Bertrand Farm Internship

Looking to the Future - Small Farming for Food Security

Bertrand Farm offers internships for beginner small farmers and education students interested in including agriculture in the classroom.

We are in an exciting time for the field of food and farming. The desire for re-invention of our food industry is unprecedented. Hands on experience is the best way to learn about farming. Come grow with us and connect to your land, your health, and your community.

We strive to be a place that fosters creativity and lifelong learning. Interns work closely with our field manager and the community in our Community sponsored agriculture program (CSA). Our partnerships with other nearby farmers allow us to offer a diverse and exciting farm education. We believe the future of food security rests in a localized food system.

We operate three acres of diversified urban production using principles of intensive growing and permaculture practices including fruits, vegetables, eggs, honey and limited meats. Our production focuses on environmental stewardship including organic and permaculture practices. Our farming style is an environmentally regenerative one. This year we welcome 2 full time interns for 10-15 weeks during the growing season. Interns participate in all aspects of the farm including our educational classes. We strongly encourage applicants who are looking for practical farming education but also welcome all who have an interest in food production and environmental restoration.

Restoration Agriculture For Food Production 101

PURPOSE: To gain experience in vegetable, fruit and meat production using proven organic practices that are mindful of sustainability with regards to the environment restoration, the availability of affordable fuel and the future food security needs of our local communities; To experience a variety of successful small scale, food producing farming styles; To know the steps, from planning to market, for food farming. To understand food security issues that necessitates growth in small farming everywhere.

EXPERIENTIAL TEACHING INTERNSHIP

We offer an Experiential Teaching Internship for education majors. In addition to the farm curriculum a teaching component with practical experience is included. Interns pursuing this program will have an opportunity to shadow our Farm to School programming during the school year if interested.

Duties And Responsibilities Of Interns

Daily fieldwork will include animal maintenance chores and farming practices
Using farm equipment including hand tools, sprayers, tillers and driving farm tractor
Keeping detailed records on all farm activities
Participation in weekly educational components may include: presentations, workshops, farm tours, and movies
Suggested pre-reading You Can Farm, by Joel Salatin, selected articles and suggested web pages on sustainable agriculture topics; view you-tube videos on organic farming, as assigned
Experiential Teaching Interns are asked to pre-read Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv, and Positive Discipline in the Classroom by Jane Nelson, Lynn Lott and Stephen Glenn.

REPORTS TO: Therese Zimmerman-Niemier of Bertrand Farm and Director of Urban Agriculture Learning Center at Good Shepherd Montessori School, South Bend, IN.

COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS: Purple Porch Co-op, Prairie Winds Farm, Clay Bottom Farm, Monroe Park Food Co-op

There are many long days in the growing season; A typical day on the farm starts early with breakfast and farm chores. Field work and more physically demanding tasks last until Noon. Afternoons can include shade work, class work, or down time. Our farming experience is an emersion in nature. Sometimes we find these days exhausting but always exciting and full of reward.

Each week has its own routine. If we get ahead we take some time to rest, if we get behind we work extra hours. Weekends are free after harvest on Saturday which ends at 11:00 am.

HOUSING – Some host housing available.

Position Requirements

High school graduate, must be 18
Candidates should have an interest in environmental restoration, food production/organic farming or education
Able to work hard mentally and physically; required lifting can reach 50lbs
Tolerant of sweat, dirt, sun and rain (enjoying it is a plus)
Able to work well as a team member and independently
Able to work minimum of 10 weeks, start date May or early June (and sign intern contract)
Able to secure a background check

APPLICATION FOR INTERNSHIP

Please download and complete Internship Application and email to Bertrand Farm. We will be in touch with you regarding a telephone interview, but please feel free to follow up with an email or phone call.

Gift Certificates available for all programming. Contact Theri Niemier at [email protected].