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Summer Internships
Discover the Wairarapa Eco Farm
The aim across everything we do is to facilitate and catalyse the transformation of our community into a society based on food quality, environmental care and inclusive, holistic thinking. We call it Soul & Soil-Based Living.
Soul & Soil based liveing
Discover life from the ground up!
Everyone wants to live healthy, grow strong, in a clean environment with a vibrant community and circulating economies. In this time of change, things can feel uncertain. This is why we believe that building vibrant, self-sufficient communities will be the foundation of future resilience. We know that some scary narratives are floating around. We refuse to live in fear because we see every day that everything we need nature supplies, our earth is abundant, resilient and here to support us through life’s ups and downs. It has always been our intent to share this learning with like-minded people.
If you want to see, feel and taste nature’s abundance than come experience one of our programs. Simply sign up and be part of the solution.
About our Internships
This is a 6-week commitment for reconnection and self-discovery. An experiential learning program based on agroecology and soil quality, the prerequisites for quality food production with environmental care that lay the foundation for genuine progress/resilience in community development. The program is geared toward individuals interested in producing high-quality food and promoting community development.
Theory
Over the period of your stay, topics such as the basics of agroecology and food quality, soil, plants and animals, and how to (re)design, maintain and increase the throughput of a farming system will be covered. The course endeavours to give you a real understanding of what proper “organics” should be about, i.e. growing quality food the right way and with the right intentions. You will leave with a solid foundation and an understanding of how nature functions and how we can best fit into her systems. This will help ground you in the living world.
Practice
Typically, Interns will learn about greenhouse management, field cultivation, irrigation systems, harvesting, post-harvest handling, and animal care. This is a lot to fit into 6 weeks, so programmes are adjusted to fit the season.
- Fieldwork: includes seeding, transplanting, weeding, thinning, trellising, watering, field prep and harvesting.
- Greenhouse: seeding, thinning, transplanting, watering, and plant care/pest control.
And More!
During the 6-week intensive course and internship program, you will be involved in all aspects of our farm and work closely with the team. The typical schedule is 9:30 am to 3 pm, with a one-hour lunch break around noon, but depending on the weather, we might start earlier and/or finish later.
Interns will also be working on personal or group projects.
Frank says
“In a disconnected world, we treat people like animals, animals like plants, plants like soil and soil like dirt”
01
Soils
From the ground up
Learn to grow healthy soils. Building organic matter and supporting humus content (the original carbon sequestration).
We will cover the basics in biology, chemistry and physics.
Giving you a solid understanding of how life on Earth functions.
02
Plants
Quality over quantity
Learn about food quality versus quantity. To support healthy environments.
We will cover various growing methods and their benefits and consequences.
So you can design your ecological dream with a deep understanding of your impact.
03
Animals
Environmental diversity
Learn about animals and how they function in the environment.
We will show how diversity creates stronger ecosystems.
How soils grow plants, plants grow animals. All of the above grow healthy individuals.
04
Managment
Sustainable Initiatives
Learn through theory and practice, to gain experience and knowledge.
You will learn healthy management with an ecological and environmentally responsible understanding to create your own symbiotic relationship with the earth.
So that you a healthy individual, can walk the talk and grow the farm ecology.
Frank says
“Everything we do is underpinned with respect for life, in all its shapes and forms”
Internship
Details
Program fees
For the 6-week period, which includes the coursework, field training, project mentorship, farm food supplies, and accommodation. You explore and discover the farm whilst gaining experience
Total Cost
$2,550.00
Registration Fee ($250.00)
Early Summer Program
Starts: 3 Nov
Ends: 12 Dec
Applications close: 20 Oct
Late Summer Program
Starts: 19 Jan
Ends: 27 Feb
Applications Close: 20 Dec
The Wairarapa Eco Farm
Where we embrace Soul & Soil Based Living. Here, we model and educate agroecological environmental principles and values. Join us for a symbiotic relationship with our Mother Earth and to see how a farm can function as the cornerstone of the community.
Some Specifics
If you have any further questions, please contact us.
Accomidation
You will be offered a room, or you may camp if you prefer, over the warmer months. There is a shared kitchen, shower and compost toilet. A library/office is situated nearby.
We are currently in the process of building natural eco cabins for our future interns and apprentices.
Farm produce, such as greens, eggs, and meat, is available for interns and apprentices as the season provides.
Some House Rules
- It is your responsibility to take care of and clean the personal and communal living space.
- You will be sharing the accommodation, so rules apply to behaviour.
- We can pick you up from the bus station in town or the train station in Featherston. We are 6 km from our nearest local town; a car or bicycle is a handy item to bring.
- We are unable to accommodate more pets on the farm.
- Please, no smoking on the farm, and we ask for responsible consumption of alcohol.
- Everyone can cook their own breakfast and lunch with the food provided. At times, there will be communal dinners, and we all take turns cooking for the community here on the farm.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation up to four weeks before the start of the program, you will receive a full refund, less the registration fee. Cancellations made within four weeks of the start of the program, a 50% refund will be given, less the registration fee.
Please note that we reserve the right to end your participation in the program at any stage, in case of indecent, violent or dangerous behaviour, without a refund. Working on the farm requires the physical capability to contribute daily in a rigorous, fast-paced agricultural setting. Farm work offers an incredibly rewarding and demanding work environment and life experience. Please consider this commitment before applying.
Application
Please fill out this application form, send a cover letter plus a resume by email to wairarapaecofarm@gmail.com. If you are successful, we will contact you to schedule a phone or Skype meeting.
Applicant must have a valid tourist visa, work visa or be a NZ resident.