Sweet Union Apprenticeship
Last Updated On: February 5th, 2026 at 01:44PM MST
Contact information
Farm Address:10861 Crystal Springs Rd
Klamath Falls, Oregon, 97603
Primary Contact: Avry Miller
Primary Phone:
Type: Cell
Number: 5035773579
Email: avry@oregonfarmcorps.org
Website: https://www.oregonfarmcorps.org/host-farms/sweetunion
Internship information
General Farm Description: At Sweet Union Farm, we believe that vegetables are beautiful, land is to be respected and community is our strength. We are passionate about growing the highest quality vegetables for our community and making them accessible to everyone. We seek balance, intentionality and excellence in all we do ecologically, socially and economically. Katie Swanson has been farming for 10 years and just completed her ninth season owning/operating Sweet Union Farm. Sweet Union’s farm Enterprises are diversified vegetables. Our sales outlets include Farmer's market, restaurants, farm-to-school and the local food hub Klamath Grown. Sweet Union is a very intensively managed and productive small farm. Sustainability is a top priority in making this farm healthy for all the species that live here, emphasizing diversity, soil-building, and water saving.CRAFT Member Farm? No
Internship Starts: Mid April
Internship Ends: late october
Number of Internship Available: 1 PART TIME (20-38 hrs/week)
Application Deadline: 03/15/2026
Minimum Length of Stay: 500 hours / Full Season
Internship Details:
For the 2026 season, the crew will mostly consist of myself, one returning full-time employee and one OFC Apprentice. There may be one other part-time employee that runs the farmers market booth. .
The Apprentice will gain experience in annual vegetable production in the following ways: flipping and prepping beds (hand tools, tarps & BCS), direct seeding (Jang), transplanting (by hand & Paperpot), greenhouse seeding, cultivation and weed management, season extension techniques, irrigation, harvest, wash & pack. Tractor training can be discussed, although this is typically reserved for one crew member per season who has at least one season on the farm. Apprentices will learn about the various sales outlets and have opportunities to work the farmers market booth. There may also be opportunities to work on other projects around the property, such as managing and expanding the native plant hedgerows and riparian habitat. We will also have a few sheep that they can help take care of. The apprentice will also be involved in our spring plant sale where we sell veggie starts and native plants. Additionally, there will be opportunities to learn about the back end of farming and how we manage the business. We also typically host a few field trips every year, so the Apprentice can learn how to lead a class field trip on the farm. If the apprentice has another particular area of interest, I will do my best to arrange the schedule so that they can participate in that aspect of the farm.
In addition to farm work and farm business management, the Apprentice will have the opportunity to learn about community food systems work and how to develop partnerships in order to increase access to produce. Katie is the co-founder of the local food hub, Klamath Grown, so there is ample opportunity to get involved in that work.
The specifics of the schedule for 2026 are still being worked out. The days per week may vary between 2-3. The average day is 8 hours, although it can range from 6-10 hours depending on a variety of factors. There is the option to apply for the farmers market position which involves 1 day/week running our Saturday farmers market booth. All state laws regarding breaks and lunch are observed.
The Apprentice is expected to be able to do physical work in all types of weather and be on their feet for the hours described above with the ability to lift 40 pounds repeatedly. Provided training, the ability to operate equipment such as the BCS is important as well as other hand tools used on the farm.
More than anything, a positive attitude, willingness to learn and ask questions, and open communication would be expected of the apprentice. Beyond the on-farm communication, the Apprentice would be expected to communicate kindly and clearly to customers.
We tend to utilize the “I do, we do, you do” format where we show the mentee how to do a task then do it with them providing feedback and answering questions. Once it feels like they have the hang of it, we give them space and do something else then come back to check in to see if they have any questions. At the beginning of the season we would expect to be doing more tasks side by side and as they learn more and fewer tasks are new, they would work more independently.
We typically have a weekly check in and review the plan with the whole crew once a week, plus daily morning check-ins to clarify who is doing what and to provide any explanations.
A lot of discussions and mentoring naturally happen while we are working, but Katie also schedules individual check-ins with each staff member at least 2-3 times per season to discuss how they are doing physically, mentally and emotionally on the farm. These will also be times to touch base on what they are learning to make sure their goals are being met.
The Apprentice would have access to the farm library of 20+ farming books. Plus, we will inevitably share online resources with each other, podcasts, watch videos, etc. which would fuel great discussions in the field. I also recognize that people come from a diversity of backgrounds with different communication and learning styles, so I would ask them about their preferences at the beginning of the season and adjust accordingly. The apprentice is also welcome and encouraged to take on a project of their own on the farm. Once they arrive and get a feel for the place, we can talk about their ideas, see how they fit into the existing farm systems and discuss how to best support their project.
Educational Opportunities: EDUCATIONAL EVENTS Apprentices join other beginning farmers for an Educational Event Series facilitated by Oregon Farm Corps. The full event series includes: Online classes and discussions focused on foundational sustainable agriculture concepts, skills, and the food system, with topics including Decolonizing Agriculture, Soil Health, Farmworker Justice and Disease Management. Two weekend Gatherings and one mid-week gathering in September including farm tours which showcase practical skills and individual farmers’ stories and provide insight into diverse production and marketing systems. OFC strives to make all educational events inclusive and welcoming to people from all backgrounds and identities. Classes, tours, and discussions are led by Oregon Farm Corps staff, agricultural professionals, and expert farmworkers/farmers. For more information on these events, please visit our event series page and 2026 class schedule outline.
Skills Desired: At least one season of agricultural experience is preferred but not required. Most important is experience doing physical labor outdoors. Strong communication skills, ability to self-advocate and communicate needs Ability to work efficiently and consistently with others and independently Ability to follow instructions, open to constructive feedback Positive attitude and ability to have a good time while being productive. Learner mindset, asks questions and shares ideas from own experience. Observant, attention to detail and takes initiative to fill needs or solve problems Strong work ethic, desire to do high quality work Ability to do physical work in all weather Provided training, ability to operate hand tools and equipment, including the BCS. Ability to lift 40 pounds repeatedly Clean drivers license and reliable vehicle to get to work on time An in-person visit is preferable, but if that is not possible, we can work around that.
Meals: no
Stipend: $17/hr. $150 equipment stipend after 60 days Paid PTO (accrual rate 1 hr per 30 hrs worked plus 4 additional hours after 60 days) Access to lots of farm veggies $200 bonus when the season completed
Housing: no
Preferred method of Contact: Email