Willow Creek Farm Preserve


Contact information
Farm Address:
3215 Stump Hall Road
Collegeville, Pennsylvania, 19426

Primary Contact: Melissa Smith
Primary Phone:
    Type:
Office
    Number: 610-584-1028
    Email: melissa.smith@willowcreekfarmpreserve.org

Website: https://www.willowcreekfarmpreserve.org

Internship information
General Farm Description: WCFP is a 135-acre regenerative transitional organic farm located in central Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. We specialize in farm classes, field trips & tours, raise Shetland Sheep for wool, and operate our Learning Barn Farm Shoppe & Studio where we feature our fiber & fiber arts. We grow 12-acres of u-pick perennial fruit and offer a community volunteer-based, one-acre raised bed vegetable Seed to Share Garden™ where 100% of the vegetables grown are donated to local food pantries. We also grow hay, straw and have 20-acres of pasture for our sheep. For more information visit: www.willowcreekfarmpreserve.org

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: Mid-May 2021
Internship Ends: Late August 2021
Number of Internship Available: Variable
Application Deadline: March 15, 2021
Minimum Length of Stay: 10 weeks

Internship Details:

PRIMARY FUNCTION: The Summer Internship Program at Willow Creek Farm Preserve (WCFP) offered Mid-May through August, 2021, is a hands on work-learning program focusing on small-scale regenerative organic farming and farm-based education, with an emphasis on the dynamic connections between food, fiber and the environment.

RELATIONSHIPS: Reports to Operations & Education Manager and Assistant Operations Manager.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
• The Internship Program offers instruction and daily hands-on experience concentrating on the ecological interactions amongst plants, soils, animals, climate, insects, and pathogens. Interns work alongside WCFP staff on our 135-acre farm in the orchards, fields and raised bed gardens.
• The Interns will be trained and support/lead WCFP Educational programming for diverse audiences on a range of farm-based education topics.
• Interns participate in at least one off-farm tour or off-farm speaker experience within the region with organizations such as the Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) overseen by Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA).
• The Internship Program highlights the following topics: Introduction to Basics of Regenerative Organic Farming, Considerations of Farm-Based Education, Introduction to Fruit Production, Considerations for Raising Sheep, and Raised Bed Vegetable Production in our Seed to Share Garden™.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Genuine interest in Regenerative organic farming and strong physical and mental work ethic.
• Responsible and internally motivated to learn and improve one’s skillset and knowledgebase.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and work well with others, including co-workers and the public.
• Prior agricultural experience is not required, although any work or study in the field of food or agriculture is a desirable attribute to Internship applicants.
• Experience with education recommended (interest in farm-based education a must); experience in fiber arts a plus (interest strongly recommended).
• Must be 18+ years of age, pass a Background Check and have a Valid Driver’s License.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Lift/move up to 50lbs, unassisted.
• Carry, bend, kneel and stand for long periods and work outdoors in all weather conditions.
POSITION TYPE/COMPENSATION:
• Tuesday – Saturday (30 hours a week); rotating Sunday duties.
• Candidates may complete this internship for college credit (unpaid).
• $275/week salary paid bi-weekly for candidates not seeking college credit.
• Veggies from staff garden.


Educational Opportunities: Yes; on farm, hands-on learning and participation in 1 off-farm/virtual workshop on related farming topics.

Skills Desired: • Genuine interest in Regenerative organic farming and strong physical and mental work ethic. • Responsible and internally motivated to learn and improve one’s skillset and knowledgebase. • Demonstrated ability to collaborate and work well with others, including co-workers and the public. • Prior agricultural experience is not required, although any work or study in the field of food or agriculture is a desirable attribute to Internship applicants. • Experience with education recommended (interest in farm-based education a must); experience in fiber arts a plus (interest strongly recommended). • Must be 18+ years of age, pass a Background Check and have a Valid Driver’s License.

Meals: No

Stipend: YES: *$275/week Salary for Tuesday – Saturday (30 hours a week); rotating Sunday duties.*Candidates may also complete this internship for college credit (unpaid).*Free Veggies from Staff Garden

Housing: No

Preferred method of Contact: email