Integral Ecology Apprentice – Oxbow Farm
Last Updated On: October 16th, 2025 at 01:22PM MST
Contact information
Farm Address:17933 Foreston Rd.
Parkton, Maryland, 21120
Primary Contact: Julie Laudick Dougherty
Primary Phone:
Type: Cell
Number: 614-579-8266
Email: julie@oxbowfarm.net
Website: https://www.oxbowfarm.net
Internship information
General Farm Description: My husband and I (Julie) are inspired by the Catholic Worker movement and started this farm so we could share the joys and challenges of farm life with others. Expect challenges! Our mission is to offer fresh produce, hospitality, and ecological education to people experiencing material or spiritual poverty. We manage our land as a practice of integral ecology, where community members can learn the satisfying work of farming and enjoy the fruits of their labor. We are also part of the Care Farming Network. We sell and donate our produce at the Govans Farmers Market, which is in a food desert in Baltimore, and offer a CSA (weekly produce subscription) on a sliding scale. The farm is home to chickens, milk goats, a team of oxen in training, a farm cat, and lots of wildlife. We offer educational tours of our 17 acres featuring our historic barn, fields, farm animals, woods, streams, and pond. Visit www.oxbowfarm.net to learn more.CRAFT Member Farm? No
Internship Starts: February 1st 2026 preferred. We might be able to accept a second apprentice at a later start date
Internship Ends: Flexible, usually November 30th, but winter accommodations are possible
Number of Internship Available: 2
Application Deadline: Apply by November 30th, 2025 for full consideration. Applications accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled.
Minimum Length of Stay: 6 months
Internship Details:
Oxbow Farm is seeking one or two Integral Ecology Apprentices for a six-month minimum stay during the months of February through November 2026. A full season commitment with a start date in February 2026 is preferred. Compensation includes agroecology classes, really good food, a large private room in a shared house, and a $1000 monthly stipend.
This apprenticeship is ideal for someone who has experience in farming and community life and is discerning starting their own homestead, farm, or faith-based intentional community. It is not required that applicants be Catholic/Christian or otherwise religious, but a strong interest in farming and community life as a spiritual practice is important. As a community, we pray daily, practice the works of mercy, and strive to be a place of peace for people in need to experience healing through the rhythms of farm life. We wholeheartedly welcome WWOOFers and other visitors of any background, age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, and faith or lack thereof.
I have a MS degree in Agroecology and am currently working on a Master of Theological Studies degree at Loyola University (where my husband teaches). The apprenticeship includes ten class sessions of your choice on topics including but not limited to farm site selection, soil testing, greenhouse setup, canning and food preservation, composting, loving your neighbors, philosophy of science for organic farmers, history of the Creation Care movement, history of the Catholic Worker movement, material and spiritual poverty, theology of evolution, and integral ecology.
Duties and Expectations Putting in a solid 30-40 hours of work per week with tasks that vary with the time of year but include:
- Welcome and orient interns and shorter-term WWOOF volunteers. We typically have 1-2 interns and 1-2 other guests at a time.
- Attend Monday morning meetings with the whole farm team and provide guidance for interns and WWOOFers on routine farm tasks including planting, weeding, harvesting, animal chores, making community meals, and housekeeping chores.
- Assist with sowing seeds, potting up, and organizing orders for a Spring Plant Sale
- Implement a planting chart for a small (1/3 acre) diversified veggie operation, assist with cultivating crops, and harvesting and packing orders for a small (10-15 person) CSA
- Coordinate deliveries of produce donations to local food pantries
- Participate in our ministry of hospitality: depending on the available space and comfort level of the apprentices and interns, we occasionally take in individuals and families who are experiencing hardships including unemployment, depression, single parenthood, etc.
- Depending on your interest, we are happy to provide space and materials for you to experiment with growing your own crops or other farm enterprise!
Please email julie@oxbowfarm.net with a CV and cover letter with the following info to apply:
- What motivates you to apply for this apprenticeship?
- Describe your spiritual or religious background. How do you aspire to translate your beliefs into action in daily life?
- Describe previous experiences you’ve had in farming and/or community life. Feel free to include how you might be able to apply experience from a different career path or educational background to this position.
- What are some of your potential career/lifepath interests after this apprenticeship?
- Attach a resume or CV that includes previous educational, work, service, faith, community, or other hands-on experiences or skills. Please include specifics such as the names of places you studied, worked, or volunteered, as well as how long you were there and your role. Include 2 reference contacts as well.
Qualifications (a strong candidate should have at least three of the four qualifications)
- Experience living in community, whether an intentional community or a more informal situation with multiple roommates/housemates.
- At least two full seasons of growing experience at a farm, homestead, or large garden.
- Experience and patience with directing and mentoring diverse individuals with varying backgrounds, skills, and abilities.
- Educational background or other work experience in biology, environmental science, horticulture, social work, theology, or related fields.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled. Serious candidates will be required to provide a valid ID for a background check since we often host school group tours and youth volunteer days.
Educational Opportunities: Apprentices will receive in-depth training during the month of February, as well as on-going class sessions and hands-on training with other interns and WWOOFers throughout the season. Upon arriving at the farm, you will receive a binder full of farm protocols on everything from greenhouse setup to animal chores, as well as more conceptual lessons on over 20 topics designed to help you start your own operation. Apprentices are also invited (but not required) to pick a topic of their choice relating to farming, ecology, and/or faith to develop and lead as a new class session.
Skills Desired: Yes, while we are an organically operated diversified veggie CSA farm, I'd say the harder and more important part of the work that we do is to provide a space for our interns, WWOOFers, and shorter term guests to experience the healing nature of farm work, ask questions, and discern new possibilities for the future. To this end, organic growing experience is very useful, but we really need someone who is up for the challenge of investing in the growth of the many different types of people who pass through our farm community.
Meals: Yes, high quality, mostly organic ingredients for all meals are provided, many of which come from the farm in due season. The farm consists of 2 houses and a two bedroom trailer home. We have at least one weekly meal with the whole community, and Apprentices will be in charge of coordinating/assigning meal prep duties for other members of their house including interns and shorter term WWOOFers.
Stipend: Yes, $1000 per month for the apprenticeship
Housing: Yes, the apprentices(s) will have a choice between two of the larger rooms in a fully furnished house with a stocked kitchen.
Preferred method of Contact: email
