Organic Farming Apprentice

Worden Farm is a 55-acre family farm in Punta Gorda, Florida, raising certified-organic vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers, certified- transitional-organic oranges, and a small herd of grass-fed natural beef cattle. The farm is 8 miles east of the City of Punta Gorda, on the southern Gulf Coast of Florida. The farm is in an area of cattle ranches, orange groves, and pinelands. It neighbors the 79,000-acre Babcock/Webb wildlife management area, and is 1 mile from Shell Creek, a tributary of the Peace River. The area offers great beaches and nature-based recreation opportunities.

Worden Farm hosts apprentices during the Florida winter vegetable season, from September through June. The minimum stay is 2 months. Work schedule is 5 days per week. Preference is given to full-season applicants with professional interest in agriculture. Apprentices receive hands-on education in organic crop production and marketing. Training includes informal farm skill demonstrations and exposure to key components of farm management, such as organic certification protocols and farm record-keeping requirements.

Tasks include planting, greenhouse management, transplant production, irrigation projects, crop maintenance, harvesting, and direct-marketing through farmers markets and the CSA farm membership program.

Optional college credit for the apprenticeship is available through an educational partnership between Worden Farm and University of Florida. College credit can be earned at either undergraduate or graduate levels. All apprentices have access to the farm's sustainable agriculture reference library.

Monthly stipend is $500, with a paid vacation of 1 day per month worked. Housing is provided on the farm in air-conditioned cabins. Apprentices have a shared kitchen, and access to the produce from the farm fields for all meals. Smoking, drugs, or alcohol are not permitted.

To apply, please email a letter of interest and resume, with 3 references.