Living Roots Farm School

Last Updated On: December 19th, 2023 at 09:49AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
5907 W. County Road 375 South
French Lick, Indiana, 47432

Primary Contact: Michael Hicks
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 812-727-5444
    Email: michael@indianacommunity.org

Website: http://www.livingroots.org

Internship information

General Farm Description: In today's world, ideas are a dime a dozen. Taking action and making a difference is the mission of Living Roots. This is a project for those excited about food and farming! For those passionate about healing the earth and creating a new model of local farming economies! For those who want to create abundance in the form of food and a fulfilling lifestyle! For those who want to be a part of a live-in farm, working with others and sharing community! To be the change you want to see in this world! If this sounds like you, we would love to have you on our team. Please read on and then send us your application. Living Roots Farm and Organic Farm School is located on a beautiful 75 acre property near Patoka Lake/French Lick/Paoli, IN. This historic farm has 3 barns, a bunkhouse, an arts center, more than 10 springs (including a spring house), good fencing, good soil, a pond, forest, and beautiful rolling pastures. We have built three greenhouses, an earthship inspired home, a Tiny House Village - 6 cabins (including an earthen clay-slip, earth bag dome), an 1800 ft. deer fence, farm stand, outdoor kitchen, produce shed, building workshop, walk-in fridge, and earthen grow room. In addition to growing lots of produce, we also have chickens, cows, pigs, goats, one dog, and two cats. We operate an organic farm school apprenticeship program, CSA and market farm, sell grass-fed beef and pastured pork, free range eggs, take work exchangers and offer a variety of workshops.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: year round
Internship Ends: year round
Number of Internship Available: 9
Application Deadline: Anytime, but by late winter is the best.
Minimum Length of Stay: Apprenticeship sessions are between 2.5 and 4 months, but if a shorter experience is needed, one can be a work exchanger (minimum stay of 2 weeks)

Internship Details:

General Curriculum Topics of Farm Apprenticeship Program
Organic Produce Farming – Crop Selection, Seed Starting, Soil Preparation, Planting, Tending, Harvesting, Season Extension, Tools, Machinery, General Permaculture
Organic Animal Farming – Humane Caretaking for Cattle, Pigs, and Chickens, including Rotational Grazing, Grass-Fed Diets, Basic Butchering Skills
Running a Farm Business – Sales/Marketing, Farmers Markets, CSAs, Online Farmers Markets, Wholesale Business
Wellness & Lifestyle for Organic Farmers – Yoga (optional), Massage (optional), Self-care, Farm-Based Culinary Arts, Sustainable Living (many possibilities, but including fermentation, cheese/yogurt/bread making, off-the-grid living/homesteading skills, herbal medicine making, natural building, food preservation, etc. – depending on apprentice interest and season)
Please note: Farming and other Sustainable Living activities are seasonal. Some topics listed above may not be available certain times of the year. If you are looking for a more complete experience, we suggest you come for an entire growing season (Spring to Fall or an entire 12 months).
Perks of Being An Apprentice at Living Roots
– Access to a Community Garden Plot
– Food is included
– Housing is included
– Use of the farm’s healing arts space, creative arts space, and library
– Walking distance to lots of hiking, backpacking, canoeing (National Forest, Springs Valley Lake)
More information
The farm owner and farm school director, Michael Hicks, has been organic gardening and farming since 2002. He has been operating educational aspects within the farm since 2006! Over 200 people have worked with him in an apprenticeship or educational capacity during these years. Many have taken away countless skills and have had many life changing experiences that have helped them live the life they want to live. We welcome you to join our team!
Our market farm produces just about any vegetable you can imagine for our 100 family CSA, Farmers Markets, local coops/natural foods stores, and restaurants. Main crops are garlic/onions, brassicas and hardy greens, tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, peppers,and beans. Other crops include: figs (in Hoophouse), strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, melons, Jerusalem artichokes, yacon, eggplant, okra, other roots, etc. We grow over 300 varieties of produce each year. Also winter production in 3 hoop houses. And the farm has chickens, pigs, goats, and grass-fed cows which you will also get to work with.
Many past apprentices have received credit and sometimes funding from their college for an internship/apprenticeship.
The apprenticeship is only 3 farm work days a week, giving the apprentice 4 days of flexibility. During these 4 days, it’s a possibility for the apprentice to spend more time on the farm (if they want a fuller experience), focus on sustainable living skills (off-the-grid/homesteading skills, culinary arts, healing arts, etc.), personal growth/reflection, or do whatever they like (such as work another job).

Educational Opportunities: General Curriculum Topics of Farm Apprenticeship Program Organic Produce Farming - Crop Selection, Seed Starting, Soil Preparation, Planting, Tending, Harvesting, Season Extension, Tools, Machinery, General Permaculture Organic Animal Farming - Humane Caretaking for Cattle, Pigs, and Chickens, including Rotational Grazing, Grass-Fed Diets, Basic Butchering Skills Running a Farm Business - Sales/Marketing, Farmers Markets, CSAs, Online Farmers Markets, Wholesale Business Wellness & Lifestyle for Organic Farmers - Yoga (optional), Massage (optional), Self-care, Farm-Based Culinary Arts, Sustainable Living (many possibilities, but including fermentation, cheese/yogurt/bread making, off-the-grid living/homesteading skills, herbal medicine making, natural building, food preservation, etc. - depending on apprentice interest and season) Please note: Farming and other Sustainable Living activities are seasonal. Some topics listed above may not be available certain times of the year. If you are looking for a more complete experience, we suggest you come for an entire growing season (Spring to Fall or an entire 12 months).

Skills Desired: No prior experience necessary, though it does help one's application. A desire to learn and be engaged with the program are the most important. Aspects such as teamwork, communication skills, organization skills, dependability, and self-motivation are just as important.

Meals: Food includes lots of choices from the farm (predominantly what we eat), and other bulk staples. The food supplied is predominately vegetarian; however, meat is sometimes available from our farm animals. All residents always get discounts on our grass-fed beef and pastured pork.

Stipend: No stipend for standard 3 day a week apprenticeship program. However, some spots available for apprentices to work 4 or 5 days a week - those apprentices do receive a stipend of up to $400/month. Also, there is a field manager ($1000 - $2000/month stipend) and two assistant farm managers and other staff members that get paid stipends between $300 and $1200 monthly (depending on experience and specific role). These positions will share significant responsibility with the farm manager/owner.

Housing: Housing will be bunkspace in a shared off-the-grid cabin in our tiny house village, bunkspace in a farmhouse, campground spot, or a private cabin - depending on availability. Managers and full time staff will be in a private cabin.

Preferred method of Contact: Phone or Email