Boots on the Ground: NC Veteran Farmer Apprenticeship
Participating Host Farms
- Green icons are farms that are currently hiring apprentices. Yellow icons are farms that currently have apprentices and are not hiring
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Carolina Farm Stewardship Association Job Board (NC)
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ASAP Local Food guide (WNC)
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ASAP Job Board (WNC)
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OGS Farm Network List (WNC)
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ATTRA Internship Listings (can be applicable to apprenticeships) (National)
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NC Works Farm Jobs
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NC Farm Link Find a Farm (land access and internship/apprenticeship postings)
CATHIS Farm
CATHIS Farm is a working family farm and event venue in Lillington, NC. We host events, outdoor weddings, haunted attractions, as well as raise pigs, chickens, cows, and kids, sustainably. All of our products are grown sustainably, giving back to our land that gives so much to us. When you buy pasture-raised and grass-fed meats, eggs, and locally grown produce from us, you’re giving back to our community and our planet.
Fading D Farm
What began as a humble quest for fresh buffalo mozzarella has since transformed into Fading D Farm, a 64-acre farm on the outskirts of Salisbury in Rowan County. The DiLoretos raise and milk a small herd of water buffalo for mozzarella, gourmet gelato, and an assortment of other dairy products. This farm is one of only a handful of water buffalo dairies in the United States, offering a truly unique experience.
Fickle Creek Farm
Fickle Creek Farm is a diversified, small-scale, family farm in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina. On land of the Eno, Sappony, Shakori, and Lumbee Native Peoples, half of the farm’s 230 acres is in production to provide farm-fresh, healthy food to our community through careful environmental stewardship, sustainable practices, and humane animal treatment. We seek individuals who take initiative, are reliable and responsible, work well with others and individually, appreciate high quality work and products, possess a deep respect for others, and are able to lift 55 lbs. We’re looking for individuals who are excited about taking on significant responsibility.
Healing Springs Farm
Healing Springs is proud to be a member of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP), the Farmer Veteran Coalition and Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture. Healing Springs Farm is a veteran-owned farm and is part of the Homegrown by Heroes program. Apprentices at Healing Springs Farm are involved in all farm activities, including animal management, husbandry, fencing, pasture management, garden management, agritourism as well as cabin renovations and building projects.
James Creek Orchards
Seeking to get closer to the land and the rhythms of nature in January 2009, Ann Marie and David planted 60 Southern heirloom apple trees on their farm in Moore County with the idea of making hard cider—Ann Marie’s beverage of choice when they studied in London during college. That trial planting thrived and so did their passion for farming and cider-making. They acquired more land and now James Creek Orchards grows over 65 varieties of heirlooms and cider apples from England, France and Spain, as well as peaches, blueberries and muscadines. Under the James Creek Cider House and Stargazer Cider brands, they make award-winning harvest-based ciders from heirloom Southern apple varieties. Their commitment to seasonality and sustainability earned them membership in the Good Food Guild and a Good Food Award in 2021.
Shenk Family Farm
Shenk Family Farm is a veteran owned, diversified livestock farm that has been in operation since 2017. Shenk Family Farm exists to provide quality products in a way that ensures happy and healthy livestock, ecosystems, community, and farmers. The farm consists of 52 acres of mixed woodlot and pasture. Livestock are managed through rotational woodlot and pasture systems and fed non-gmo feed rations. The primary sales markets are direct to consumer retail to include online sales, monthly subscriptions, bulk packages, local drop sites, and farmers markets. Apprentices will have the opportunity to learn about everything from livestock management to poultry processing and gain experience in marketing and sales.
The Patterson School
The Patterson School Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve the legacy and tradition of the Patterson School. One of their main goals is to promote organic, sustainable agricultural production in the Carolinas and the Southeast by recruiting, educating and supporting young farmers for centuries to come. There is an active incubator farm and plans to build a new greenhouse with sustainable energy heating systems, to reduce propane needs and to educate interns and other students more environmentally conscious alternatives.
Union Grove Farms
Welcome to Union Grove Farm! Our family run property is set in the beautiful countryside of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and couples a feeling of being far removed from the city with quick and convenient access to I-40. The farm boasts over 500 acres in total, with 10+ working acres of vineyards, orchards and gardens.Union Grove Farm is a strong member of the Chapel Hill community and is dedicated to regenerative farming. The next five years will be spent developing our Soil Food Web on the farm and working to discover and cultivate traits in grapevines to eliminate the need for pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. The planned vineyard expansion is focused on environmental sustainability, working to ensure we maintain high quality standards on our farm and for our neighbors.
The farm property also includes The Barn at Union Grove Farm, built and owned by Peter and Nicole Bohlen. This wedding and event venue accommodates 200+ guests.
CATHIS Farm
Fading D Farm
Full-time 5 days a week 7:30-4:00pm alternating every other weekend. 2-3 days a week will be spent milking in the mornings and general farm work (animal care, breeding, pasture management, farm construction and maintenance) in the afternoon. The other 2-3 days a week we will be engaged in general farm work. If interested, some of the time may be spent learning value added production (Cheese, Gelato, etc)
Fickle Creek Farm
Tuesday through Saturday with weekend chores rotation
Healing Springs Farm
Our projects and tasks range between construction / renovation projects to include carpentry, drywall, painting and possibly some plumbing or electrical. We are going to be rebuilding an old 120ft long barn, along with renovating outbuildings into lodging units for staff. Our farm related tasks are going to range from care and feeding of cattle, pigs, chickens and horses to fencing projects, pasture and weed management projects, and other duties as needed.
James Creek Orchards
Springtime: duties include fertilizing, final pruning, hanging pheromone disruptors, irrigation repair, managing orchard floor, orchard pest monitoring and fire blight scouting, weeding, trellis/fence maintenance
Summer:
T: 7-11 harvest peaches; 12-3 tractor work/business planning
W: 7-9 harvest blueberries
9-11 prep for market; 1-7 Carrboro Farmers’ Market
Th: 7-10 blueberry harvesting,irrigation repair, fence/trellis maintenance; weeding, deer/bird tactics etc. as needed
F: 7-11 harvest; 1-3 prep for market; S: 4 am-1 pm – Carrboro Farmers’ Market
Fall:
T: 8-11 harvest apples; 12-3 tractor work/business planning
W: 7-9 harvest muscadines
9-11 prep for market; 1-7 Carrboro Farmers’ Market
Th: harvest apples (tractor work; irrigation repair, weeding, fence/trellis management etc. as needed) F: 7-11 harvest muscadines; 1-3 prep for market; S: 4 am-1 pm – Carrboro Farmers’ Market
Winter:
winterize equipment; plan planting; gather scion wood; plant trees; apple/pear/ muscadine/peach pruning, orchard floor management
Shenk Family Farm
Daily chores, paddock rotations, breeding and farrowing management, equipment and infrastructure repairs, poultry processing, egg packaging, farmers markets, marketing
The Patterson School
Work with the other Incubator Farmers (IFers) and culinary entrepreneurs, learn how to create biochar, charge the compost and spread to IF farm plots as instructed, assist with CBD production, ready greenhouse production and erection, expand coolbot area, assist with fence making and mob grazing cattle, and maintain and expand orchard.
Union Grove Farms
No day is the same at UGF but structure and mentorship will be provided