Unlike most commercial growing ventures, Good Earth is centered on the holistic well-being of people and planet. We try not to separate the physical, mental and spiritual. Everything is connected to everything else. Our project reaches out as an educational resource for folk who are hungry to learn how to provide healthy food and lifestyles for themselves and others.

This internship runs from June 2011-October 2011, with a minimum stay of 2 months. Number of interns: 1
Application Deadline: Until position is filled
The internship: You will fully participate in the running of a small-scale organic vegetable farm. You will learn about the soil and how to improve it naturally. How to work with your body, with hand tools. How to plan, grow and preserve vegetables and herbs from seed to seed and nurture them with natural fertilizers. Yoga, meditation and cooking also form part of our holistic program.
We'd expect you to put in 32 hours of work per week. The internship will start with a trial period of one month. It's crucial that we all feel comfortable together and for you to discover if farming is really for you. Your work will include the whole range of tasks in the vegetable garden from planning to harvest, as well as some marketing and sales.
Skills Desired: Some practical gardening experience is very desirable, as its important for you to know that you actually enjoy it before you commit! It is hard, physical work and many people come unprepared for this. A willingness to learn and receive guidance is most important, alongside the desire to cultivate personal development through working and communicating with others on a common goal.
Meals: All food is provided. We will share one meal together each working day.
Stipend:$200 per month after the trial period.Housing: We provide basic, camping accommodation at the Eureka homestead, a 15 minute cycle ride from Talking Horse Farm. In addition to camping there is a trailer, with kitchen facilities, to share with our farm assistant, and a compost toilet.
About us:
Gary has been growing produce organically since he was in his early 20s and has a great deal of knowledge and experience. He is our primary educator and has a natural gift for teaching. Gary studied with Mishio Kuchi and has fantastic knowledge and passion for natural, healing foods and cooking. He is also a highly skilled sustainable building constructor and is committed to his yoga practice.
Amy has worked primarily as a community-based artist/activist, playfully bringing people together on common goals, creating space for sharing many voices, ideas and skills. Inspired by Ghandian ideals, she has a great deal of teaching experience and a deep passion for natural gardening. This season she will be working on the day to day coordination of interns.

We believe that nature has created the perfect design, so we are employing, experimenting with and teaching natural farming techniques, like those promoted by Masanobu Fukuoka. We are also inspired by the philosophy of Michio Kushi who taught that health could lead to peace. Yoga, meditation and cooking form an integral part of the program.We are currently growing produce, herbs and flowers on an acre of land at Talking Horse Farm, a beautiful working farm on San Juan Island, where you will be surrounded by livestock including cattle and sheep. Produce is sold at the local farmers market and food coop and although the emphasis is not on commercial growing we obviously need to distribute our healthy foods and to recognize the reality of sustaining the project financially. Good Earth, as a learning centre is in its early stages, and this year we are focusing on the internship program.

If you are interested in joining our small community this summer, please email Amy Plant for more info: [email protected]