Rigorous Apprenticeship Position
2024 Seasonal Farm Crew/Apprentice Position
Rainshadow Organics is looking to hire incredible people to partake in our Paid Apprenticeship for the 2024 season. At Rainshadow, we are passionate about cultivating future farmers for what it will take to grow food in an ever changing and unpredictable climate. This apprenticeship is a full immersion into farming, preservation, and farm driven cuisine. The rigorous, educational experience is taught by a team of people who are truly stoked on food and farming. If you are looking for a lifestyle that nourishes both mind and body at a multi-faceted, full-diet organic farm, apply now!
- April-November, with flexibility on start and end dates
- Average of 30-45 hours a week
- 2 consecutive days off a week
- $15 to $18/hr DOE
- PTO for vacation, sick time, and mental health accrued at 1 hr per 30 hrs worked
- Access to optional, affordable housing available
Duties
- Being an integral part of an upbeat, fast-paced work environment
- Participating in a full curriculum of real-life, hands-on farm education
- Vegetable production including but not limited to bed preparation, planting, weeding, tending, harvesting, washing, packing, and cooking
Who we are looking for
We are looking for inspired, driven learners who bring a positive power house of energy and fresh ideas to the farm. Team players are a must. You must be:
- Enthusiastic to challenge oneself to master the sport and art that is farming
- Committed to the season you’re contracted for
- Excited to live as a member of our small and intimate community
- Able to lift and carry 50 lbs repeatedly
- Willing to work early/late days in a variety of fluctuating conditions including, but not limited to, heat, cold, smoke, etc.
- Passionate about honing new skills, work ethic, decision making, and efficiencies
- Flexible in scheduling and intake of information
To apply:
To apply, please submit your resume, three references, and a cover letter answering the following questions:
- Why are you interested in working at Rainshadow Organics?
- What are you looking to get out of this experience?
- How does this apprenticeship fit into your short and long term goals?
- Do you want to be a farmer? Why?
- Are you interested in a fast-paced, manual labor environment on a farm that produces a lot of food? Why?
Include contact and basic information:
- Name
- Preferred Pronouns
- Address
- Phone
And a few other straightforward details about yourself:
- Do you have a reliable vehicle?
- Can you drive a manual transmission?
- Do you have a valid driver’s license?
- Do you have health insurance?
- Do you have dietary restrictions?
- Allergies?
- Do you have any pets?
Please send your application to: [email protected]
We accept applications on a rolling basis, and are actively interviewing and hope to fill our team by February 1st.
Alumni Reviews
Rainshadow’s 2023 farming season had such dynamic energy, what an evolutionary experience! Each season brought a new element of the earth to shift into and feel; birth and regrowth in Spring, heat-raising fire and action in Summer, and a sustained strength and wisdom to fulfill Autum’s push for harvest and acceptance of what can be put to rest.
Farming the high desert is no joke; she needs one to be sensitive, yet assertive, humble and simultaneously courageous, humorous and steadfast, with a true willingness to accept there is no knowing what tomorrow will bring. Within this mysterious place, the stewards of Rainshadow, with their “I’ll be goddamned to relinquish my virtue” spirit, are growing beautiful food magic.
Rainshadow’s diversity of food grown for the community; from the soil, beautiful animals, and bustling kitchen – such dedicated hearts providing nourishment to the land and its people. It’s an honor to get your hands in the ground with them. — Angela Lariza, 2023 Apprentice
My apprenticeship experience at Rainshadow was more than I could have expected. Between the loving community of people and exposure to the potential large scale organic farming has to offer, I can confidently say that my decision to partake in the apprenticeship program was one of the best choices I have ever made. Not only did I learn about what it takes to start and maintain a farm but also met incredible people who are also looking to challenge the status quo of what it means to farm sustainably. Sarahlee and the rest of the Rainshadow team are knowledgeable, community focused and always eager to adapt and improve their methods. This is a farm you go to if you are interested in working hard, learning how to grow food in a difficult climate and challenging yourself and your beliefs on where your food comes from. I highly recommend this opportunity to anyone who is interested in farming. — Grant Davis, 2023 Apprentice
My apprenticeship experience at Rainshadow was more than I could have expected. Between the loving community of people and exposure to the potential large scale organic farming has to offer, I can confidently say that my decision to partake in the apprenticeship program was one of the best choices I have ever made. Not only did I learn about what it takes to start and maintain a farm but also met incredible people who are also looking to challenge the status quo of what it means to farm sustainably. Sarahlee and the rest of the Rainshadow team are knowledgeable, community focused and always eager to adapt and improve their methods. This is a farm you go to if you are interested in working hard, learning how to grow food in a difficult climate and challenging yourself and your beliefs on where your food comes from. I highly recommend this opportunity to anyone who is interested in farming. — Jim Stinger, 2023 Apprentice
With a farm as dynamic and diverse as Rainshadow there are so many things you can learn about. Sarahlee and Natalie are a wealth of farming knowledge and are always willing to facilitate a deeper dive into aspects of the farm if apprentices are interested. Fun, funny, and kind, they were a pleasure to work with. Good vibes. — Amanda Mythen, 2023 Apprentice
“I came to Rainshadow with no farming experience and lots of enthusiasm, but I didn’t know where to start. Working and learning at Rainshadow gave me confidence and a broad range of skills that set me up for starting my own farm. Those skills include working on a team and independently, building compost, sowing seeds, cooking for large groups, and raising meat chickens from chick to bagged and sellable. With this solid foundation, I was able to find a niche in my current community and provide the people with more options for local food.” — Kyle McKnelly
“Living and learning at Rainshadow was my first experience into the world of organic farming. For me this experience opened my eyes to the general dysfunction and destruction of our modern day conventional food systems and revealed the importance of eating locally raised, nutrient dense food sourced directly from responsible small scale farmers. I didn’t realize it when I first signed up to go to Rainshadow but it falls into a very unique category of being a “full diet farm”. The unique systems at Rainshadow allowed me to explore small and large scale vegetable farming, animal husbandry, small scale grains, and how all of these systems can cohesively exist and build upon one another. Another benefit of seeing all of these production methods is that it allowed me to learn which areas of farming I particularly enjoy. Some specific skills that I learned while at the farm include: operating 2 wheel and 4 wheel tractors, milling grains with the stone burr flour mill, greenhouse construction, cooking from scratch for large groups of hungry farmers, seedling propagation, crop planning, and growing and storing crops to eat during the winter months. Learning at Rainshadow gave me a great base of knowledge that I have continued to add to as my wife and I now head into our second season of having our own small farm business. Looking back at the various cohorts of student farmers that have farmed at Rainshadow, I want to say there have been 2-3 students from each year who have gone on to start their own farming endeavors. If you are hoping to start your own farm someday Rainshadow is one of the best places that you can start out!” — Pearce Jensen, 2018-2020
“I recall the 1st time I read about Rainshadow Organics down in Texas. Seeing photos of the 25acre fields and greenhouses fueled the fire I needed to began my farm journey in Oregon. After speaking to Sarahlee, we both agreed Rainshadow provided all the tools I needed to learn how to grow crops and manage a thriving operating farm. Once arriving with a narrow minded outlook toward farming, Sarahlee and the Rainshadow team provided extensive information and teachings about farm to table concepts and managing a operational farm. The learning and hardwork Rainshadow provides builds character and gives future farms the exact training needed to one day operate their own farm. I love Rainshadow Organics.” — Christopher Fields
“I’ve been at Rainshadow for two full seasons. My first year I was an apprentice, and my second year I was a full-time employee. I know I can speak for the many people who have come to learn from Rainshadow, that this place and these people, this land and all forms of life who inhabit it – WILL change your life. It will change the way you think about food, the way you relate to the Earth and all of the beings you share it with, you will gain a lifetime’s worth of handy skills, you will fine tune your senses, you will tap into your power and your unique gifts, you will be inspired, and empowered. The educational experience provided at Rainshadow is unparalleled. It is deep and dirty, challenging and beautiful, and all around a great time. Thanks to my experience here, I am able to leave here with the tools necessary to start a farm of my own. Organic farming is the revolution we need in the world, and we need more people doing it. Sarahlee and the rest of the farm crew are incredible people, and incredible at what they do. Passion, drive, and stoke is what Rainshadow runs on, and best believe we pour that in our cups daily, with a lil bit of honey.” — Christine Boyle
“My wife and I were so grateful to have participated in the internship program at Rainshadow Organics for the 2018 farming season. Coming into the season with only home gardening experience, were excited to explore the processes of growing food and engage in the local farming community. Learning right away the challenges and hardships that are part of growing food on the high desert, we were gripped by the intensity of being part of the broad scope of farming practice that is Rainshadow Organics. As an intern, the opportunities to participate in all tasks from propagation, transplanting, harvesting, production and processing of food are placed in your hands from the beginning. Caring for the animals that are part of farm and ultimately the food chain is one of the most valuable aspects of this farm and we were to understand that they are animals and living beings and deserve to be treated as such. Sarahlee has a deep love and connection to the family land that she stewards and the experience that she has to teach and provide to the next generation of farmers is invaluable. The opportunity to be part of such a great team of farmers and interns provided a distinctly different experience than any other farm that we looked into. Interns were expected to challenge themselves and each other while learning what it meant to become stewards of the land and reap the rewards of providing for our communities. In the years since, we have not continued large scale farming, but continue to use the techniques and values that we learned at Rainshadow every day. We are better students, teachers, neighbors and farmers because of this experience. I would recommend this program and this farm to anyone that is serious about learning this aspect of life and challenging themselves mentally and physically. The rewards are great.” — Kevin & Katie (2018)
“As an apprentice at Rainshadow Organics I found the space to be curious again. I also learned to be comfortable being sore, but happy to be doing what I love. I met some of the most fascinating people in my life, and made friends that feel like family. Throughout the program I was challenged in many ways and I will always appreciate Sarahlee and her family for providing the opportunity to live and learn with them. The food they’re growing teems with diversity and I’m always excited to see how the farm is levelling up from season to season. I would highly recommend the apprenticeship program at Rainshadow to beginning farmers and those looking for a place to expand their agricultural proficiency!” — Nick Cremona
“Farming at Rainshadow has been one of the most profound experiences of my life, it has nurtured me to start a farm. Talk about exploring the multiverse of agriculture, this land offers to expand your learning on what it takes to operate a regenerative full-diet, farm-to-table, farm. This experience isn’t for the light hearted, you will work harder than you ever have before, mistakes will be made, you will feel very challenged, and the reward is an unimaginable amount of knowledge, empowerment, understanding of ones self, how to communicate, and be embraced by a big farm-family. I have gained the confidence and knowledge to start my own farm operation. I came to this land knowing very little about farming, but I had a strong ambition to learn what it takes to nurture the land to produce food for a community.. Learning from Sarahlee, I have been pushed hard and challenged, empowered, and given the safe space to ask anything, and find opportunities to make my ideas a reality. In fact Sarah will always encourage new farmers to explore their ideas, and find ways to help make them work. I am leaving this farm with more than I ever could have asked for and a family to be supported by.” — Adam Lavender