Apprenticeships and Farm Incubator Program

Apprenticeships

Current Availability:   Updated 12/07/2023

We have an opening for a part-time paid apprentice for this coming season. We are especially seeking help for our busiest season March-May, but will continue to need part time help through October.  We are working with Savannah Institute to provide a wider educational opportunity that includes exposure to a range of different sustainable agroforestry operations and networking with other farm apprentices. Please apply at https://www.savannainstitute.org/apprenticeship-program/

Farm Incubator Project 

Current Availability:      Updated 12/07/2023

The situation is open starting in March of 2024.

Independent farming situation:  

 We offer an independent farming situation to support beginning farmers in starting their own organic farm business. We have about ¾ acre of garden space, 1 acre pasture, and housing available for a couple or individual to rent in exchange for 16 hours of labor/week (8 hr/each for a couple or 16 hrs for an individual). Minimum stay is one year, with the possibility to extend up to three years.

The living situation is a 720 sq. ft. mobile home that we originally brought onto the property to live in while building a house. In the six years we lived in the trailer we spent some time making it more sustainable. We landscaped with vines and edible perennials to help seasonally shade the home, and built a passive solar greenhouse onto the south side to heat the trailer and grow seedlings for our farm. For water, we set up a rainwater harvesting system collecting off an adjacent workshop.

Total garden bed space is around 3/4 acre. There is also a one acre pasture area with a 10 x 12 chicken coop which is pretty brushy and un-fenced, but has a number of half-grown fruit trees and good potential.

Brambleberry Farm is exactly one hour south of Bloomington IN and one hour northwest of Louisville KY, both with thriving local food movements and full of outlets for local food (Bloomington Farmers Market ,   Louisville Farmers Markets ). There is also a great farmer’s market 10 min north of us in Orleans,IN.

We are willing to consider pets. Dogs must complete their own application process (i.e. we need to meet your dog and be assured that it will not jump up on customers, chase livestock, etc. We have had problems with dogs in the past and need to be very careful.)

Since you will be farming on your own, prior experience is highly recommended. Applicants must submit a resume (can be informal list of work experience), and 3 references: 1 former employer, 1 living situation (i.e. landlord or roommate/housemate), and one personal reference (such as a mentor or friend). We are happy to also supply references for ourselves and the position from prior participants. Send application to mail@brambleberryfarm.org