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photo credit: Melissa Harmon
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Our Farmer Apprentice Program
This time of year is full of excitement paired with a bit of unknown as we plan out our next season. You all know that feeling: what do we want to do and how are we going to get there? Right now though, we are feeling rather pleased with ourselves. The the crop plan is made, seeds are ordered, baby chick arrivals and the pig breeding season are penciled in. Now it is time to hire and cultivate the team that will make that plan a reality.
Rainshadow Organics is, at its core, a learning farm. (We talked about last month with the grant for nutrient development.) This core tenant of learning is especially true when we talk about our employees. Each summer we welcome a new crop of Farm Apprentices to Rainshadow Organics. Our goal with our Apprentice Program is to hire 6 folks each year who aspire to be farmers. This is a task of intention as we imagine living with and learning with and from our Apprentices for six months.
The Apprentice Program is so much more than just farm labor. Everything they do while employed here is a learning moment. We spend our first month in an intensive curriculum as each farmer is introduced to Rainshadow and its practices as well as the how and why we do everything. Instead of a “just go out and do this specific task” approach, we spend the month of May going in-depth into soil building and fertility and organic, regenerative practices. We learn the proper way to tend to plants and beds and harvest at the same time. We start learning how to preserve the fruits of our labor in the kitchen. Each task is a lesson and an accomplishment in one. Our goal, at the end of an Apprentice Farmer’s time here (be that one year or more, we love retention!), is for them to be that much closer to becoming a farmer on their own land giving back to their community.
Why? Why spend this time training new people every year? Because Rainshadow firmly believes that the future of eating is in farming. The strength of community is in the conscious decisions behind how it feeds itself. And a strong economy is in keeping money local and a hefty part of that is keeping your food system local. Our goal with our Apprentice Farmer Program is to help train new farmers so they too can build and support community.
The hiring period is open and we are hoping to have all the positions filled by February 1. Send this along to someone if you think they might be interested! You can find the job description and information on the hiring process HERE.
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Photo Credit: Zoë Griffith, Simon Yoklic, Natalie Leder, Camila Becera Riroroco
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| Looking back through pictures of the season and year to include in this email, we wanted to shout out to all our 2022 Apprentice. You all made this past season memorable and one of the most productive ever! We are grateful to work and learn alongside you, and we can’t wait to see where your next steps take you! It has been much quieter on the Farm and in the kitchen these past couple months. Far less giggling and rocking out! |
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Photo Credit: 29 NRTH
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Brunch: Sundays at 11 am
January 8th
January 29th
February 12th – Celebrate Valentine’s Day early by joining us for brunch 
Dinner: Begins at 6 pm
January 21st
February 14th – Join us for an intimate evening celebrating Valentine’s Day 
March 4th
March 17th – St. Patty’s Day! Join us for a four course dinner featuring Corned Beef Hash and an included four course beer pairing.
Bonus! Our first summer dinner is being released as well.
This event will begin at 6 pm with appetizers in the garden followed by a tour prior to dinner.
June 24th
If you would like to make a weekend out of this event, we are offering a package which includes 6 dinner tickets and a two night stay at the Pitchfork T Ranch House. You can purchase this package by following this link. This is a great staycation.
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photo credit: Natalie Leder
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