1. What is an apprentice?

Apprentices are students who learn-by-doing. They are not hired hands, nor are they eco-tourists. They are expected to be involved in the daily work done on the farm, and in so doing, they gain the skills and knowledge through experiential education rich in practical lessons.

A farming apprenticeship is meant to expose the apprentice to farming practices and daily life needed to consider a future in farming. Whether you are seriously considering a career in farming, or simply want to be involved in some aspect of sustainable agriculture, apprenticeships provide a unique experience that equips you with functional tools and invaluable insights.

2. What do apprentices gain from the experience?

Apprentices will gain practical and transferable skills while working on a farm and making a small stipend to help support living costs. Apprentices will work closely with a dedicated and experienced farm mentor who is enthusiastic about sharing his/her knowledge with you. Apprentices have the opportunity to develop practical techniques in crop production, natural fertilization, animal husbandry, machinery handling and maintenance, marketing and more. Many farmers will let you do work by yourself once you are comfortable with the task. Whether it is your first time on a farm, or you are a seasoned farmer, working closely (and often living) with farming families offers apprentices the chance to experience new lifestyles and cross-cultural experiences. Often times these working relationships lead to lasting friendships.

3. How do I find a farm that fits my goals?

Each ASAAP farm functions independently and offers its own apprenticeship with varying living and eating arrangements, stipends, work hours, and training methods. It is therefore important that you review the farm descriptions on the ASAAP webpage to select the farms that fit your needs. Once you have indicated which farms you would like more information about, ASAAP will send you further details. It is your responsibility to carefully research the farms so that you understand the expectations of the farmers you will be working with. Engage in a dialogue with the farmers, communicating what you seek to gain from the apprenticeship as well, in order to ensure that you are matched appropriately with a farm that aligns with your goals.

4. What does the application process look like?

a. Review the ASAAP farm descriptions and familiarize yourself with the website and its resources.

b. Complete the ASAAP Apprentice Application Form and send completed forms to becky.lipton[at]mail.mcgill.ca and info[at]soilapprenticeships.org. Send in your $30.00 application fee to our partnering organization, SOIL either through mail or online. Be sure to indicate which farms you are interested in on your application form.

c. ASAAP will send you a complete description of the farms that you expressed interest in. Use this information to make direct contact with the farm that you wish to do your apprenticeship with.

d. Contact your farm of interest and proceed through the application process according to their individual requirements (resume, references, interview or farm visit)

e. If and when you receive an offer for an apprenticeship from a farm, finalize the details of your apprenticeship arrangement.

f. If you set up an apprenticeship with a farm, inform any other farms you have applied to.

g. If you do not receive an internship with the farms you applied to, submit a request to ASAAP for information about other farms

5. How far in advance do I apply?

You can apply anytime but most farmers are looking to connect with an apprentice between January and March so they can plan their season and know what kind of help they will have. The sooner you apply, the more time you have to plan for the coming season.

6. Do I have to have farming experience before I apply?

No. Apprenticeships exist to provide those with or without a farming background with the chance to add to existing skills or to gain new skills. If you have previous or relevant experience, indicate this in your application so that you and the farmer can come to a working agreement that best suits your skills.

7. Is there any way I can contact individual farms about more information regarding their work?

You will be given detailed information about the farms you express interest in on your application. The web site descriptions are the basics to help you narrow down your choice.

8. How often do farms accept apprentices and how many?

This varies from farm to farm but many prefer to have one or two for as much of the season as possible. Some need help for a couple months during planting, harvest, or calving time. There are numerous farms that accept apprentices during the winter months as well. Apply early to avoid disappointment.

9. What’s going to be expected of me?

These are the basic expectations for apprentices participating in the program. Apprentices should be:

• At least 18 years of age, self-motivated, healthy, and respectful

• Able to commit a minimum of two months, and up to a full season or longer

• Focused on learning sustainable growing methods and willing to participate in daily field work and farm tasks with a positive attitude

10. What should I bring with me? Clothing, etc.

See the Don’t forget your farming gear! page.

11. Is the web page up to date?

The web page is updated often and we do an annual overhaul on the basic information.

12. Can I receive information on more than 5 farms?

We start out giving you five choices of farm information to look through and recommend that you contact these farms to find out more about what they have to offer. If you cannot make a match then we will happily send you more information about other farms.

13. If I don’t make a match can I reapply at another time?

Your membership is good for a year or as long as it takes for you to find a match, whichever is longer.

14. Do all the farms offer stipends?

All ASAAP farms offer stipends that usually range from $200-$800/month. The stipend amount can depend on the amount and type of experience an apprentice has and may increase depending on how quick they learn. Others offer an end of the season “bonus”. Talk to the individual farmer you are interested in working with about this arrangement.

15. Will I get room and board?

Most farms provide a clean and comfortable housing arrangement for the apprentices. Housing ranges from a private room in the family house to a shared or separate dwelling in a second house or trailer. Food (and usually good farm grown food) is included for the most part and often times meals are eaten with the family. Some farms do not provide a farm living arrangement and/or only provide part-time work. This may be conducive for people with families and spouses who want experience but cannot work full-time and already have places to live. This can also provide an opportunity to experience farm work, while maintaining another job on the side to supplement income. Please discuss these issues with the individual farms.

16. What is the $30 for?

The membership fee covers some but not all of our expenses including web site, coordination and administration, publicity materials, and office supplies. We try to make it affordable for everyone. Cheques should have your name on them and can be made out to our partnering organization, “Stewards Of Irreplaceable Land (SOIL)”.

17. What happens once I send in my application?

When we receive your application form we will notify you and wait until we receive your membership fee. Then we will send you the details of the farms you have indicated you are interested in, with some guidelines for establishing an arrangement with the farms. We will also send your application to the farmers. Then is it up to you to contact the farms that most interest you to discuss a possible placement. You should let ASAAP know when you make a match or if you have any difficulties with this process.

18. Do I need to be a Canadian citizen to apply?

The program is set up for Canadian residents and people from other countries who have working visas. There is information on the Canadian Government web site http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp and http://www.cic.gc.ca/english//study/institutions/work-volunteer.asp

To visit Canada you must be healthy, must respect Canadian laws, will need a valid passport, proof of who you are or other travel documents, a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) if you are from a countries listed on the web site. Canada does not pay for hospital or medical services for visitors. Make sure you have health insurance to pay your medical costs before you leave for Canada

19. Is it possible to apprentice as a family?

The program is set up for adults. Some farms welcome couples. It is less common to find a farm which will accept children. If you have a child or children, and are considering apprenticing, there are some things you should consider. Farming with children can be wonderful both for the children and for the adults, but it does add certain challenges and risks for both. It is not possible to work in the field and to give full attention to your child at the same time. A young child may be interested in weeding or picking rocks for a few minutes, but probably not for several hours at a stretch. Therefore in order to get any work or learning done, your child will have to be very independent. He or she will need to entertain him or herself outside for long stretches of time. Because of the necessity for the child to spend time alone (within eye and ear-shot, but not right beside you) outside in a farm environment, there are physical risks involved. Your child is likely to have bumps and scrapes, possible insect stings, and then there are more serious hazards like picking up a harvesting knife, ingesting toxic weeds, and even getting injured by farm equipment. Farming with a child involves a high degree of organization. Regardless of your best intentions, organization, and energy level, it is impossible to do nearly as much farm work with a child as it is without.

In addition to all this, there is the challenge of finding a farmer who is willing to work with a parenting apprentice. Here are some questions to ask yourself that may form the basis of a conversation with a farmer with whom you want to apprentice: How old is/are my child/children? Are they accustomed to being outside? Are they accustomed to entertaining themselves? Do they listen and obey when I tell them not to touch something? Are they adaptable to new situations? Do they like being around new people? How comfortable am I with my child getting very dirty? How comfortable am I with my child being exposed to some physical risk? How comfortable am I with other people participating in the raising of my child? If the farm I am going to includes children, how does my child interact with other children? Will the farmer and I be able to stay open to rearranging the day’s schedule (to some extent) to suit the needs/mood of the children? Does my child have food needs that will affect others on the farm?

The farmer and the apprentice should discuss all of this before deciding to work together, and should think about the amount of uninterrupted time together they might realistically expect. An apprenticeship with a child will likely work best on a farm that already has children. This might allow the farmer and the apprentice to work/learn together while the children work/play together. Some of the parenting duties may also be shared, but of course all this will depend on very good communication.

If you are seeking an apprenticeship and have a child, don’t be surprised if it is difficult to find a placement, and try not to take this personally. Remember that from the farmer’s point of view, it may well be simpler, easier, and less risky to accept an apprentice without children. There is also additional liability risk that the farmer is taking on. If you are having trouble finding a full-time, live-in apprenticeship arrangement, keep your eyes and mind open to other possibilities like part-time apprenticing, or participating in community gardening projects, or to start growing on a small scale on your own, even in your backyard or in pots on your balcony. Don’t give up your dream, because raising your child around growing plants, doing meaningful, healthy work together can be an amazing experience for both of you.

 

Thank you from the ASAAP team!

Content attributed to SOIL and ASAAP