Current Operation:  I own and operate a small sustainable organic produce farm on about 5 acres - including herbs and flowers. All 80+ varieties of vegetables, fruits and herbs are grown from nearly 100% organic seeds and seedlings are transplanted into completely natural, composted soil. Our compost materials include farm animal manure, kitchen scraps, wood ash, and straw. We will grow green manure this year in our field. Absolutely no chemicals or pesticides are ever used on anything growing or living. The land was left to nature and unworked for nearly 7 years prior to our moving here, and was most likely kept natural for many years previous. Our soil ranges from clay to sandy.

For the first two years, produce was sold at nearby Farmer's Markets and to those who "found" us. Last spring, I opened a large field and started a CSA with about 30 shares. The CSA is popular and I have made wonderful connections not only with the shareholders, but with local organizations that led to extra sales and/or marketing venues.

We raise several varieties of heritage chickens for their eggs and sometimes meat, chicken broilers (obviously just for their meat), Pekin ducks for their meat and eggs, and New Zealand rabbits for their meat. We also have a handful of guineas - used for their keen bug-eating skills and alerting our other animals of oncoming hawks or other dangers - they will be new to the farm this spring!

Our farm philosophy is that everything must be able to be re-used or give us something back. We believe in and always strive for sustainability in our farming methods.

Internship Description
* Helping mark out and prepare field rows and paths (with some experimental Indian methods included)
* Help monitor the health of seedlings in the greenhouse
* Plant seedlings in the field and gardens
* Water as necessary
* Hand-picking bugs off of crops
* Weeding
* Harvesting and packaging "shares" throughout the summer CSA season
* Help with stocking and selling at our "road side stand" if needed
* Help with feeding / watering the farm animals or cleaning coops

Farm equipment includes simple hand-driven motorized tillers, an old fashioned (but new) seed planter, the usual garden tools, and a versatile riding lawn mower with cart attachment.

Future developments/work to be performed and learned that may occur during your stay:
* A drip irrigation system will need to be fitted and installed in the large field leading from the back of the house.
* My final intent is to install a rain-catching system with new gutters and cisterns.
* Not required: It would be great if someone knows how to help me set up a website for the farm!

Intern Skills/Experience List specific skills or experience that interns should have.
* Able to lift up to 50 pounds on occasion. (hoisting chicken feed bags, for example)
* Able to use hand-driven motorized tillers, garden shovels, rakes, etc. (would be helpful to know how to maintain and do minor repairs if necessary)
* Attentive to direction and mechanically-inclined
* Comfortable getting dirty
* Able to work in light rain or unusually hot climactic conditions
* Some experience or education on rainwater system installations and/or drip irrigation system installations helpful.
* Love to eat good home-cooked food (and help with canning produce;­ you will learn the techniques!)
* Most important! Love for the earth and understanding the scope of work required to run an organic farm

Internship Timeline
3 days per week, 10 hours per day OR 4 days per week, 8 hours per day. (Negotiable) May 15 through August 30 (Negotiable)

Internship Stipends/Benefits We are about a half hour drive from St. Paul proper. If housing is needed for the 3 or 4 days working, I can provide a nice private bedroom and a shared bathroom in our home with home-cooked meals included.

Rental units are available in Hastings, if preferred.

Family Information
* We are a family of 3 with one 15 year old boy whose main hobby is raising racing pigeons on the farm, being a part of 4-H, and has a white German Shepherd puppy who lives with us in the home but is outside a lot.
* Farmgirl Suzy was featured (among others) in a nationally-acclaimed documentary film about women in farming.
* She also cans pickles, beets, jams and makes her own sauces and many other foods for the winter...and loves to cook and bake home-made bread.

Additional Information Due to our location, the surroundings are quite private and picturesque, with a view of the Mississippi. Just being here gives one a feeling of contentment. We have the pleasure of watching several species of birds, many bees, and occasional visits from large families of turkeys cross our back yard. We have a solarium in the home that can be used to grow your own favorite plant for the summer.