Farm Internship Classes

SSC farmers are committed to increasing the pool of organic farmers by taking on farm interns each summer. SSC growers Tom Powell, Mookie Moss and Tim Franklin developed a curriculum for farm interns and workers this past winter. The group received a 2005 Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant to write and teach the curriculum in order to enhance farm interns experience and education, and to create a community of farm interns in the Applegate and Williams valleys.

These classes are free and open to anyone working as a farm intern this season. Please contact us if you are interested in becoming an intern.

Questions: 899-9668 Email contact
Instructors: Tom Powell, Mookie Moss and Tim Franklin

Farm Internship Class Topics

1. Crop Rotation
• Understand various benefits of a system of crop rotation.
• Examine two popular rotational designs.
2. Farm Records
• understand what type of records are required.
• discuss the various reasons that records are important.
• review and have access to sample record keeping forms.
3. Financial Records
• ...examine various purposes of maintaining financial records.
• ...review typical income categories and expense categories essential to proper record keeping.
4. Greenhouse 101
• Understand the purpose, types, and needs of various greenhouse systems.
• Examine various pest and disease control issues related to greenhouse use.
• see Field Exercise - STARTING PLANTS IN A GREENHOUSE
5. Keyline/Whole Systems Farming
• understand the basics of keyline design.
• review opportunities for different types of water storage and water delivery systems
6. CSA
• Look at various models for community supported agriculture
• Understand benefits enjoyed by the consumer and producer
• Examine special considerations for success as a CSA
7. Poultry Management
• Understand the role livestock (specifically poultry) in farm system
• Learn how to care for chicks
• Learn how to raise chickens for eggs, meat, and other
• Learn about pasture-based production models
8. Goat Husbandry
• Understand the scope of general concerns involved in raising animals on the farm by learning some of the specific concerns related to goat husbandry.
• Be able to describe the basics of ruminant digestion.
• Review the process of gestation and birthing in goats.
• Learn and discuss the processes of raising kids and milking goats.
• see Field Exercise- MILKING
9. Irrigation
• Understand reasons for irrigation
• Learn to recognize the effects of water stress
• Learn methods of determining the proper frequency of irrigation
• Examine various system designs and delivery methods and investigate specific advantages and disadvantages.
10. Farming with the Wild
• Learn about different approaches to ecological farming, and give examples
• Understand ecological processes underlying ecological farming approaches.
• Understand attributes of natural systems farming, agroforestry systems, and wild farming approaches.
11. Hegderows
• Identify multiple purposes for hedgerows on the farm.
• Recognize factors influencing hedgerow design
• Learn the basics of plant selection, planting, and caring for hedgerows.
• see Field Exercise - TREE PLANTING
12. Soil Science
• Understand how soils form
• Understand soil characteristics and how they effect crop growth
• Learn why and how to take soil samples, what to test for and what to do with the results
• Learn how to manage for healthy soil ecosystems, increased fertility, and sustainable crop production
13. Entomology
• Gain a basic understanding of the balance of insects on the farm/garden (pests and beneficial insects.)
• Be able to identify a number of common pests and suggest methods of control.
• Be able to identify several beneficial insects and discuss how they interact with crops and insect pests.
14. Composting
• Understand the various roles of compost on a farm.
• Have a basic understanding of the processes involved in decomposition.
• Learn how to make a good compost pile and proper application methods.
15. GMOs
• Understand the history, significance, and risks of GMO crops and foods.
• Gain exposure to common myths and underlying truths related to GMOs.
16. Plant Pathogens
• Become familiar with various types of plant pathogens or disease agents.
• Examine various methods of disease management.
17. Grazing Systems - Pasture managment
• Understand the ecology of pastures and key biological attributes of pasture plants.
• Learn to identify important pasture species.
• Become familiar with grazing systems that build or maintain soil fertility and pasture diversity.
• Learn how to calculate and manage forage production.
• Learn strategies for extended season grazing and winter feeding.
• Learn how to manage hay fields as part of the pasture rotation.
18. Winter Farming
• Identify opportunities for winter farming and season extension.
• Receive an introduction to production aids relative to winter farming.
19. Cover Crops and Green Manure
• Be introduced to various types of cover crops and their specific applications.
• Be able to identify various benefits of cover crop application.
20. Seed Saving

Field Experiance

1. STARTING PLANTS IN A GREENHOUSE
2. DIRECT SEEDING
3. TRANSPLANTING
4. HARVESTING
5. POST HARVEST HANDLING
6. WEED MANAGEMENT
7. MILKING
• The purpose of this field exercise is to learn and experience the proper way to set up, and perform milking responsibilities in a way that is beneficial and efficient for the producer, as well as comfortable and healthful for the herd.
8. (missing - this is a farming calss after all;)
9. TRACTOR 101
• The purpose of this exercise is to gain an understanding of skills for basic tractor operation.  Rudimentary safety will be covered as well.  Simple day-to-day maintenance will be covered in the field exercise.
10. TREE PLANTING