REGENERATIVE APPRENTICESHIP – Two Creek Farm

Last Updated On: March 25th, 2024 at 08:32AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
65 Woods Road
Lakewood, Pennsylvania, 18439

Primary Contact: Brent Habig
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 6464833285
    Email: apprentice@twocreek.net

Website: https://www.twocreek.net/apprentice

Internship information

General Farm Description: Two Creek is a regenerative USDA-organic farm in Northeast Pennsylvania. We raise pastured poultry including layers broilers, and turkey. We also breed and raise forested pigs and grass-fed cattle and sheep. We also have a 1/4 acre market garden and early-stage fruit and nut orchards. We manage holistically following the work of Alan Savory’s. Our holistic context includes operating a profitable commercial farm while offering education to support a larger transition to a regenerative food system.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: 4/15/2024
Internship Ends: 10/31/2024
Number of Internship Available: 2
Application Deadline: rolling
Minimum Length of Stay: Full season, shorter stays may be requested

Internship Details:

PROGRAM SUMMARY

Two Creek’s Regenerative Apprenticeship Program is a full-season residential program that provides both practical experience and theoretical understating of regenerative and organic agriculture to aspiring farmers. Our program will supports two new apprentices in 2024.

The core of the program is a customized learning agenda including skill development through supporting daily operations and through implementing special projects. Apprentices receive room, partial board and a $1,200 monthly stipend. We generally eat our own or locally-grown produce. Apprentices stay in the historic farmhouse equipped with private bedrooms, kitchen, bedrooms, full bath, and wood stoves with access to a private gym.

Come and learn how to become a regenerative organic farmer!

PROGRAM CONTENT AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Apprentices rotate across our major work areas (e.g. livestock, orchards, market garden, marketing, business management). This hands-on work is informed by relevant frameworks such as Allan Savory’s Holistic Management, P.A. Yeomans’ Scale of Permanence and Keyline Design, and Bill Mollison’s 12 Principles of Permaculture.

We work with each apprentice to develop a personalized learning plan including daily tasks (e.g. pasture moves) and special projects (e.g. water system set-up). Expect 40 to 50 hour work weeks that may include early starts and late nights according to the demands of the season.

While the overall goal is learning, the day-to-day priority is running the farm. A typical day includes morning and evening tasks (e.g. animal moves, garden harvest) with much of the day focused on special projects (e.g. silvopasture). The weekly heartbeat is our weekend farmers’ markets, so we will generally harvest and pack up for those the day before and attend markets on weekends. We also offer monthly farm tours on Saturdays.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Our apprenticeship program season runs from April 15 through October 31. It is generally expected that apprentices stay the entire season, but shorter stays may be available by special request.

Apprentices must have a demonstrated commitment to becoming a regenerative farmer. One full season of hands-on experience on a farm is preferred but not required. Apprentices must demonstrate the ability to put in hard work in the outdoors, the flexibility to complete a wide range of tasks, a positive track-record of taking initiative, and the ability to work well in a small team.

LIFE ON THE FARM

Apprentices stay in the historic farmhouse on the property, which is equipped with a kitchen, bedrooms, full bath, washing machine and wood stoves with access to a private gym. On farm, we have a 1/2 acre spring-fed pond for swimming and fishing and woodlands for forest bathing, foraging and hiking. Just a mile away, apprentices have access to 50 acre private. We are close to the Delaware river and there are rail-trails nearby, so there are plenty of opportunities for recreation. Life is quiet and opportunities to socialize off the farm are limited.

ABOUT THE FARMER / TRAINER

Two Creek is owned and managed by Brent Habig. Brent spent most of his career as an environmental executive in Africa and Asia, supporting governments and global corporations to build inclusive and sustainable supply chains. Since 2019, he has been operating Two Creek Farm as demonstration regenerative organic farm to accelerate our transition to regenerative agriculture. Brent is an Accredited Professional with the Savory Institute and is certified to conduct trainings on their behalf.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please email a cover letter and resume to apprentice@twocreek.net and request our application. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Finalists will be invited to a video interview and to spend a day working at Two Creek to finalize our selection.

Educational Opportunities: Apprentices rotate across our major work areas (e.g. livestock, orchards, market garden, marketing, business management). This hands-on work is informed by relevant frameworks such as Allan Savory's Holistic Management, P.A. Yeomans' Scale of Permanence and Keyline Design, and Bill Mollison's 12 Principles of Permaculture. We work with each apprentice to develop a personalized learning plan including daily tasks (e.g. pasture moves) and special projects (e.g. water system set-up). Expect 40 to 50 hour work weeks that may include early starts and late nights according to the demands of the season. While the overall goal is learning, the day-to-day priority is running the farm. A typical day includes morning and evening tasks (e.g. animal moves, garden harvest) with much of the day focused on special projects (e.g. silvopasture). The weekly heartbeat is our weekend farmers' markets, so we will generally harvest and pack up for those the day before and attend markets on weekends. We also offer monthly farm tours on Saturdays.

Skills Desired: Apprentices must have a demonstrated commitment to becoming a regenerative farmer. One full season of hands-on experience on a farm is preferred but not required. Apprentices must demonstrate the ability to put in hard work in the outdoors, the flexibility to complete a wide range of tasks, a positive track-record of taking initiative, and the ability to work well in a small team.

Meals: Yes, partial board includes surplus farm produce, eggs and meat

Stipend: $1,200 per month

Housing: Yes

Preferred method of Contact: email