Summerfield Waldorf School

Last Updated On: October 17th, 2024 at 04:36PM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
655 Willowside Rd
Santa Rosa, California, 95401

Primary Contact: Birgit Landowne
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 484-744-0640
    Email: Birgit.landowne@summerfieldwaldorf.org

Website: https://www.SummerfieldWaldorfSchool.org

Internship information

General Farm Description: Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm is a small-diversified farm modeled after a family farm that was once common in this area. We are situated close to the Laguna de Santa Rosa wetlands in an area that was once a large oak savannah. We are currently growing 2 acres of row crops on semi-permanent beds. Our primary tillage is done by tractor, and we cultivate using hand-tools and an electric tractor. We have been experimenting with different types of no-till systems and different cover crops. Students pre-K through 12th grade, have gardening classes on the farm and help with seeding, planting, cultivating, and harvesting. The whole farm is 15 acres. 2-3 acres of row crops, 2 acres of student garden, 6 acres of pastures. We house two cows, 12 sheep, 4 goats, 4 rabbits, 50 chickens, and 3 ducks. Our farm grows a diverse selection of annual vegetables, perennials, apples, peaches, plums, figs, and pears. Summerfield Farm has been certified Biodynamic since 2001 by Demeter. We make compost on the farm from our animal bedding. We try to limit off-farm fertility inputs in an effort to create a balanced farm ecosystem. We are working toward strengthening our fertility program and increase organic matter content of the soil using cover-crops and mulching with straw.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: ASAP
Internship Ends: 12 month from Starting
Number of Internship Available: ONE
Application Deadline: ASAP
Minimum Length of Stay: 6 Month

Internship Details:

Interns are engaged in all areas of the farmwork: greenhouse propagation, planting, cultivating, harvesting.

Animal care including mucking out the barn.

Tractor Safty.

Machinery maintenance.

Working with and around children is an important part of our farm.

Because of the proximity of the school, there is a strong emphasis of cleanliness and organization.

Interns will share rotation with the animal chores on weekends.

Two days off week days, every other weekend work Saturday and Sunday.

Position is 40hrs/week and a 12-month commitment.

Educational Opportunities: Intern will learn about crop-rotation, composting using Biodynamic preparations, fertility management, insectary hedgerows, plant propagation, tractor and machinery maintenance, animal husbandry, irrigation design (drip and overhead) and farm-stand management

Skills Desired: Intern should be motivated to learn and observe and be able to interact with visitors to the farm within a school community

Meals: Meals are not included but all farm products (fruit, vegetables, eggs) are available to interns.

Stipend: $1850 a month

Housing: Modified shipping container with kitchen and Bathroom, live in Trailer with Bedroom and Bathroom

Preferred method of Contact: email