Colchester Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) / CFCSA produces a wide range of vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruit for approximately 150 CSA members, two local farmers' markets, and local restaurants. The CSA leases 10 acres of land from Colchester Farm, a 350-acre farm located on the Sassafras River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, on Maryland's eastern shore. The CSA is in its eleventh season of operation in 2013.
Each year, Colchester Farm CSA offers apprenticeships to individuals interested in gaining hands-on experience in sustainable vegetable production and the marketing of produce through a Community Supported Agriculture project.
For the 2013 season, we are looking for a team of 3 full season apprentices (April through the end of November) and one summer apprentice (3 months: late May-late Aug). We are also looking to fill the position of an assistant manager/education coordinator position (commitment of at least one year starting in January with potential to stay longer). Please our website more information.
We welcome applications for the apprenticeship from hard-working individuals from diverse backgrounds; the apprenticeship is designed for individuals with a serious interest in gaining the skills necessary to farm, though prior farming experience is not necessarily required. Anyone with a serious interest in agriculture and the physical ability to work the long hours of a farming schedule will be considered.
CFCSA is a working/learning farm. Most of an apprentice's time is spent producing vegetables (planting, seeding, weeding, hoeing, harvesting, washing, and packing) alongside the CSA manager and assistant manager. Apprentices learn by doing; fieldwork is the core educational component of the internship. Although CFCSA is a non-profit organization, we rely on farm income to sustain the CSA and we consider our apprentices an integral and indispensable component of this operation. Thus, we prioritize providing apprentices instruction and a working knowledge of all farm tasks. In return, apprentices are expected to contribute their labor to accomplish farm work, taking on greater responsibility as they learn.
