Announcing: Root Bottom
Farm Summer Internship 2014
If you know anyone who may be interested in a Summer farm internship just outside beautiful Asheville, NC, please pass this link on. Here is an opportunity for someone really looking to learn what farm life is all about. Thanks!
If you know anyone who may be interested in a Summer farm internship just outside beautiful Asheville, NC, please pass this link on. Here is an opportunity for someone really looking to learn what farm life is all about. Thanks!
The Farm:
Root Bottom Farm is
owned and loved by Sarah & Morgan Decker. We operate a small farm
dedicated to practicing organic methods in the mountains of Madison
County just North of Asheville, NC. Root Bottom Farm grows
high-quality specialty crops including: weekly microgreens, perennial
herbs, flowers, berries, asparagus, multiple annual vegetable
varieties and root crops. We specialize in garlic and have 14
varieties in the ground for the upcoming season. Root Bottom products
can be enjoyed at various restaurants in Asheville and at the West
Asheville Market every Tuesday and the Mars Hill Market every
Saturday.
The
farmer has been farming full time since 2008 and has experience
farming in diverse environments such as Vermont, Utah, and North
Carolina.
Our
farm is located in Madison County, about 30 minutes from Asheville,
and 10 minutes from the towns of Mars Hill and Marshall. We grow just
above 2,000 ft in the Blue Ridge Mountains on 5 acres of bottom land
with a bold creek.
Why intern on our farm?
Our
microgreen operation sets us apart from other farms in the area. Last
year we established perennial crops such as berries, fruit trees, and
an asparagus patch. We have a large garlic crop and make garlic
butter as a value-added product in a certified kitchen. We have two
high tunnels on the property which are used for starting all of our
plants from seed and for tomato and cucumber production. We have
multiple outlets for selling our produce including restaurants,
farmers markets, and a local food distribution company.
Last
year we started an innovative program called our ESA (E-mail
Supported Agriculture), which is similar to the CSA model, but caters
to people who don't live in Asheville and have trouble making it to
farmer's markets for whatever reason. ESA members order what veggies
they want via e-mail and we deliver to them weekly. Instead of
receiving a box of veggies they don't want, we bring the farmer's
market to them.
Position Description:
We are seeking a
motivated, physically fit intern interested in learning all aspects
of a small organic farm operation this summer. Skills the intern will
learn include propagation, planting, weeding, harvesting, and
greenhouse and microgreen operation management. This
internship is designed as a learning experience for someone who is
serious about growing food organically on a small scale using mostly
human powered methods. Recycling and composting is mandatory.
Details:
This
6 month internship is from mid April till mid October. Housing and a
share of produce is offered in return for 25-30 hours of work per
week. Watering duties when the farmer is out of town is expected.
This is not a paid internship. Having a paid part time job is
encouraged in order to pay for gas, other groceries and whatever
bills the intern might have.
Housing:
This
creek side housing is a fully furnished small studio apartment (250
square feet). It includes a cold water faucet, a kitchenette, bed,
shelving, composting toilet, and a propane heated outdoor shower.
Utilities except internet is included. Internet is available for $50
a month which is a strong enough connection to stream movies. A
laundry mat is located 10 minutes away in Marshall.
To apply:
Send your resume to the e-mail address below. We will
then contact you for an interview.
Have references available
Contact:
Morgan Decker
rootbottom at gmail.com
