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Caretaker Farm is both a working farm and a training ground for future farmers.
Each season we train three or four farm apprentices.
Over the last 30 years more than 125 apprentices have learned how to farm at Caretaker Farm,
and past apprentices currently manage farms all across the country.
Apprentice Program DetailsWHO'S WHO
Don Zasada & Bridget Spann: In the fall of 2004, Don & Bridget were invited
by Sam and Elizabeth Smith to become the next farmers at Caretaker Farm. They moved there in December of 2004.
Don had been the Director of Agriculture at The Food Project for seven years while Bridget worked as a
domestic violence advocate at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Don is responsible for production of herbs, flowers, vegetables, and soft fruit, and for building and maintaining soil fertility.
He manages the CSA, oversees the farm budget, coordinates the weekly newsletter, and is responsible for all livestock and building maintenance.
Bridget has been involved in work related to the farm transition with the land trust and the Campaign for Caretaker Farm.
She helps coordinate workshops, events, and celebrations for CSA members and
organizes North West Earth Institute discussion courses for the farm.
EDUCATIONAL VALUE
Apprentice Program Our apprentice program is a hands-on working/learning experience designed to move dedicated candidates towards farm management. We accept people from all backgrounds who want to explore agriculture as a career option. Apprenticeship Goals/Evaluation As part of our program orientation, apprentices are encouraged to identify in writing what they hope to accomplish from their apprenticeship. After three to four weeks Don will meet with each apprentice to help with the development of realistic goals and to confirm our mutual (farmer and apprentice) expectations for learning. This document will be revisited for periodic evaluation and reviewed in detail in late August/September. We will make every effort to tailor each experience to the expressed needs of each participant. During a final evaluation in October the apprentices will be invited to comment on their season's experience as well as to make suggestions for the improvement of the farm and the apprenticeship. Group Meeting We meet on the first Thursday of the month, following lunch, to discuss any issues (farm and community related) that need to be addressed. We use various communication tools to assist us with these meetings. Weekly Plan and Tour At the start of each week, Don will go over the big picture of what needs to be done, clarify work assignments, and lead a ½-hour farm walk to look at the fields. Apprentices are encouraged to make observations but lengthy discussions need to be saved for other times. Daily Meeting The farm crew convenes immediately after breakfast every morning to clarify the day's program and make alterations due to the weather and other events. Orientation During the first week we will conduct an orientation to go over safety policies, farm policies, and the location and names of buildings and equipment. We will also conduct a house orientation to cover the kitchen and pantry, food and provisions, recycling, safety, etc. We will review the farm calendar, the dates in the CRAFT schedule, begin to set vacation times, assign job rotations (household, animals, greenhouse, distribution, etc.) and start figuring out how to live in community together. Study Materials All apprentices are given written learning materials to increase their understanding of Caretaker Farm in particular and farming in general. These materials include crop plans, seed orders, planting schedules, maps, overall farm plans, and supporting information. In addition there is a small farm library from which apprentices are welcome to borrow books. CRAFT Program Events Caretaker Farm is a founding member of the CRAFT Program. Apprentices are encouraged to take part in all CRAFT events during the season. Visits to other farms take place during regular work hours on Monday afternoons or Saturday mornings. If you do attend the events, you are expected to work up until the time for departure to the event (on Saturdays this means harvesting and setting up for distribution before leaving for the CRAFT gathering after breakfast). If you do not attend the event, you are expected to work according to the normal day's schedule. Career Development
Throughout the apprenticeship, participants are encouraged to develop ideas for their own future farm plans.
At your request, Don is available to review these plans and offer feedback.
In addition, all possible steps will be taken to help apprentices find job placement
or further opportunities if so desired.
RESPONSIBILITIESThe Work Schedule
Monday – Friday: 6:15 AM – 6 PM, with ½ hr break for breakfast; 15 min. mid-morning break; and a lunch break of 1½ hrs.
General Work The apprenticeship is, at its core, a working-learning experience. Our primary method for learning how to manage a farm is to perform critical tasks in a timely manner. Every Monday morning an outline of the week's goals is presented and reviewed, and specific tasks are assigned. All assignments are made with the needs of the farm and the specific stated needs of the apprentices in mind.
Tractors Seeding Apprentices will participate in greenhouse seeding and transplanting out in the field. Later in the season they will also get the opportunity to use the seeder out in the fields. COMPENSATION/BENEFITS
Stipend: The stipend is $500/month. Worker's Compensation: We pay worker's compensation, which covers any work-related injuries. Health Insurance Stipend: Apprentices are given $100/month to provide them with a partial health insurance benefit (i.e. to assist them, if they wish, in purchasing their own health coverage). We will present information about possible health care resources in the area. Food: All food is provided as a benefit to apprentices. Responsibility for meals is shared Monday–Saturday morning, with all of the apprentices taking a day to cook and clean up. They will also have an additional meal to clean up. Don and Bridget will split a cooking day and Saturday breakfast. The cook has one hour of preparation time for each meal, otherwise the cook follows the same daily work program as everyone else. The cook then needs to clean up before returning to work. Due to clean up the cook's day will be a little longer than everyone else's. All meals are vegetarian.Housing: Apprentices live in rustic cabins that accommodate two each. The cabins must be kept clean at all times. The Farmhouse: The first floor of our farmhouse is available to apprentices for bathing, laundry, and cooking. Shareholders are also welcome to enter the farmhouse to use the bathroom and to purchase eggs from the porch area. Occasionally meetings, workshops, and other gatherings are held in this area. We are all responsible for the care and appearance of this common area. Apprentices are given time out of the workday to help clean this area. The Meeting Room: There is a room in the barn that the farm uses for various events. During the season, the apprentices are welcome to use this space to use computers, watch movies, talk on the phone etc. There is a TV , VCR, and DVD player available. Laundry: Apprentices may do their laundry in the farmhouse.Farm Food: Apprentices are welcome in their free time to preserve vegetables for their own use. Phone/Internet: There are two high-speed Internet lines in the meeting room. The farm covers the cost of the Internet lines and the local/long distance charges for the phone.TIME OFFThe following guidelines on vacation and personal time assume an apprenticeship running from early April through October. Vacations: Each apprentice is given one week's paid vacation (5½ days), which ideally will be taken at one time between July 1 and September 15. Vacation times will be scheduled at the beginning of the season, trying to take all needs into account. Personal Time: It is expected that there will be some need during the season for every apprentice to take some personal time, whether for car repairs, doctor's appointments, or other personal needs. Each apprentice may take up to 2 personal days each season. These personal days do not need to be taken as “full days.” It is expected that except for emergencies, a week's notice will be given about the need for personal time. Sick Time: When you're sick, please don't work. If health circumstances arise that cause you to miss more than 7 days of work during the season due to illness, there will need to be some discussion with Don & Bridget as to whether the apprenticeship is the right situation for you at this time. You do not need to make up work for sick days. Personnel & General Policies:Safety Policies: We will review safety policies during the first week of orientation. All apprentices are required to follow safety policies at all times. Failure to do so may result in immediate dismissal. Drugs and Alcohol: Illegal drugs are not permitted on the farm property at any time (this includes the apprentice cabins). Alcohol is permitted in moderation. It is unacceptable to work while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. One infraction may be cause for immediate dismissal.
Pets: Apprentices must leave their dogs at home. They are welcome to bring cats with the approval of the rest of the apprentices. Please discuss with Don & Bridget your plans to bring any pets. Shareholder Interactions: Caretaker Farm is a public place and we depend on our shareholders (and prospective shareholders) for our livelihood. All apprentices must be professional, polite, and helpful to all people who come to the farm. General Demeanor: It is expected that all apprentices be prompt, dressed appropriately for work, and professional in their attitude at work. Tools and Work Clothes: The farm provides harvest knives and daily hand tools. They must be returned to the tool shed at the end of the day. Apprentices must provide any other desired tools or work clothes (pocket knives, rain boots, rain gear, hats, gloves). After Hours Work: There will be compensation time given for work that is performed after regular working hours. Don will give you a choice as to whether you want to work after hours in these unexpected situations. In the event of a farm emergency (animals out of fence, etc.) it is expected that apprentices who are on or near the farm will help out until the situation is corrected. Community Involvement:Special Activities and Events: Apprentices are encouraged to enjoy our farm community. We welcome you to help with the planning and implementation of at least one of our scheduled seasonal events.Educational workshops for CSA members: We conduct various educational workshops for shareholders during the season. In past years apprentices have assisted in planning and conducting workshops on lacto-fermentation and canning. We welcome new ideas for workshops that have an educational value for shareholders and focus on some aspect of sustainable living. |
Visitors: Visitors are welcome for up to 1 week. Family and friends are expected to work at least ½ days along with the farm crew, following our normal schedule, and are welcome to join us at all meals. Visits longer than a week are subject to the wishes of other apprentices and the farm family.
