2017 Apprenticeship
This year we are offering a weekly apprenticeship (two days a week) for those wanting to experience the progression of a full growing season of ecological homesteading. From April through October you can expect mentorship and hands-on experience in the following realms:
Schedule & Routine
The apprenticeship will take place two days a week from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm with a one hour lunch break. We are planning for Wednesday & Thursday to be designated apprenticeship days. However, depending on the particular schedules of applicants we are open to exploring alternative days of the week. Lodging will be provided at no cost Wednesday night (and also Tuesday night for those traveling from far away). A typical apprenticeship day will include some shared and some individual projects. Work is incredibly varied. During the height of the growing season most hours will be spent in the gardens maintaining annuals, perennials, and medicinals and/or working on horticultural site development. We also ask apprentices to be available to caretake the homestead and run our farmer’s market stand two weekends when we will be away at conferences.
Eligibility & Commitment
You must be 18 to apply. A minimum commitment of 3 months is required. Priority will be given to those who can commit to the entire season. We are looking for self-motivated individuals whose passion and curiosity for earth-based living permeates the core of their being. While some experience with homesteading, particularly growing food, is preferred, we are also very willing to teach all required skills. It is this passion for living and learning that we are searching for. We also deeply value good communication skills. We are committed to teaching what we know and are also eager to learn from the perspective and life experiences of all who participate in the care of the homestead sanctuary.
Exchange
Workshops
In exchange for your help with homestead maintenance and market preparation, you are invited to attend all 2017 workshops at no cost. A class schedule for the first half of 2017 will be posted by the end of February. In the meantime, view our 2016 schedule to get an idea of what to expect.
Herbal Medicine
You will also receive a monthly credit for 4 oz of tincture. Stacey will be available for mini-consultations to help you explore herbs that will support your particular constitution. We will offer our student discount ($6/ounce for single herbs & $8/ounce for formulas) for all tinctures beyond this monthly stipend.
Food
We will provide a shared meal each Wednesday evening and make homestead produce, eggs, and a dried goods pantry available for the preparation of your own breakfast and lunch on apprenticeship days. You will be able to take homestead-raised vegetables and herbs home with you when they are growing in abundance. We will also offer apprentices a 25% discount on a limited supply of specialty items such as honey, shiitake mushrooms, and duck eggs.
Mentorship
We will provide consistent mentorship throughout the season. For us, this relationship means offering consultation in your particular areas of interest, recommending and loaning books from our library, offering special invitations to participate in projects outside of apprenticeship days when they fall in your area of interest, and joining us on several day trips to other ecosystems in the area.
To Apply
Send a letter of interest to Stacey & Alex at ardeasanctuary@gmail.com. Please answer the following questions. We will be back in touch to set up an interview and tour of the homestead sanctuary.
What do you hope to gain from your experience?
What topics are you most interested in learning about and practicing?
What skills, experience, or personal attributes will you bring with you?
What do you need from others or yourself in order to experience joy?
Do you have any dietary, lifestyle, or spiritual preferences that you would like us to know about?
What do you like to do for fun?
What type of ecosystem have you spent the most time in (or are most drawn to)? When being there, how did you relate to it and its non-human forms?
When are you available and what duration of apprenticeship are you seeking?
- sustainable, small-scale vegetable production
- food preservation (canning, freezing, dehydration, and fermentation)
- keeping poultry (chickens and ducks)
- caring for dairy goats
- pastured pig management (new to us this year!)
- beekeeping
- plant and mushroom identification
- foraging and preparing wild foods
- harvesting and making plant medicines
- appropriate use of plant medicines
- permaculture design and ecosystem integration
- growing perennial food crops
- mushroom cultivation
- plant propagation
- wild nut harvesting and processing
Schedule & Routine
The apprenticeship will take place two days a week from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm with a one hour lunch break. We are planning for Wednesday & Thursday to be designated apprenticeship days. However, depending on the particular schedules of applicants we are open to exploring alternative days of the week. Lodging will be provided at no cost Wednesday night (and also Tuesday night for those traveling from far away). A typical apprenticeship day will include some shared and some individual projects. Work is incredibly varied. During the height of the growing season most hours will be spent in the gardens maintaining annuals, perennials, and medicinals and/or working on horticultural site development. We also ask apprentices to be available to caretake the homestead and run our farmer’s market stand two weekends when we will be away at conferences.
Eligibility & Commitment
You must be 18 to apply. A minimum commitment of 3 months is required. Priority will be given to those who can commit to the entire season. We are looking for self-motivated individuals whose passion and curiosity for earth-based living permeates the core of their being. While some experience with homesteading, particularly growing food, is preferred, we are also very willing to teach all required skills. It is this passion for living and learning that we are searching for. We also deeply value good communication skills. We are committed to teaching what we know and are also eager to learn from the perspective and life experiences of all who participate in the care of the homestead sanctuary.
Exchange
Workshops
In exchange for your help with homestead maintenance and market preparation, you are invited to attend all 2017 workshops at no cost. A class schedule for the first half of 2017 will be posted by the end of February. In the meantime, view our 2016 schedule to get an idea of what to expect.
Herbal Medicine
You will also receive a monthly credit for 4 oz of tincture. Stacey will be available for mini-consultations to help you explore herbs that will support your particular constitution. We will offer our student discount ($6/ounce for single herbs & $8/ounce for formulas) for all tinctures beyond this monthly stipend.
Food
We will provide a shared meal each Wednesday evening and make homestead produce, eggs, and a dried goods pantry available for the preparation of your own breakfast and lunch on apprenticeship days. You will be able to take homestead-raised vegetables and herbs home with you when they are growing in abundance. We will also offer apprentices a 25% discount on a limited supply of specialty items such as honey, shiitake mushrooms, and duck eggs.
Mentorship
We will provide consistent mentorship throughout the season. For us, this relationship means offering consultation in your particular areas of interest, recommending and loaning books from our library, offering special invitations to participate in projects outside of apprenticeship days when they fall in your area of interest, and joining us on several day trips to other ecosystems in the area.
To Apply
Send a letter of interest to Stacey & Alex at ardeasanctuary@gmail.com. Please answer the following questions. We will be back in touch to set up an interview and tour of the homestead sanctuary.
What do you hope to gain from your experience?
What topics are you most interested in learning about and practicing?
What skills, experience, or personal attributes will you bring with you?
What do you need from others or yourself in order to experience joy?
Do you have any dietary, lifestyle, or spiritual preferences that you would like us to know about?
What do you like to do for fun?
What type of ecosystem have you spent the most time in (or are most drawn to)? When being there, how did you relate to it and its non-human forms?
When are you available and what duration of apprenticeship are you seeking?
