Residential Internship at OAEC

Last Updated On: agosto 28th, 2024 at 10:14AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
15290 Coleman Valley Rd
Occidental, California, 94565

Primary Contact: Occidental Arts and Ecology Center
Primary Phone:
    Type: Office
    Number: (707)874-1557
    Email: oaec@oaec.org

Website: https://oaec.org/about-us/internships/

Internship information

General Farm Description: The Occidental Arts & Ecology Center (OAEC) is an 80-acre research, demonstration, education, advocacy and community-organizing center in West Sonoma County, California that develops strategies for regional-scale community resilience and the restoration of biological and cultural diversity.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: Early February
Internship Ends: Mid December
Number of Internship Available: 6
Application Deadline: October 15th, 2024
Minimum Length of Stay: 10 months

Internship Details:

Come live, learn, work and play at OAEC! We are accepting applications now for 2025 Residential Internships in the Garden, Program Administration and Facilities departments.

This is a unique opportunity to live and work in a thriving land-based community and non-profit February through mid-December. Interns work 24 hours per week in their department (Garden, Program Administration or Facilities) in exchange for full room and board including a private cabin to live in and full participation in our organic, vegetarian food system. Additionally, interns enjoy generous vacation and sick time, use of OAEC facilities, and participation in OAEC courses and programs. Interns take part in all aspects of community life, including community cooking and chore rotations.

Educational Opportunities: In addition to the many opportunities for hands-on learning and valuable networking in their respective departments, all interns can take the OAEC Permaculture Design Certification course for free.

Skills Desired: OAEC seeks individuals who embrace living simply in a semi-rural community while working in a thriving nonprofit organization. Prior experience is not required, but applicants should be flexible, energetic, comfortable in groups, and able to manage a diversity of challenges. A good sense of humor, communication skills, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn are essential attributes of prospective interns.

Meals: High quality, organic, vegetarian food is provided. When courses and retreats are in session, all meals are prepared by professional caterers. On non-retreat days, residential community members, including interns, take turns preparing a shared dinner and breakfast/lunch/snacks are on your own with access to our fully stocked kitchen. We keep our communal kitchen vegetarian, but it should be noted that most residents are not vegetarian, and there are special occasions when meat is prepared on our outdoor grills.

Stipend: Interns also receive a $500 monthly stipend, and generous vacation and sick leave. There are also some opportunities for additional paid work at OAEC, though these are coordinated separately.

Housing: The work commitment is 24 hrs/week in exchange for a private, cozy place to live, community meals (including access to a fully-stocked kitchen, pantry, and on-site garden veggies and orchard) and use of all OAEC facilities (hot tub, swimming pond, etc.)

Preferred method of Contact: Email