Horton Road Organics

Last Updated On: December 19th, 2023 at 09:48AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
93851 Horton Road
Blachly, Oregon, 97412

Primary Contact: Debra Seido Martin
Primary Phone:
    Type: Home
    Number: 541-925-3019
    Email: hortonroadorganics@gmail.com

Website: http://www.hortonorganics.com

Internship information

General Farm Description: Horton Road Organics, located in the Oregon coast range, integrates education and sustainable food production throughout our main season, May through October. The farm organically grows over 30 varieties of crops that supply a small CSA, three farmers markets, several restaurants and a number of local natural food stores. Each season, our farm welcomes a crew that includes farming apprentices and managers. Horton Road has developed its own integration of field practices that incorporate mindful attention to care of the land and crops, low impact hand work and simple organic practices that eliminate the need for chemical pesticides. Diversity and crop rotation, loving care and attention in the field, excellent variety selection, and articulate soil building with natural amendments all make up a healthy, fulfilling, and sustainable practice that supports its inhabitants, human and otherwise. The farm is committed to reinvigorating a human scale agriculture, developing healthy community and respectful relationships to its customers.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: May 2025
Internship Ends: October 31, 2025
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: April 15, 2025
Minimum Length of Stay: 6 months

Internship Details:

Apprentices will participate in a 26-week full-season curriculum, learning from and working alongside farm owners, managers and other apprentices. By offering the key ingredients for developing a vibrant small-scale farm and inner integrity, our program is particularly designed to help those exploring this lifestyle as a career.

At Horton Road, our educational program is predominantly hands on. While each week there is a guiding theme (classes are held on Monday afternoons), apprentices will spend much of their time planting, weeding, harvesting and preparing vegetables. Throughout the season, apprentices will gain mastery over different tasks, develop an understanding of the working farm, and become an integral part of a seasonal crew. Our weekly curriculum provides lots of opportunity for ongoing learning, something that requires active participation on the apprentice’s part. Unlike conventional classroom learning, apprenticing integrates body and mind through direct experience – developing endurance and flexibility, cultivating knowledge through mindful observation, and building intuition by living the farmer’s life. We promote developing peer relationships to enhance learning, being part of a community which creates a completely unique experience each season.

Educational Opportunities: Weekly classes are held on a variety of sustainable agriculture topics including: soil preparation, organic fertilization, irrigation, organic approach to disease and pests, tools and equipment, food preservation, etc. Apprentices will also go on field trips to other local farms. In addition to classes and field trips, apprentices have access to their own garden plot for experimentation and off time to pursue interests not specifically covered in our syllabus. By the end of the season, apprentices will have developed necessary field skills, have a good idea of what it takes to create and operate an organic farm and determine some direction for the next step of their training.

Skills Desired: Apprentices do well if they are open to what there is to learn and not necessarily attached to a specific agricultural philosophy or technique. Prior field experience can be very helpful but not as important as a willingness to meet the demands of the farm each day. It is essential that apprentices: (1) Are able to commit to the entire season May through October and have a good work ethic, (2) Are physically able to do field work, which involves a combination of stamina, strength and flexibility, and (3) Are able to work well with others in a team, have good communications skills, and are prepared to contribute time and energy to community building activities. The season culminates in each apprentice's presentation of their "Faux Farm" - a project presented to the group for review, designed to integrate the season’s learning.

Meals: In addition to the bounty in the fields, the farm supplies a community pantry with a number of basic organic bulk beans, grains, and oils. Apprentices are responsible for making their own meals and can decide to do this individually or as a group.

Stipend: Yes. $1,100 per month; Extra pay for Saturday Market shifts; Worker's Comp Insurance; Sick days as needed & Limited vacation time

Housing: Yes. Private rooms in a renovated barn with kitchen, bath, outdoor solar shower & community room. Access to main dwelling for laundry. Phone and internet access available.

Preferred method of Contact: Email/Apply Online