Apple Ridge Farm Apprentice

Last Updated On: December 4th, 2024 at 10:21AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
1198 Pennell Road
Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, 18353

Primary Contact: Brian Bruno
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 814-574-5971
    Email: applefrm@ptd.net

Website: https://www.appleridge.net

Internship information

General Farm Description: Apple Ridge Farm is a 7 acre sustainable diverse farm specializing in Naturally Grown produce, hydroponic lettuce, and pasture raised chickens and pigs on the farm end of our operation. On the value added farm product side of the operation in specialize in wood-fired brick oven organic flour sourdough breads, pizzas, pot pies, soups, baked goods, pastries, and other farm themed value added products. We're a farm with virtually zero waste! We sell to about a dozen natural food stores and cafe's, and at about a dozen farmers markets in addition to our on farm store. We also have a couple of adjacent sister businesses on the side. One is a partnership with a brewery on a Neapolitan pizzeria and the other is an a multi-farm collaborative kombucha and fermented vegetable business with one of our farm buildings as its home base. If our apprentices are interested, there is an opportunity to get acquainted with the bakery side of our production. On the bakery side of the equation every day is different. We make bread 4 days/week and take the other 3 days for other baked goods and value added farm products. We process a lot of the produce and chicken that our farm produces and value add it in the bakery.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: Early Spring 2025 (April preferred)
Internship Ends: either Late November 2025 or 2026 (with the possibility to stay on for longer if we mutually decide it's a good fit)
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: Until filled
Minimum Length of Stay: 6 months

Internship Details:

Each year we hire 2 new apprentices to work a season with us to learn the ropes of farming – from seed starts, to harvest, to markets. Apprentices work 5 days a week, 10 hours/day along side our year round crew and learn how to use all forms of our equipment and tools. By the end of the apprenticeship. our apprentices are capable of using a tractor to till, harrow, mow,  tow a pig trailer, and plow snow. We strive to provide our apprentices with as much hands on experience as they would need to start their own farm someday and be a fully/independent functioning member of our team.

Farm team members start every day taking care of our chickens and pigs, moving pens, etc. The bulk of the day is spent planting, weeding, and/or harvesting vegetables, and the day ends with animal care and egg washing. We participate in the PASA (PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture) 2 year Apprenticeship program which includes 200 hours of technical coursework, free admission to all workshops and conferences, and a very organized apprenticeship in which skills are learned and assessed. And it’s free! We graduated our first PASA apprentice in 2021 and he went on to partner with us on a new joint venture fermented foods business that is growing rapidly. Many of our former apprentices have end up joining our team for additional seasons in management roles after the apprenticeship ends! Our most recent apprentice graduate has stayed on as our new Farmer’s Market/Farm Operations Manager for this year and would gladly answer any questions you had about our program here.

Everyone works 1 farmers market each week to see how we market our products and to make the connection with our customers. These positions are intended for people who are interested in learning new skills, improving existing skills, and considering working in either farming or baking in the future. We expect everyone on our team to work with a sense of urgency and at a professional pace.

Educational Opportunities: Learning farming techniques: seed starts, transplanting, weeding, harvesting, prepping for market, handling the tractor, caring for livestock Learning sourdough baking techniques: maintaining a starter, mixing, shaping bread/pretzels, scoring/baking Farmers' Market Sales: sales techniques, selling tactics, optimizing displays

Skills Desired: Prior work experience in either farming or baking is a plus. A proven job history is a requirement, with at least 2 professional references. Ability to lift 50 lbs.

Meals: Our apprentices are able to pick produce as needed, glean leftover market bakery products (you'll always have plenty of bread and sweets), and get deeply discounted rates on our other frozen and shelf stable products. You also get access to anything in our farm store at cost.

Stipend: Yes, it starts at $400/week and increases during the season.

Housing: Yes! interns get their own room with a shared bathroom, kitchen and laundry facilities on site.

Preferred method of Contact: email