2021 Apprenticeship position now open!
we are proud to be participating in the rogue farm corp apprenticeship program this season
Start Date: 5/1/21
End Date: 12/20/21
Number of Positions Available: 1
App Deadline: Until Filled
Minimum length of stay: 8 months
General Description:
Flying Coyote Farm is a 37 acre certified organic and biodynamic farm nestled in the foothills of Mt. Hood in Sandy, OR. We grow 8 acres of vegetables using a mix of mechanized and biointensive growing practices and manage the rest of our acreage through rotational grazing and cover crop rotations. Our primary outlets for our produce are through our 170 member CSA program, a weekend farmers market, and local restaurants and groceries. We also have an extensive livestock program where we raise pigs, lamb and chickens for meat. Each year we raise 1500 broiler chickens and 10-15 pigs and 20-30 sheep. We also grow berries and fruit mainly for on-farm use. Our crew consists of Lili Tova (farm manager), Dan Sullivan (farm manager), Piper Krabbenhoft (Harvest Crew Manager), Stephen Lewis (Livestock Manager), as well as six part time harvest positions, four part time fieldwork positions, and one full time apprentice position. We also host volunteers and WWOOFers during the main growing season.
Lili Tova is the owner and manager of Flying Coyote Farm. She has been working as a gardener and farmer for twelve years in Florida, California and Oregon. She is a graduate of the Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture at UC Santa Cruz. During her second year in the program, she worked as the Assistant Manager of the five-acre farm site, helping to manage and coordinate a 150 member CSA, farm stand, and restaurant sales. She has a passion for mentoring and has taught farming and homesteading skills at UC Santa Cruz and at Aprovecho Research Center where she worked as the Garden Manager for two seasons.
TRAINING SCHEDULE
Apprentices at Flying Coyote farm are expected to participate in all areas of running a small-diversified organic farm from seed to harvest. The schedule will typically be 5 days per week, with 8-10 hour days in the main season and 6-8 hour days in the spring and late fall. This includes occasional weekend responsibilities (watering and animal chores, etc). Apprentices may take an additional 3 days off during the season to be scheduled with the farm manager.
Apprentices will participate in the vegetable operation on our farm from seed to harvest and sales and will additionally assist in the day to day management of our pasture-raised meat operation (broiler chickens, sheep and pigs).
Generally our weeks are broken into harvest days, field workdays and market and delivery days. Spring will focus on field prep, greenhouse work, seeding and transplanting, summer will see an increase in harvesting and general field work, and fall will bring the harvest and curing of our storage crops, cover cropping, canning, wood splitting, animal processing and putting the farm to rest. We are known for our attention to quality and the freshness and beauty of our products and apprentices will learn about proper harvest and post-harvest handling techniques to ensure that produce is harvested, processed and stored to maintain the freshest and highest quality product.
Throughout the season apprentices participate in managing fertility and soil health on a certified Organic and Biodynamic farm including spreading amendments, working with the biodynamic preps, building compost and crop rotation. Apprentices are exposed to decision-making around pest and disease management, weeding practices, various methods of irrigation and managing fertility throughout the season through the use of fertigation, side dressing and foliar sprays.
Apprentices participate in seasonal building and infrastructure projects around the farm, which can range in scale from maintaining animal shelters to fencing and irrigation work. Apprentices are also encouraged to participate in homesteading projects such as canning, herbal medicine making and sauerkraut production.
Pasture-raised meat operation (broilers, sheep and pigs):
Daily watering and feeding
General animal health care
Pasture Rotation
Record keeping
Animal infrastructure repair and maintenance
Vegetable Operation:
Propagation House Seeding
Planting
Crop care for various crops
Greenhouse production for high value specialty crops
Fertility management
Irrigation management
Weed management (fields and greenhouses)
Soil and field preparation and fertilization (BCS and hand scale)
BCS use and maintenance
Harvest systems (crop projections, picklists, supplies)
Post-Harvest Systems (storage, collation, wash/packing)
Cover cropping
Crop rotation
Time Management
Recordkeeping
Crop reviews and planning (includes generating planting lists)
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Educational opportunities will be both formal and informal and will happen throughout the season as apprentices become integrated into the farm. The hows and whys of our farming practices will be clearly explained and apprentices are fully encouraged to ask questions and take on personal projects that will be supported by the farm manager. Much of the learning of farming happens in the repetition of tasks day to day and throughout the season. We find that folks who have a good attention to detail and who enjoy the physicality and structure of the work tend to flourish on our farm. Our hope is that by the end of the season apprentices will leave feeling more confident in their ability to run a small diversified market farm and to manage various aspects of pasture-based meat production.
ACCOMMODATIONS, FOOD, PAY
Apprentices will have their own living space in either our auxiliary farm house, or our small travel trailer. Apprentices have access to a covered outdoor kitchen and an indoor living room and bathroom space. We have laundry facilities on-site and high-speed Internet available. All apprentices are paid minimum wage and are asked to pay the farm a small rental fee for their living space. The farm provides produce and some meat to apprentices but otherwise are asked to provide their own food.
QUALIFICATIONS
We are looking for people who have a passion for farming and a desire to be involved in an agrarian lifestyle. We ask that all applicants have a minimum of two years full season experience working on a commercial farm (or equivalent experience). We are seeking people who have good communication skills, who know how to ask for and receive guidance when approaching new tasks and who have experience working within a team. Farming is very hard work but also incredibly rewarding so a positive attitude and good work ethic are a must. We will also give preference to applicants who see farming as part of their long-term life goals. As we are a women-owned and operated farm we are looking for folks who will be comfortable working with and taking direction from women. We also ask that you be open to working with people of diverse races, genders and sexual orientations. Flying Coyote Farm encourages and supports applicants from all backgrounds and is committed to creating a safe and supportive work environment.
Preferred Method of Contact: Please contact us by email flyingcoyotefarm@gmail.com.
