Chelan Valley Botanicals

Last Updated On: March 22nd, 2024 at 09:19AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
530 LOWER JOE CREEK RD
MANSON, Washington, 98831

Primary Contact: Seth Christian
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 2067791168
    Email: chelanvalleybotanicals@gmail.com

Website: https://www.chelanvalleybotanicals.com

Internship information

General Farm Description: Wildnow Farm and Chelan Valley Botanicals is a family owned and operated farm business on 43 acres that utilizes regenerative agriculture, permaculture & natural farming practices to grow medicinal & culinary herbs, veggies, cut flowers and fruit for our local community and beyond. We sell produce through a small CSA, our local farmer's markets and to wholesale restaurant customers and create value added products from the herbs we grow for retail and wholesale sales. We're located in the beautiful Lake Chelan Valley, in the shadows of the Cascade mountains in North Central Washington State. Our family of 4 left the city with a dream of growing food and medicine and creating a place to practice the three permaculture ethics of earth care, people care, and fair share. Our farm is fallow orchard land that we have coaxed back to health over the last twelve years. We're entering our fifth growing season running our CSA and 7th for Chelan Valley Botanicals, so this is a valuable time to help out at a farm that is still in the early stages of it's development (in the big picture). We are excited to share our knowledge of growing vegetables, cut flowers and medicinal herbs for CSA, market & wholesale production and finding folks interested in helping and learning with us in our farming adventure. If you see yourself going into agriculture or related fields in the future, we'd love to meet you and share what we've learned along the way. We have been hosting work traders and interns for the last 6 years and many of them have gone on to start their own business projects or join farms in their regions and we want that for you too!

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: Today
Internship Ends: 10/31/2024
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: Until filled
Minimum Length of Stay: whole season

Internship Details:

We are looking to hire someone who is motivated, excited to learn, open to working outside in adverse conditions (heat in summer, freezing/wet/cold/windy in spring and fall, etc), and comfortable working alone or with a team. Interns (2) will assist with the day to day operations of the farm beginning May or ASAP and ending October 31st. Tasks will include but not be limited to:

• Seeding, hardwood propagation, transplanting, preparation of potting soil & soil blocks
• Pruning, weeding, mulching, & spreading soil amendments
• Preparing & applying biochar
• Preparing & applying static aerated compost and vermiculture
• Preventative & spot application of organic pesticides as needed
• Installation and use of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems
• Harvest, washing and packing of herbs/vegetables/fruit for weekly wholesale & CSA customers (CSA runs June-Oct)
• Harvest, processing, and packing of culinary & medicinal herbs for farm use and wholesale customers
• Harvest, processing, and arranging of cut flowers for wholesale customers & markets
• Assist with bottling, labeling, and maintenance of CVB inventory
• Set up, operation & cleaning of essential oil still for hydrosol and essential oil production
• Seed saving – including collection, drying, and processing
• Assist in managing bee hives as needed
• Preparing & applying weekly aerated compost tea solutions
• Preparing & applying Korean Natural Farming preparations with application timing based on the nutritive cycle theory
• Stock and set up farmer’s market booth for Thursday & Saturday market
• Miscellaneous farm tasks as needed/assigned
• Maintain order and cleanliness in shared living and work spaces
• Clean harvest totes and wash/pack area on scheduled days/as needed

We are looking to fill two internship positions, one focused on the vegetable side of our operation and one focused on supporting the botanical side of our business, specifically the harvesting and processing of herbs and the preparation of value added products. Both positions will split time between veggies and herbs but the main responsibilities during the busy season (June, July, & August) will be clearly divided beforehand. These are mostly related to the farmer’s market and harvest schedules and there will be ample opportunity to learn about our full operation for both interns.

Educational Opportunities: We will utilize the Internship Curriculum for Food Farmers developed by Bertrand Farms and SARE, with modifications as needed. A mixture of lecture, discussion, assigned reading, student led projects, and experiential learning opportunities will be used to teach farm interns about farming practices and farm enterprise. We are proponents of experiential learning and strongly believe that the best way to learn is through doing.

Skills Desired: Experience with farming, medicinal herbs or land restoration are a plus but not necessary. A willing spirit, an open mind and a tolerance for adverse conditions are all that's required.

Meals: We do not provide meals, but ample produce is available during the growing season and we will assist with staples (flour/oil/root veg/beans/rice/etc) in the early spring as things get going.

Stipend: $1000/month plus a bonus for completing the whole season

Housing: Yes, we have two 20' travel trailers parked adjacent to our shop with access to a full kitchen and bathroom

Preferred method of Contact: Please email me a letter of introduction & CV to chelanvalleybotanicals@gmail.com