Apprenticeships
About the farm:
Oz Farm is located in the Garcia River valley, about a 15-minute drive northeast
of Point Arena, California, and a three-hour drive north of San Francisco
(Map & Directions)
. The farm lies six miles upriver from the ocean in coastal Mendocino County's
cool temperate zone. Summer mornings and evenings can be foggy, but days generally
warm up enough for river swimming. Winters can be very rainy.
Oz Farm grows some 45 varieties of unusual antique apples in its espalier-style
orchard as well as a wide variety of vegetables and flowers
(Organic Produce)
. Most of our produce is sold through
Farmers' Markets, organic wholesalers, restaurants, and local schools,
and we also operate a CSA (
Community Supported Agriculture
) program that provides weekly boxes of seasonal produce to local subscribers.
The farm is run by a farm manager, four to five full-time seasonal apprentices
and occasional woofers.
Job description:
Apprentices work closely with the farm manager and participate with all aspects
on the farm including animal care, greenhouse propagation, soil development,
irrigation, disease, pest and week management, harvest, washing and packing,
and marketing produce at the farmer’s markets.
We are looking for apprentices with a good work ethic and a positive attitude
and who are ready to commit to a full season (March through December) of sometimes
rigorous, often fast-paced but always deeply rewarding work. While we don’t
require prior experience we do look for highly motivated self starters who
have a strong interest to learn the skills necessary to pursue a farming lifestyle
and are ready to participate in all activities on the farm.
Please note that farming can be very repetitive and includes tasks such as
heavy lifting (up to 50 lbs), repetitive grasping, standing, bending, and
walking. A typical work days lasts 8 hours with a one hour lunch. We all take
turns cooking lunches for everybody as well as with various farm chores like
baking our bread or cleaning the communal kitchen. Workdays may exceed 8 hours
on harvest days and apprentices are also expected to work occasional weekends
to staff the farmer’s markets or to do watering chores on the farm.
In addition to our farming focus, Oz Farm's cabins and facilities are frequently
rented for family gatherings and weddings, and as a retreat by groups engaging
in meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, cooking, art, river studies, environmental activism
and the like (
Retreats & Cabins
). Retreat groups are drawn to Oz because of its
quiet beauty, and apprentices are expected to respect this peaceful atmosphere.
Housing and Compensation:
Living quarters include a private canvas tent with a stove, an outdoor shower,
and a comfortable communal farm kitchen/living area. Apprentices are required
to keep their living quarters clean, as well as picking up after themselves
on the farm.
Apprentices are paid a small stipend. Workers Compensation is provided. We
also provide all the fruit and veggies and eggs you can eat.
In addition, we offer an education experience with weekly lessons on agricultural
topics such as soil science, irrigation techniques, propagation, etc. We also
organize field trips to other farms and agricultural projects in the area.
If you are interested in applying for an apprenticeship, please send us a
letter including answers to the following questions, a resume and two references
to:
OZ Farm
Apprenticeship
P.O. Box 244
Point Arena, CA 95468
What do you hope to gain by participating in a farm apprenticeship
and what are your goals related to agriculture?
What previous agricultural experience do you have?
How do you stay interested in your work and motivated to take initiative and
finish a job?
Do you have a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record?
Please tell us something about yourself. Hobbies, pastimes,etc.
How do you feel about working and living with the same community of people?
If your qualifications match what we’re looking for, we will contact you
to schedule a phone or on-farm (preferred) interview. If you have additional
questions about our apprenticeship program, feel free to contact us.
_________________________________
Relevant Links :
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| Oz Farm field in summer |
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Pruning Apples |
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2005 interns (L. to R.) Sunny, Naomi L., Naomi K., & Zoe with CSA load. (Merav Reichman photo) |
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Two 2004 interns at the farmers' market stand |
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Interns and Manager 2003 Season |
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