidate is someone who desires to farm on their own at some point in the future, who wants to learn sustainable agriculture from the inside out, who is willing and able to work long and hard, who has a sense of humor, who is able to take instruction and give constructive feedback, who can interact with our customers in an intimate setting, is responsible and committed, and able to live and work closely with us. Ability to self-educate about particular areas of interest, plus interest in talking about why we do things the way we do are also important to the apprentice experience. Experience farming and/or working with equipment, including tractors, hand tools, mowers, construction tools, etc., would certainly be a plus, but is not completely necessary. Flexibility is key, and we will provide the know-how.

Meals: Meals are self-provided except for a weekly farm lunch.

Stipend: yes

Housing: yes

Preferred method of Contact: email