Short-Season Farm Internship application is open now!
6 interns are selected per seasonal cohort (there’s a Summer Internship and Fall Internship). See the internship description in the “Short-Season Farm Internship” tab and fill out the application form.
We will begin reviewing applications on May 15th for the Summer Internship cohort, and on July 15th for the Fall Internship cohort.
Time Commitment
● April 1st – November 14th, Monday – Thursday, 8-10 hours/day
● Approximately 16 hours over the entire season to attend other programming at Zenger Farm including
community events, field trips, etc.
Responsibilities
- Field work: Most field work at Zenger Farm is done with hand tools, and includes seeding, amending, transplanting, weeding, irrigating, trellising, pruning, season extension, pest management, harvesting, hauling and washing produce for sale.
- Machinery: Operate and maintain a weed whacker, flame-weeding, 2-wheel tractor (BCS) with various implements, and rare use of a chainsaw.
- Rotating responsibilities in all aspects of our farming operation, such as management of the propagation greenhouse, irrigation, and field preparation; leading planting, harvest, wash and pack; supervising short-season interns and volunteer work parties; staffing CSA pickup and writing newsletters; driving the farm van during restaurant deliveries; and, toward the end of the apprenticeship, a two-week rotation leading the entire crew in all field work.
Qualifications
- A strong commitment to the mission of Zenger Farm.
- Demonstrated interest in farming.
- Intention to maintain continued involvement in the agricultural community by engaging in farm work or
the development of a small farm business. - Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds, farm outdoors in all weather conditions including heat, cold and rain to
perform the above responsibilities. - Ability to endure prolonged periods of physical activity, including walking, standing, squating, and
repetitive tasks - Attitude: Positive, driven, flexible and team-oriented.
- Current regular driver’s license.
- We will perform a background check and address any issues on a case-by-case basis – no one should feel
discouraged from applying. - We cannot help with visas or work permits for this program.
Benefits
- $16/hour paid monthly
- 1 full CSA share
- If housing is a barrier for you to participate in the program, please indicate so when you submit the application.
Selection Timeline
Apply by February 19th, 2024 before 5PM. Open until filled.
Application Instructions
Submit application via google form linked here.
Zenger Farm provides equal opportunity without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, handicap, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity, in accordance with applicable federal laws.
Time Commitment
- Wednesday and Thursday, 8 hours/day. There are two different cohorts, one in summer and one in fall.
- Summer: June 17th – August 15th
- Fall: August 26th – October 25th (Subject to change)
Responsibilities
- Field Work: Most field work at Zenger Farm is done by hand, and includes seeding, planting, weeding, watering, trellising, harvesting, hauling, washing, and packing produce for sale
- General Farm Maintenance: Tool and equipment care, farm and property upkeep
Qualifications
- Interest in gardening or farming.
- Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds, farm outdoors in all weather conditions and perform the above responsibilities.
- Attitude: Positive, driven, flexible and team-oriented.
Benefits
This is an unpaid volunteer internship, room and board are not provided
- Hands-on training in small-scale, sustainable farming practices
- 10 hours of workshop instruction in sustainable farming practices
- 1 CSA share during internship dates
Selection Timeline
We will begin reviewing applications on May 15th for the Summer Internship cohort, and on July 15th for the Fall Internship cohort.
Application Instructions
You can apply online with the form or by US mail. Please do not submit your application by email.
- Apply online.
- Print and mail the application to: Zenger Farm, Attn: Sachin Bangalore, Farming Internship, 11741 SE Foster Rd. Portland, OR 97266.
Contact Sachin Bangalore (sachin@zengerfarm.org) with any questions, but please do not submit your application by email.
About the Program
The Program
The 2024 Beginning Farmer Apprenticeship is CLOSED. Check back in Winter 2025 for applications for the 2025 apprenticeship cohort.
Our Goals
We seek to train an inclusive next generation of farmers. Nationwide, 95% of farmers are white, 85% of farmers are men, and the average age of a farmer is 60-years-old. Many other groups are underrepresented. This apprenticeship program seeks to decrease these disparities in representation caused by systems rooted in white supremacy, colonialism, racism, capitalism and sexism. Therefore, we encourage Black, Indigenous, and people of color, women, LGBTQ2SIA people, religious minorities, recent migrants/refugees, people with disabilities who can meet the responsibilities and qualifications, and people from different generational and economic backgrounds to apply. This farm apprenticeship program is designed for people with little or no experience farming.
Farm apprentices spend much of their time closely mentored by our two farm operations staff Sachin and Kristie. Both have experience in farming and bring different life experiences to their management styles. Zenger Farm is a multi-racial space, and we are deeply engaged in conversations around issues of identity and belonging.
We seek to model an economically-viable alternative to “conventional agriculture” while centering food justice work and developing practices that build soil health. Farmers should be responsible and accountable members of their communities. Farms should improve community resilience and self-reliance. Farms should foster connections with the land. We seek to reform conventional farming practices that depend heavily on machinery, chemicals, exploited labor and exploited soil. Conventional agriculture damages land, air and water; harms the health of communities that consume the produce; and harms the workers who feed our communities.
Farm Apprentices care for four acres of diversified vegetable crops and fruit orchards. Zenger Farm is certified organic. We grow over 150 varieties of vegetables on just over two acres where we spend the vast majority of our time. We are also farming a second site called the Furey Field that is 0.5 acres for a winter CSA program. Farm Apprentices will get to learn the no-till practices utilized at this second site but will not be responsible for overall production. Apprentices will also be helping with blueberry and grape plant pruning and maintenance.
We seek to operate a farm that models social justice and economic viability. We earned $92,000 from the distribution of produce in 2022. 95% of our produce went to our CSA, with 70 shares picked up by members at the farm and 65 shares distributed to patients at the nearby Multnomah County Mid County Health Center. The rest of our produce goes to other programming, local restaurants and grocery stores. Our farming operation allows us to model innovative practices. This next year we are starting to incorporate no-till practices into the production model. We will be farming 0.5 acres in a no-till production method to develop our winter CSA program. We also cultivate partnerships that prioritize underserved communities in getting access to fresh food in the Foster/Powell neighborhood. We prioritize culturally specific organizations to help conduct outreach for our CSA program, restaurants and buyers who are aligned with our values, and networking with other small-scale farmers who experience barriers in the food system.
The core of the Zenger Farm Crew consists of two farm operations staff and four full-season farm apprentices. Four short-season interns will join the crew 2 days/week for 8 weeks in the Summer and again in the Fall. Farm apprentices spend much of their time closely mentored by our two farm managers. Similarly, farm apprentices will work closely with, mentor and teach the farm interns when they join the crew. Additionally, farm apprentices will lead volunteers and other work parties.
Education of the body is the core component of this apprenticeship. We teach apprentices the underlying ergonomics of farm work. Proper ergonomics are essential for an economically-viable farm. Your speed, stamina and efficiency will allow you to operate your own farm and compete when other farms lower their costs with machinery, chemicals, and exploited labor.
We provide an immersive and comprehensive education in farming. Farm apprentices will have direct experience in all aspects of our farming operation and will take turns leading projects that are applicable to future farm jobs. The farm apprenticeship includes over 40 hours of classroom instruction in topics such as crop planning, irrigation, seed saving, soil fertility, enterprise budgeting, etc. Farm apprentices will be provided additional opportunities to attend classes and tours at other local farms. While apprentices will occasionally participate in other programming at Zenger Farm (youth education and community engagement), the vast majority of their time is spent farming.
We seek to provide a compassionate education. Zenger Farm recognizes that many people, disproportionately Black, Indigenous and Latinx folks, have historical and current traumas related to land access and agricultural work. We also recognize that training future farmers to operate an economically-viable farm focused on production within a capitalist system hinders our ability to create a healing environment to address that trauma. We strive to create as much of a supportive environment as possible through prioritizing preventative care, open feedback, routine check-ins, and communicating expectations. Apprentices will examine the root causes of injustice in our food system through facilitated discussion with the team prompted by readings, videos, and talks. We make space for apprentices to develop connections and network within the small farming community in Portland to see firsthand how small scale farmers are innovating solutions. Through immersive field work, conversation, and creating space, we hope apprentices can start to see themselves as part of a solution for change through agriculture.
2024 Cohort
These four are our current Beginning Farmer Apprentices who will spend April-May participating in comprehensive educational programming and stewarding our organic farming fields to feed our community!
Laylani Hartman (she/her)
Farm Apprentice
Laylani is keen on starting a (kid/family friendly) homeopathic/spiritual center and growing/making/teaching people about herbal/flower remedies and cosmetic products. She grew up on a self-sustaining Pacific Island homestead, raising and harvesting tropical fruits and vegetables, and caring for numerous livestock animals (including ducks and pigs).
Zara Rose (he/him)
Farm Apprentice and Caretaker
Zara is passionate about food rescue and community food security. He plans to farm and work with food gleaners. Zara has availed of multiple opportunities to volunteer at farms in the Portland Metro Area (including, but not limited to: Kindness Farm, Kasama Farm, PCC Learning Gardens, and Zenger Farm) and network/learn from sustainable food systems organizations (including, but not limited to: Back to the Root Conference, Rogue Farm Corps, and Washington State University). Zara is also our 2024 Caretaker.
Paola Ortez (she/her)
Farm Apprentice
has volunteered on multiple farms in the PNW and has a Permaculture Certificate from Big Island Farms (in Hawai’i). She is interested in exploring herbal medicine aid programs and mixed horticultural farm production and hopes to start her own farm. Paola is moving from AZ for the apprenticeship program and plans to set roots (pun intended) in Oregon.
Mia Yerton (she/her)
Farm Apprentice
Mia is interested in the intersectionality between agriculture, community food security, social justice, and environmental health. She studied urban farming at the University of Oregon and has experience doing native plant-based outdoor education with youth at Outdoor School. Mia was a 2022 Summer Farm Intern at Zenger Farm.
2023 Alumni
These four spent their time connecting with and stewarding this land and producing the amazing veggies, fruits, flowers and herbs we are able to offer our community. These alumni are incredible people who put so much love into this work. Cant wait to see all they do next!
Jennifer Harris (she/her)
Farm Apprentice Alumni
My name is Jennifer also known as Jay, I grew up between Washington D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland. I have always loved being outside, but after traveling more of the country as an adult I established a deeper connection to nature and in 2020 I moved to Oregon to be closer to the outdoor activities I love. I am so excited to be an apprentice at Zenger Farm and look forward to sprouting in this community, working outside, and growing delicious veggies. In my free time I am passionate about cooking, art, photography, finding new places to camp, and loving on my blind dog Moon.
Denajia Preston (she/they)
Farm Apprentice Alumni
My name is Denajia and I’m super excited to have the opportunity to learn and grow as a Zenger Farms Apprentice this year. I am passionate about learning to create sustainable and reciprocal relationships to the land, my people, and community members. My family originates from Temple, Oklahoma where my Great Grandma and Grandpa raised the majority of my family before moving to Oregon. In Oklahoma my Grandpa created a garden wherever they moved, growing enough veggies to never make a store run for fresh produce or poultry. My hope is to connect back to this autonomous practice. Providing food for my community and my elders would bring lots of joy and honor to the hands that led me here. I never met my Grandpa but I believe his hard work has manifested this journey just as I manifest the same journey to the generation that comes after me. When I am not thinking intensely about the past, the present, and the future I spend time hiking, creating music, and going to plenty of concerts. Spending intentional time with myself and the people I love to be creative, in nature, and experiencing art is my greatest form of rest. I’m eager to see the growth that comes with my time at the farm!
Em Bigongiari (she/he)
Farm Apprentice Alumni
My name is em (she + he). I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and I love the lush forests, beautiful waterways, and all the critters who make this region their home. I studied food justice, prison abolition, and community organizing as an undergrad at Western Washington University. I see small farming as one tool of many that we can use towards building a liberated world for everyone, and I am really honored to get this opportunity to grow my skills while growing food for the community. In my free time I enjoy writing songs and listening to music, watching TV, learning ASL, and discovering new restaurants to try – let me know if you have any recommendations!
Mad Nelson (all pronouns)
Farm Apprentice Alumni
Hey there! Call me whatever you want, just don’t call me late for dinner. I like long walks on the beach and crying in grocery stores. Due to the food insecurity I experienced throughout childhood and my continuously growing understanding of the ways capitalism perpetuates food insecurity around the world, I’ve dedicated my life to joining the fight to eradicate hunger worldwide A.K.A. The Food Forever Endeavor. Through working with mutual aid organizations and nonprofits, I’m familiarizing myself with already established efforts working towards that bright and tasty future. In my free time you can find me being “mid” at cooking, falling off my skateboard, painting, reading, and writing poetry.