all current participating mentor host farms with Rogue Farm Corps farmer training programs
Thimbleberry Collaborative Farm
Thimbleberry Collaborative Farm
1 APPRENTICESHIP
PART TIME (30 hours/week)
APPROX START/END DATES: Mid-March - Mid-November
$18/HR
LOCATION: Boring (Portland Chapter)
YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 3
PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING: 1
PRACTICES: Low-Till, Regenerative, Organic Practices (Not Certified)
ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 1/3
Vegetable Production, Culinary Herbs, Medicinal Herbs, Fruit, Poultry(Eggs), Cut Flowers, Orchard Production
ON-FARM HOUSING? No
VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English
Non-Profit Farm, Educational Farm
2023 was our first year of production on this land, and we’ve been experimenting with no/low-till strategies for growing our annual vegetables to great success. This means there is a lot of hand work, including weeding, harvesting, and removing plants at the end of their cycle to leave roots in place whenever possible. Though we are not certified organic, we do not use pesticides or herbicides, and take a “from the soil up” approach - meaning we aim to build the appropriate soil biome for plants to thrive in using natural methods, and aim to keep the soil growing plants or in a protective cover as much of the year as possible. We are in the beginning stages of learning about the soil food web and how we can support this biome, and look forward to any experience or knowledge a potential Apprentice can contribute.
We believe farming is a constant learning experience that should be fluid, so we adapt our methods on a daily basis to account for the needs of the plants and those of us who tend them. In the winter, our fields are partially cropped to late-fall and over-wintered vegetables, cover crops, and partially covered with compost and tarps to ensure we have fertile ground ready to be planted in early spring. We have newly-established perennial native plantings along our learning garden and in blocks along our main field, as well as a small stand of mature blueberries and various herbs bordering our in-ground and raised beds. Finally, we have a mature orchard featuring apples, plums, pears and cherries.
www.thimbleberrycollaborativefarm.org
@thimbleberrycollaborativefarm
FARM OVERVIEw
We are situated on 5 acres just outside Boring, Oregon - 30 miles east of downtown Portland, 57 miles from Mt. Hood, and surrounded by some of the best natural beauty and recreational opportunities in Oregon. Approximately ⅓ of an acre of our farm is in no/low-till, mixed annual vegetables, and another ¼ acre is planted to boysenberries which are currently leased and managed by a nearby Organic certified farmer. We have a large learning garden with several raised and in-ground beds, as well as perennial native plantings, blueberries, and herbs, and a small, mature orchard of apple, plum, pear and cherry trees. There is a large shop which contains our packing/storage/refrigeration, a seed propagation greenhouse, and a home which serves as our office/communal kitchen/meeting space.
We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization, and our produce is provided at no cost to the recipients through donations to local food pantries in east Multnomah and Clackamas Counties, as well as through a farm-to-table meal delivery program that we piloted for two years. With this program, patients of Wallace, a medical clinic in Rockwood, received weekly meals prepared and delivered to them by Milk Crate Kitchen, a non-profit production kitchen. We also set up a weekly, free farm stand onsite at the clinic where patients receive fresh produce to take home. Our educational programs are constantly growing, so field trips and workshops involving school-age children as well as adults are a regular occurrence on and off the farm. Finally, we have 4 laying hens and 5 ducks, which we hope to incorporate into the fertility plan of the farm by utilizing manure and “chicken tillage” of cover crop residue, as well as their pest management capabilities.
So far, our farm crew consists of one full-time farmer (Drew), two staff on harvest and transplanting days as needed, a part-time farm assistant, and additional support from board members and volunteers during work parties and other events.
Drew is the primary farmer/Farm Operations Manager at TCF. We are a small team of just 1 part-time and 3 full-time employees (plus an awesome Board of Directors), so on any given day each of us may be helping out in the field, learning garden, orchard, or supporting each other with other tasks not directly related to growing food. Though TCF was established just 3 years ago (2023 being our first season on our current land), Drew has 10+ years of farming experience, having previously owned his own CSA/market farm south of Eugene, Oregon, where he also grew using natural methods but with a more traditional tillage approach. Drew noticed that repeated tillage had a very detrimental effect on the soil and thus the crops, but didn’t have the resources needed to implement some of the exciting low-till methods we use here at Thimbleberry. He believes that farming and tending plants comes naturally to most people, so his general philosophy is that there is no “right” way to do something. That being said, through repeated trial and error he has developed preferences for how to approach tasks, and will expect anyone helping on the farm to utilize these techniques unless agreed otherwise. We have found that it is easy to become myopic in farming, so we encourage questions about the “why” of any given task or technique. Generally, we find farmers to be some of the smartest, most ingenuitive people around, and have no doubt that we can learn much from even the greenest thumb. We value direct communication, consistency, punctuality, hard work, laughter/fun, and camaraderie amongst the staff and community that surrounds us at TCF. One of our favorite parts of working at the farm is our weekly staff meal, prepared mostly with ingredients from the fields!
TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS
Apprentices will primarily be involved in the day-to-day physical operations of the farm, including, seed propagation, transplanting, weeding, cover crop establishment/management, drip irrigation installation and management, harvesting, washing/packing/delivering produce, small machinery/hand tool operation (BCS walk-behind tractor, mower, weed whacker, stirrup hoes, shovels, etc.), compost production, chicken/duck care, record keeping, and various other tasks related to the smooth operation of the farm. Occasionally, Apprentices may support other staff in activities such as field trips, workshops, or tabling at farm stands/farmer’s markets/events. In addition, Apprentices have the opportunity to engage in aspects of the non-profit side of the farm, such as supporting fund-raising events like our annual harvest celebration or community nights facilitated by local partners. Much of the farm management aspect of the farm such as crop-planning, seed ordering, and budgeting is done during the winter months, so exposure to learning experiences in these areas will be limited, though time can be set aside to discuss these aspects if desired. Since we are not a typical “market” farm, experience in the retail, direct to consumer aspects common with many small farm operations such as farmers markets and CSA programs won’t be provided, though our farm-to-table program will provide experience in setting up a farm stand and interacting with other nonprofits serving the community.
Typical start time is between 8-9am Monday-Friday, depending on the required task, and will generally end by 4:30pm, with Monday/Wednesday/Friday being harvest days and therefore requiring the most support. During peak season, harvest days may begin at 7am and end by 3pm. We do not generally work more than 8 hours on any given day. The majority of a prospective apprentice’s time will be spent supporting harvesting, washing, weeding, and transplanting crops. Essentially, every day is a “training day” in the sense that through repetition and working side-by-side with the Farm Operations Manager, the Apprentice will gain a thorough understanding of the day to day operation of the farm. Detailed training in other aspects of the farm will be determined through our regular check-ins and identifying gaps in knowledge or proficiency in real time. Questions about processes and techniques are encouraged to ensure work can be done safely and efficiently, and that the Apprentice ends the season with as comprehensive an understanding as possible.
Time off requests will be granted within reason and with 2 weeks advance notice, to ensure the workload can be covered by existing staff. At this time, we are unable to offer paid time off, and will need to limit time off to sick days and shorter duration absences. However, we are flexible and happy to work with prospective Apprentices to find a consistent schedule that works for everyone.
Occasionally, Apprentices may be asked to support staff during other activities that occur during irregular work hours, such as weekend volunteer days, evening events, etc., or in non-farming related events such as community workshops or field trips. These activities are an important part of TCF, and are integral to our function as a non-profit, educational farm serving the surrounding community.
Most instruction and learning will be through hands-on application of farming techniques in day-to-day operations. Support such as reading materials in specific areas such as soil test interpretation, low/no-till techniques, etc., will be provided throughout the season when appropriate. Regular check-ins with the Farm Operations Manager and/or our Executive Director will help narrow in on prospective areas of mutual growth and development, and additional support and time to focus on filling knowledge gaps will be provided. Depending on hourly availability, Apprentices may attend weekly staff meetings to stay engaged with overall operations when appropriate. Drew will be working closely with Apprentices on a daily basis in the field, so there will be ample opportunity to ask questions, explore and deepen technical abilities, and work together to ensure all learning goals are met. Regular evaluations and feedback will be provided on a mutual basis, both formally and informally.
COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS
We can offer $18/hour and access to food from the farm. We would also reimburse for OFC tuition.
Local housing options in case a placement is coming into the area and needs housing: Rentals in Portland are fairly expensive and can be difficult to come by, and would require a commute of 30 minutes to an hour, depending on location. The surrounding community of Boring may be somewhat limited as well due to its smaller size, but nearby Gresham may provide more affordable options and a quicker commute.
QUALIFICATIONS
Generally, a farm apprentice here at TCF needs to have a strong work ethic, good communication (direct and respectful), be punctual, and have an ability to be flexible and self-motivated to jump in and support wherever they are needed. An ability to work outside in various weather conditions, as well as tolerate days consisting mostly of physical labor and some repetitive tasks are essential. Consistency and attention to detail, as well as a desire to learn through trial and error are a benefit, and a desire to support our under-served community members is essential. A good sense of humor and ability to have fun while we work is one of the core values here at TCF, as well!
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Equity and inclusion are at the core of our values and mission at TCF. Every aspect of our physical farm and learning garden space was created with accessibility in mind; From our semi-raised, permanent bed systems in the row crop area, to the permanent raised and ADA accessible beds and traversable paths in our learning garden, we’re making continuous improvements to ensure access for everyone. As collaboration is a key aspect of our organization, we treat each person we come in contact with as a potential partner/teacher and valued voice in the co-creation of our farm and the greater food system we inhabit. Our mission to increase access to free/affordable, healthy food for low-income, underserved communities is the guiding principle that ensures we are making the greatest impact on food justice and security that we can as a small organization. Partnerships with local schools and organizations that are already working to support these communities increase our potential to help create a strong and lasting network that can bolster existing efforts towards these goals. Undergirding everything is a sense of humility and openness to new ideas, perspectives, and educational opportunities. As a staff, we’ve incorporated weekly readings and film screenings in order to educate ourselves about the current and historical issues facing the various cultural communities that make up East Multnomah and Clackamas Counties, especially issues related to food systems and agriculture. We use what we learn in these weekly discussions to shape our programs, design our educational curricula and crop plans, inform our relationship-building efforts with community partners, as well as our team recruitment efforts, and more. Finally, we acknowledge that lived experience is a crucial component in an individual’s desire and ability to contribute to the work of food justice, and weigh it equally with other considerations when reviewing applicants for all positions within our organization.
PAST APPRENTICE TESTIMONIALS
“Very welcoming environment, felt at home immediately. Drew was a great mentor and I really appreciated getting to learn all aspects of the farm.” - 2024
Drew
Valley Flora Farm - FULL FOR 2025
VALLEY FLORA FARM- FULL FOR 2025
1 APPRENTICESHIP
FULL TIME (40 hours/week)
APPROX START/END DATES: May - December
$15/HR
LOCATION: Langlois (Satellite Farm)
YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 18
PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING: 1
PRACTICES: Organic Practices (Not Certified), Mixed Power (Draft Powered, Mechanized/Tractor Farming), Low-Till
ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 6
Vegetables, Fruit, Culinary Herbs, Medicinal Herbs, Value-Added, Agrotourism
ON-FARM HOUSING? Possibly
VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English, Spanish
Women-Owned/Operated
Valley Flora is a highly diversified fresh produce farm located 2 miles outside of the small town of Langlois (population 300) on the beautiful southern Oregon coast. The farm is deeply dedicated to ecological, climate-forward farming principles and practices, and we play a central role in our local food system in this rural corner of the state. Our crew is tight-knit and hard-working, and we strive to create a fun and supportive workplace for everyone here.
https://www.valleyflorafarm.com/
FARM OVERVIEW
Valley Flora Farm encompasses 90 acres in a beautiful, quiet river valley, 4 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. Of that acreage, 40 acres are upland forest, 30 acres are in pasture, and the remaining 20 acres is rich river bottomland where we cultivate all of our row crops and orchard crops. The farm is nestled in a special microclimate where cool-weather crops thrive, but where we also have enough summer warmth to grow eggplant, sweet corn, peppers, and tomatoes outdoors - in spite of our proximity to the ocean. It’s a lovely climate to work and play in.
The farm is surrounded by natural beauty, with numerous coastal rivers running undammed from the coast range to the sea; uncrowded beaches; wild dunes and forests. The farm is 20 minutes from the picturesque coastal towns of Port Orford (to the south) and Bandon (to the north). We’re five miles from Floras Lake, an epicenter of kite and wind-surfing. There is also nearby mountain biking, surfing, hiking, fishing, and horseback riding. Floras Creek, which runs the entire length of the farm, offers numerous summertime swimming holes and wintertime salmon spawning grounds.
Valley Flora’s production is highly diversified, and so is our marketing. We distribute our food via four distinct sales channels:
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): Valley Flora operates a 140-member CSA from June through December during our main season, and a 70+ member winter CSA from January to May. We participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program to help break down barriers to fresh produce in our low income community.
Farmstand & U-Pick: We have a bustling onsite farmstand that’s open from May to December, and a busy strawberry and flower u-pick that’s open to the public from June through October.
Direct Sales: We harvest and pack orders for local stores, co-ops, and restaurants year-round.
Foodbanks: Thanks to an Oregon Foodbank grant and some long-standing local partnerships, we distribute produce to four local foodbanks and community fridges every week.
The farm adheres to all the standards, rules, and principles of organic production but are not third party certified. We practice reduced tillage, have an unbridled passion for cover crops and biodiversity, and we do everything we can to minimize our carbon footprint and avoid waste. We’re a mixed power farm, relying on a combo of tractor power, solar power, human power, and draft horse power (Jack and Lily are Zoë’s team of Belgian/Morgan draft horses who work in harness on the farm). Our farm infrastructure is powered by a 12kW solar array that sits on the roof of our barn and runs our greenhouses, walk-in coolers, irrigation pumps and more.
We typically have six folks on our crew during our main season (some part-time, some full-time), from May through December. In the winter, we work a scaled-back schedule, employing 3-4 employees who stay with us year round but reduce their hours in the winter months.
Zoë has been farming for over 20 years, first as a hired hand on farms in Massachusetts and California, then as the crew manager at Sauvie Island Organics near Portland. In 2008 she returned to her birthplace on Floras Creek to start her own farm business in collaboration with her mother (Betsy) and sister (Abby), who both grow produce on the same family land. Abby grows salad greens and manages the orchard. Betsy focuses primarily on greenhouse production of peak-of-summer crops (tomatoes, basil, zucchini). Zoë and her crew round out the rest of the production, from artichokes to potatoes to strawberries to broccoli (and much, much more). Together they market collectively as Valley Flora. After 18 years in business, the farm is thriving and ever-evolving
TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS
Every person at Valley Flora is a crucial, invaluable part of our team. We all work hard, with the crew usually putting in 8-10 hours per day during our summer peak. Apprentices typically start in May and work full-time through October with us. By the end of October things ease up a bit and we sometimes reduce hours slightly for November and December.
At Valley Flora, we “train-by-doing” and there is education built into every day, particularly when new employees are diving into a task for the first time. We always try to ensure that our crew members feel confident and capable before being set loose on a project. New employees spend a lot of time working alongside our seasoned crew to learn the ins and outs of everything we do.
Because the farm’s production and marketing are so diverse, our daily to-do lists are ever-changing and multifaceted, which helps mix up the physical and mental demands of the job. That said, it is very physical work with certain intense seasonal peaks (for instance, harvesting the heavy storage crops of fall, or the constant weekly transplanting of spring/early summer). To help build strength and physical health, we train our employees not only in farming techniques, but also in proper body mechanics (we are fans of a set of body weight exercises called Foundation Training to keep our backs healthy and strong).
Apprentices work as a member of the field crew on all manner of tasks that are part of operating a diversified produce farm:
Daily harvest for our 140-member CSA, farmstand, and direct sale accounts. The farm grows over 100 different crops, each requiring its own technique, tools, and skill set for harvest. Valley Flora has a long-standing reputation for high quality produce and we strive to uphold that. We’re sticklers for quality and consistency, so Apprentices are taught standard bunch size, standard weight, and quality control for every single crop in ever-changing conditions. We need Apprentices to achieve these quality standards while moving as efficiently and quickly as possible. It’s a steep and challenging learning curve that requires keen attention to detail, awareness of pacing, fast and nimble hands, and a willingness to accept and integrate constructive feedback throughout the season. We are at core a lean commercial operation (not a hobby farm), and hustle is part of every single day.
Post-harvest handling: Apprentices are part of processing and packing the 100+ crops we harvest for four distinct sales channels, including CSA, farmstand, direct sales and foodbanks. Similar to harvest, the wash/packout process is distinct and unique for each crop and it changes with each season, as well as with daily weather conditions. Apprentices will learn post-harvest handling skills that rely on our dunk tank, wash table, sorting tables, dry curing room, and three climate-controlled walk-in coolers. You’ll learn to use various scales, different wash techniques, specific packout systems, and be trained in the selection of appropriate packaging materials, standards, and organization. Everyone receives annual food safety training.
Weekly Fieldwork: These tasks include transplanting, fertilizing, trellising, mowing, weed control, pest management, irrigation, and plant care. Apprentices will be trained in operating the equipment necessary to perform these tasks safely and efficiently, including mowers, weedeaters, wheel hoes, oscillating stirrup hoes, collinear hoes, Japanese hand weeders, drop spreader, flame weeder, pressure washer, and hand trucks. Other than our delivery van, all our farm vehicles have manual transmissions so Apprentices will learn to drive stick if they don’t already know how.
Weekly Delivery: Apprentices will be trained to safely load, drive and complete our delivery route in our Sprinter van (weekly deliveries to wholesale customers and CSA pickup sites).
U-Pick Management. Apprentices will be responsible for overseeing flower and strawberry u-pick operations one or two days/week. This includes setting up the u-pick stand, communicating and interacting with customers to orient them to the u-pick, answering questions, and being the public face of the farm.
Farmstand Management: The Apprentice might help manage our biweekly farmstand, including packing orders, setting up the farmstand display, selling produce, and tending the till. Our farmstand manager is a very public-facing role, involving lots of interaction with the public.
QUALIFICATIONS
Farming can be likened to an endurance sport that has some sprinting thrown into the mix (except our “sporting event” happens every day for a solid 8 months of the year). We try to cultivate physical and mental strength amongst our team so that we can “do hard things.” We are looking for someone who is up to this challenge and:
Is a hard worker who loves spending their day outside, regardless of the weather (and has significant previous outdoor physical work experience on their resume).
Knows how to hustle and optimize efficiency in their work.
Demonstrates keen attention to detail, excellent observation skills, and an awareness of pacing.
Is reliable, on-time, honest and kind.
Has strong communication and listening skills.
Has a good sense of humor and team spirit.
Can gracefully accept and integrate constructive feedback whenever it’s provided, without the ego getting in the way.
Is equally comfortable and productive working on a team or independently.
Is calm and adaptable in the face of the unexpected.
Is not inclined to stir up human drama (plants and the weather provide drama enough on a small farm!).
We don’t require previous farming experience but a passion and deep curiosity about sustainable agriculture is very useful. For us, it’s more important that someone has the grit and good humor to learn new tasks and stick with it through the challenges of an entire season than it is to already know how to do the job (often folks who have previous farming experience have to relearn our systems anyway).
Applicants should be in strong physical condition, capable of safely lifting 50 pounds, and able to squat, bend, lift, carry, and kneel for prolonged amounts of time over an 8-10 hour work day, five days a week, for the entirety of the season. Ability to drive a stick shift is VERY helpful, since our primary farm truck has a standard transmission.
We strive to be a warm, fun, welcoming workplace where our sense of team is paramount. To that end, it’s super important that new employees are team-oriented, but they also need to be able to work independently and productively on their own (there are plenty of tasks that crew members tackle solo throughout the week).
We are all constantly striving to improve ourselves, our efficiency and the farm’s productivity, so good problem-solving skills, innovative creativity, humility, and critical thinking are exciting traits in a Valley Flora applicant.
COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS
We work closely with our local Small Business Development Center, which offers a three month On-the-Job Training wage subsidy for new hires. Applicants who qualify for that program will start at $15/hour. Otherwise, new hires typically start at the local minimum wage (currently $13.70/hour), with a wage reevaluation after the first month to assess the possibility of a performance-based raise.
All employees have access to farm produce, and between June and December get a weekly CSA share from the farm, valued at $1000+/season. Employees also have unlimited access to “house” produce (seconds or grade B produce that doesn’t meet our sales standards), as well as gleaning opportunities throughout the season. For employees who complete the entire season we give out an end-of-year bonus, calculated based on the farm’s profitability and the number of hours worked. The farm will also reimburse half of an Apprentice’s RFC tuition if they complete the season.
Local housing options are somewhat limited, however we are well-networked in the community so it’s very possible that we could help a new employee find housing if on-farm housing is not available.
There is limited cell service at the farm, depending on the cell carrier. We have Wi-Fi that is available to everyone on the farm.
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Valley Flora is committed to open, non-violent communication and does not tolerate any form of bigotry, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or discrimination, ever.
Since the beginning, the farm has been a bilingual workplace. English and Spanish are both spoken everyday and Zoe makes a concerted effort to ensure that language never leaves anyone out of the loop. We are owned and managed by women, and we make our absolute best effort to give everyone on our team opportunities to take ownership of various aspects of the farm and to feel appreciated for their contribution to the farm. We try to assign tasks based on what people are excited and qualified to work on and never along gender-biased lines. We actively solicit input and feedback from the crew to make sure that the farm is being managed in a way that feels good, fair, inclusive and respectful.
Being a small farm, our crew is very familial, which gives us a lot of opportunity to grow and learn together in wonderful ways.
PAST APPRENTICE TESTIMONIALS
“Zoe worked alongside us and trained us on a number of things, which I really appreciated. The two other long-term farm crew members have been great in teaching/training me as well, but I know Zoe made an effort to be there with us as much as she could. That showed me that she cared about my learning and progression as a farmer, and she always made time to thoroughly answer any questions.” -2023
Zoë, Jen, Alexa, Sarah, Allen, Roberto, Abby, Bets.
PCC ROCK CREEK LEARNING GARDEN
PCC ROCK CREEK LEARNING GARDEN
1 APPRENTICESHIP
PART TIME (14 hours/week)
APPROX START/END DATES: March - November
$16.30/HR
LOCATION: Portland (Portland Chapter)
YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 14
PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING: 2
PRACTICES: Low-Till, No-Till, Organic Practices (Not Certified)
ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 3/4
Vegetables, Fruit, Culinary Herbs, Medicinal Herbs, Seed Production, Vineyard
ON-FARM HOUSING? No
VEHICLE REQUIRED? No
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English , Spanish
Educational Farm
The PCC Rock Creek Learning Garden is part of a network of 5 gardens across the PCC district designed to create safe, welcoming, educational spaces that were built for and by students. The gardens promote interdisciplinary academic achievement, leadership development, curricular and co-curricular opportunities and model sustainable food systems through dynamic and responsive hands-on education. These living classrooms work to offer equity-centered learning opportunities, cultivate a sense of belonging and promote community on campus in our support of food sovereignty.
https://www.pcc.edu/sustainability/on-campus/rock-creek/rock-creek-learning-garden/
FARM OVERVIEW
Portland Community College is the largest higher education institution in the state of Oregon. The Rock Creek Campus rests on 250 acres of Tualatin Kalapuya land in Washington County, 20-30 minutes outside of downtown Portland. The Learning Garden is nestled near the main buildings on campus and consists of 3.5 acres with 50 fruit trees, 50 blueberries, grapes, brambles and many fruits and vegetables. Our campus is also home to wooded trails, the riparian habitat surrounding Rock Creek, a large recreational public park with sports fields operated by Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District, as well as the 5 Oaks Museum.
The Learning Garden produces thousands of pounds of food each season, which are primarily donated to the food pantry on campus. We rely primarily on hand work, but also keep a new BCS walk-behind tractor just in case! We are no-spray, practice extensive cover cropping and are moving towards the production of our own usable compost. Our farm crew is always in flux - we have volunteer hours 10am-1pm Tuesday-Friday and we meet whoever is volunteering where they're at and re-prioritize based on inclusion.
The Learning Garden in its current iteration was established in 2012. Miriam has served as the Rock Creek Campus Learning Garden Coordinator since 2017. She ran her own 8-acre farm from 2011-2016, co-owned/operated a 25-acre production from 2006-2011, and worked on other peoples' farms from 1999-2003. She is interested in seed-saving, seed stories and the dignity of all living creatures.
TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS
Crop-planning is collaborative. Greenhouse work begins in February. We plant, cultivate, harvest, wash and deliver food together. Efficiency does not dictate here! However, Miriam can offer insights based on her 15 years of production experience.
Our production is highly unpredictable because of our ethic of working in community, where building trust and creating learning opportunities are valued more highly than task completion. That said, because the majority of work is by hand, it is possible and probable that work will be physical and conditions may not always be easy.
The goal is to co-create a schedule that allows for 10-12 hours of labor in partnership, 1-2 hours of solitary labor pursuing a special project, and 45 minutes to an hour a week for check-ins, questions, and reflection.
QUALIFICATIONS
Willingness to learn, honest communication, reliability, and attention to detail
Considerate communication skills
A genuine delight for people and plants
COMPENSATION AND ACCOMMODATIONS
$16.30 per hour. The Apprentice can share in the harvest, seeds and entry into the PCC hiring system and diverse community of students, staff, faculty and campus neighbors.
The PCC Rock Creek site is located in a semi-urban area of Portland with various options for housing close by. There is low-cost housing in the area, and the campus is served by public transportation.
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
As LG coordinator Miriam has been building relationships for years with colleagues in Accessible Education and Disability Resources, the Dreamer Center, English for Speakers of Other Languages, and so many other departments on campus. This has guided the direction of the garden and created a welcoming space for everyone who wants to be in the garden.
Miriam, Learning Garden Coordinator
Sunbow Produce
Sunbow Produce
2 APPRENTICESHIPS
PART TIME/FULL TIME (April-May: 18-28 hours/week, June-October: 28-40 hours/week, November- December: 16-24 hours/week)
APPROX START/END DATES: April- November or December
$15.05/HR
LOCATION: Corvallis (Willamette Valley Chapter)
YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 10
PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING: 2
PRACTICES: Certified Organic
ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 8
Vegetables, Fruit, Culinary Herbs, Seed Production
ON-FARM HOUSING? No
VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English, Spanish
BIPOC-Owned/Operated, Immigrant-Owned/Operated, Women-Owned/Operated, Public Education
We are stewards of the soil, water, and land.. Much of our field work is done by hand but we use tractors for field prep, mowing, harrowing, tillage (spading, rototilling), spreading mulch, moving compost, and some weeding. We teach and encourage ergonomic practices to keep our bodies in good working condition. We harvest most crops by hand and use methods to get multiple harvests off several crops. Our fertility program includes deliberate rotations, cover cropping, mulching with leaves, and using minimal purchased inputs.
FARM OVERVIEW
We grow certified organic fruits, vegetables, pulses, and herbs through a customer direct e-newsletter and online store. We sell at the Philomath Farmers Market and provide weekly distribution through Linn-Benton Food Share. Bea and Nate head up the crew as owners/operators. We hire two to three part-time employees. We also offer a work-trade model and compensate with our farm currency, Sunbacks. We have a comprehensive liability insurance policy and carry workers comp insurance. Our business is licensed in Oregon, we do not distribute out of state.
We have a few satellite locations and one main one. The main one is at Sunbow Farm, a 14 acre property located on the outskirts of Corvallis and Philomath. We farm between 3-5 acres at Sunbow depending on the year. There are fields, 5 high tunnels, an orchard, a lot of wildlife habitat, a few old barns and some old crumbling out-buildings. There’s a house, a bathroom building, a market room and a pack/wash area as well as a cob structure. Four people reside here, including us. The other locations are between 7 to 15 miles of the main farm.
We’ve both been farming between 10-12 years including some volunteer work and internships/apprenticeships. Before we became farmers, Bea worked in a social justice/social services agency and Nate worked for the State of Washington. We’re devoted to organic and regenerative practices, and are certified by the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Real Organic Project.
TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS
● All-season growing techniques in high/low tunnels: bed prep, annual crop planting, harvesting, and maintenance of crops and infrastructure.
● Perennial crop harvesting and maintenance
● Soil conservation and water management; irrigation techniques; water catchment
● Dry farming techniques
● Wildlife conservation and coexistence; pest management in an organic operation; agro-ecological practices
● Field work: weeding with tools and by hand; harvesting; prepping beds for transplanting; transplanting, planting; clearing beds; setting up protection (low tunnels, bird netting, etc.); installing, maintaining, moving, and removing irrigation; seeding cover crops
● Highly diversified crop production, identification, and management
● Consumer-direct marketing techniques and farm stand/farmers market work
● Time management/efficiency/work pace
● Harvest, wash and pack skills
● Food safety standards and management
● Possible tractor operation depending on the person
● Small equipment operation (weed whacking, root washer operation, water pump problem solving)
The first four months will be hands-on training with one or both of us. Independent tasks may be assigned after a successful training period. The work week will change with the seasons but is likely to start with two days/week and expand to up to 5 days/week. Lunch times will be 30-60 minutes depending on shift length.
Slower season: exertion is expected to be medium high with decent pace. Labor is medium. Harvest, wash, pack and deliver orders once a week; field work two to three days a week. Minimum of two consecutive days off can be expected during the slower parts of the season.
Busy season: exertion is high with a fast pace. Labor is heavy, a lot of repetitive work and heavy lifting. Farm managers work 6 days/week. Crew will only be asked to work 6 consecutive days on rare occasions and only if it cannot be avoided due to other crew absences.
Harvest, wash, pack and deliver two days a week; field work three days a week; farmers market and farm stand once a week. During the months of July-October harvesting becomes part of daily field work and is performed by all crew members. All crew members are expected to be present for all shifts during the busy season with the exception of illness.
On excessively hot days, there will be unpaid time off during the hottest part of the day. Schedules will be adjusted in order to avoid heat stress but still get work done. This may mean early starts and late endings.
Evaluation will be based on performance, engagement, consistency, availability, and reliability. We will provide hands-on training, engage in frequent discussion, and provide opportunities to practice. Daily feedback will be given during the training period at work sessions. In-person check-ins will be done as needed but minimally, at three and six months. We encourage Apprentices to let us know when they need to discuss progress, interests, etc.
QUALIFICATIONS
Enthusiasm, eagerness, and self-respect. Curiosity, resourcefulness, and grit. Drive, desire to learn, desire to excel, attention to detail, investment in the operation (emotional, not financial), food systems interest, food, land and social justice. Excellent communication skills, good boundary setting.
Applicants must be able to:
Lift 50 pounds safely and regularly
Follow directions
Ask questions
Spend extended periods of time doing repetitive work such as standing, crouching, kneeling, etc.
Understand how to work safely around a tractor, within/around old buildings and crowded spaces.
Be willing to get dirty, wet, cold and hot (sometimes all in the same day!)
Use equipment as directed and utilize suggestions for best ergonomic practices Respect all crew members
Problem solve and discuss possible solutions before acting
Avoid using violence, both physically and verbally
Avoid using alcohol, drugs (including marijuana) and cigarettes during work shifts.
Arrive sober, free of any intoxicants and fully functional to all assigned shifts. Arriving incapacitated in any way will not be tolerated as it could be a safety issue.
COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS
Apprentice will receive an hourly wage of $15.05/hour to start. We also offer up to $30 of our produce, weekly. Increase in pay will be considered after the first 90 days. See Sunbow Handbook for details on pay increase considerations. We may offer additional increases or bonuses based on consistent, excellent work performance. Lunch breaks are not paid, 10 minute breaks are paid. OFC hosted events, community building events (Grange meetings, potlucks, social time) and elective educational workshops/meetings are not considered payable hours. An end of year bonus may be issued based on the farm’s success that year and the Apprentice’s performance, reliability, and willingness to return the following season. The pay period is the 22nd of the month through the 21st of the following month. Paychecks will be issued no later than the 28th of each month for the prior payroll period and can be picked-up at the farm.
Occasional crew meals and gatherings will be offered but are not mandatory.
We’re happy to grant access to personal growing space as long as there are no conflicts with time and resources (watering schedule, tool use, etc.)
The farm will pay for up to $100 for local workshops per Apprentice.
Successful completion of the Apprenticeship could lead to a management or crew boss position with us.
We provide basic equipment (tools) required for work and have loaner rain gear and rubber boots depending on shoe size.
No on-farm housing is offered, but we are more than willing to help find affordable housing within our community (with people we know and trust).
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
We welcome everyone, and do our best to engage with people positively and directly. We’re an equal opportunity employer, and are reasonable people who respect others and expect the same.
We acknowledge that Oregon was home to Indigenous people well before white settlers arrived.
We often find ourselves having open discussions about the intersection of race, class, history, policy and access.
PAST APPRENTICE TESTIMONIALS
“I appreciated how often my host farmers would stop to explain why and how things are done at Sunbow. Nate especially really seemed to enjoy sharing his knowledge and thoughts about whatever task we were working on at the time. I also appreciated that when I shared that I needed to talk with them about something, they found the time to listen.” - 2024
Bea and Nate.
FOOD For Lane County Youth Farm
FOOD For Lane County Youth FarM
2 APPRENTICESHIPS
PART TIME (28 hours/week)
APPROX START/END DATES: March - November
$18/HR
LOCATION: Eugene (Willamette Valley Chapter)
YEARS IN PRODUCTION: 31
PREVIOUS YEARS HOSTING: 1
PRACTICES: Organic Practices (Not Certified)
ACRES IN CULTIVATION: 7
Vegetable Production, Culinary Herbs, Fruit, Nursery Stock, Cut Flowers
ON-FARM HOUSING? No
VEHICLE REQUIRED? No, we are not located next to public bus lines but they are coming in Spring!
LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English, Basic Spanish
Urban, Public Education, Non-Profit Farm
We are a program of FOOD For Lane County (FFLC), the regional nonprofit food bank in our area. FFLC is a well respected and innovative organization with the mission of “Reducing hunger by engaging our community to create access to food”. The Youth Farm has been in operation for over 30 years, serving the community healthy food while creating opportunities for youth, beginning farmers and volunteers. We have moved farm operations and 2026 will be our first year at our new site. We have worked with and trained well over 100 interns over the years. Many are still involved in agriculture, including some as farm owners.
www.foodforlanecounty.org/gardens
https://www.facebook.com/fflcyouthfarm/
FARM OVERVIEW
On the Youth Farm, we cultivate 7 acres of diverse vegetable crops as well as a new orchard of approximately 100 fruit trees (apples, pears, peaches, Asian pears, plums), strawberries, thornless blackberries and raspberries and a blueberry patch. We are not certified organic, but we use all organic methods. We have two small tractors that we run on biodiesel that we use for discing, tilling, bed shaping and mowing. For our new, larger farm, we have also purchased new tractor implements for cultivating, seeding and spreading amendments. Most other work on the farm is done by hand, including transplanting, weeding, harvesting, and post-harvest handling. Approximately half of our produce is delivered to the FOOD For Lane County warehouse for distribution through our network of partners to those experiencing food insecurity in our county. The remainder we sell through a 180-member CSA, and an onsite produce stand on Saturdays. We also grow vegetable, flower and herb starts for two very large plant sale fundraisers each spring.
Our primary farm crew consists of a Farm Supervisor, Education Coordinator, Field Coordinator and Youth Crew Coordinator and Maintenance Coordinator, who work from mid-January-early December. During the main growing season, we hire 14 teens to participate in a part-time work experience and job skills program where they attend classes and are trained to do farm work as well as operate our farmstand. Some of our stellar youth are in leadership positions and return for up to 4 consecutive seasons. Our Gardens Program Manager oversees the program. We also host numerous volunteers and volunteer groups at our farm each year, which creates a dynamic and unpredictable element to our crew size on certain days of the week. Overall, our crew each day can range from 4-25 people, depending on the time of year.
The Youth Farm is located on a 25 acre site in Lane County close to Eugene and Springfeild. We recently moved to this new site from a property in North Springfield, and are thrilled to have the opportunity to re-create our farm on a property owned by Food For Lane County. The Farm is on prime agricultural land, and a farmhouse. Since taking ownership, we’ve built nine high tunnel greenhouses, planted a large fruit tree orchard and blueberry patch, established extensive irrigation, put in a rainwater catchment system, cover cropped the main produce growing areas, and enclosed the property in deer fencing. We have many more plans for the future infrastructure and demonstration gardens. This is an exciting time to be a part of developing a new farm for an established program. The preoperty is close to the Mt. Buford Park recreational distrcit, which includes Mt. Pisgah Arboretum and several other land-based community organizations. The neighboring towns of Eugene and Springfield offer plenty of cultural, entertainment and recreation opportunities, including music venues, art scene, free lecture at the university, bike paths, close-in hiking trails, lakes, and rivers for boating and swimming.
TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS
Apprentices will be trained in various aspects of the operation including orchard care (pruning, thinning, pest management), nursery and greenhouse management, and growing a wide variety of annual produce (over 40 crops). Work will include seeding, planting, cultivation and weed management, fertilization, harvesting, wash/pack, irrigation set-up and watering, composting, CSA and market set up and distribution, and use of small farm equipment (barrel washer, salad spinner, vacuum seeder, walk behind tillers, flame weeders and lawn care equipment).
Apprentices will also have the opportunity to help run our onsite produce stand, including set-up, take down and customer service. They will be involved in packing boxes for our CSA customers, which we do 2 times per week for a 25 week season.
Depending on interest, Apprentices will have the opportunity to lead volunteers and youth participants once they are trained.
We would like Apprentices to begin on March 3rd, four days/week (Tuesday-Friday), with some additional weekend duties on occasion. 8:30am-4:30pm is a typical work schedule with a half hour for an unpaid lunch. An early start to the season will give Apprentices the opportunity to learn pruning on some of our fruit trees. They will also be integrally involved in preparations for our two plant sales, including seeding and tending starts, and organizing for the sales that occur in April and May. The Apprenticeship will end on November 20th. Apprentices can request up to two weeks off, unpaid.
Our Apprenticeship educational program consists of lectures, occasional field trips, hand-outs, and mostly hands-on learning. We have a curriculum of educational topics, including composting, nutrient management and soil testing, plant propagation and nursery management, orchard management and fruit tree pruning, crop planning and rotation, winter farming, greenhouse management and construction, irrigation, cultivation, weed management, food preservation and cover cropping. We hold morning check-in stretching circles as well as frequent crew meetings. We take monthly field walks, and will do our best to address topics that Apprentices are interested in. These on farm classes will supplement Rogue Farm Corps online Educational Event Series and weekend intensives.
QUALIFICATIONS
Passion for organic farming, gardening or outdoor work
Previous experience in working with plants outdoors, agriculture, landscaping, etc. (Prefer 1-3 years experience)
Interest or experience in working with youth and community members
Ability to lift 50 pounds and perform physical farm tasks in adverse weather conditions
Excellent attention to detail
Good communication skills
Organized and reliable
Share FFLC’s values of Compassion, Inclusion and Collaboration
COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS
$18/hr for 28 hours/week. Sick time accrual is included. Apprentices receive 2 paid 10 minute breaks, and are required to take a half hour unpaid for lunch. OFC events are not part of payable hours.
Shared housing as well as apartments and studios can be found in both Eugene and Springfield. Check Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace to get an idea as we do not offer housing at this time.
Pay will be directly deposited into your bank account every two weeks. Details are in the FOOD For Lane County Employee Handbook. Reimbursement of OFC tuition is included if you complete the full season. Farm Produce and starts are provided as available.
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Compassion, Inclusion and Collaboration are the stated core values of our organization, Food For Lane County. We are all invested in and strive to create a safe, open, productive work environment for everyone involved and prioritize community building, straight forward communication, and validation and appreciation.
Our supervisors have received training in conflict resolution, micro-agressions, gender diversity, nuerodivergence and how inequities permeate in our food system. Which leads to less access to quality, culturally appropriate food for LGBTQIA2S+, BIPOC, immigrant and disabled populations.
PAST APPRENTICE TESTIMONIALS
“The mentors are both teachers and farmers. There are many opportunities to learn new things and be in leadership roles with volunteers and youth farmers.” -2024
Youth Farm staff.