Farm Apprenticeship

The Farm Collaborative Apprenticeship

The Farm Collaborative has served Aspen and the greater Roaring Fork Valley with education programs, community events and a Farm Park for 17 years. In 2019, after receiving 14 additional acres from the City of Aspen, we started over an acre of vegetable production beds. With the help of two greenhouses we are able to push the potential of our harsh climate at 7,400 ft elevation. We rotationally graze sheep and laying hens to increase the fertility and health of our pastures and produce meat and eggs.

In the production garden our season will primarily include 1) growing nursery starts for transplanting into production beds, 2) building/maintaining soil fertility for optimal growth of production crops, 3) propagating/transplanting/seeding annual row crops for market sale, 4) harvesting and packing annual row crops for market sale. Other activities may include helping with daily farm chores (including care of livestock), supporting education programming, and helping complete site wide projects. We will sell our produce and meat at the Aspen Farmers’ Market, and wholesale accounts.

Please check out our website at: thefarmcollaborative.org or on facebook at @farmcollaborativeaspen or instagram: @thefarmcollaborative

The Farm Collaborative Apprenticeship

Location: Cozy Point, Aspen, Colorado

Time Commitment: May/June through late October/early November, 4 days/week

Compensation: Apprenticeship participants receive a monthly program stipend, on-farm housing including utilities (or an additional stipend for housing if farm provided housing is not required). There is additional compensation through farm produce, protein, and some staple pantry foods. The farm housing is located on the farm at 220 Juniper Hill Rd, Aspen CO 81611.

Application Deadline: Positions are open until filled.

Requirements:

• No previous farming experience necessary
• Strong, demonstrable work ethic
• Curiosity, commitment to treating internship as learning experience
• Flexibility, patience, and a positive attitude
• Ability to safely and successfully perform manual labor in varying weather conditions at an altitude over 7,000ft
• Interest in organic agriculture
• Flexibility to do multiple on-farm tasks.
• The apprentice must arrange their own transportation to the apprenticeship if not living in provided housing on-site.

The apprentice(s) will help the Agricultural Programs Specialist and Site Manager in all aspects of the garden including plant starting, garden planning, irrigation maintenance, trellis construction, plant care, weeding, harvesting, washing produce and preparing for storage, keeping updated records, public events and tours, helping to organize and facilitate volunteer days, preparing produce for markets, and staffing market booths. Apprentices are expected to learn quickly and perform work in a thorough and efficient manner. The work will be hard and some days will be long, apprentices will need to be team players in accomplishing daily tasks. Apprentices will also have the opportunity to learn animal husbandry, can take part in optional butchering days, daily chores feeding animals, as well as farm maintenance. If apprentices have specific interests we are able to tailor work sessions and discussions to those areas, including but not limited to business planning, crop planning, setting-up a farm, etc.

Application Instructions

Please attach a copy of your current resume which includes your education and employment history, as well as two references - one that can vouch for your positive attitude, work ethic, or any prior farming experience (an advisor or prior employer).

Please email completed applications to francesca@thefarmcollaborative.org and sonya@thefarmcollaborative.org. After receiving your completed application, if it is determined that you may be a good fit for the position, we will schedule a phone interview.