Farm #2
Primary production: Certified Organic Vegetables
This farm accepts couples
This farm is not able to accommodate children
This farm offers a stipend
Apprenticeship term: May to October
This farm has signed the SOIL Host Charter
Our farm is located on a remote island 20 minutes by boat from Queen Charlotte. The garden
overlooks a constantly changing seascape and is surrounded by lush, mossy evergreen forests. We have
kayaks, and enjoy swimming on the protected beach in front of the farm. The island is good for hiking with
plenty of eagles, ravens, hawks, seals, porpoise, deer, otters and other wildlife. The farm has a 3 acre
certified organic market garden and large greenhouse. We have been farming here since we cleared the
land in 1993. We enjoy eating the wild bounty from the land such as crab, salmon, halibut and venison,
nettles and mushrooms etc. and like to preserve food through canning and smoking as well. Our main
focus is the garden and greenhouse where we grow specialty greens, carrots, beets, potatoes, peas,
beans, garlic, tomatoes, cucumbers and squash which we sell at the farmer's market, CSA and local
restaurants and businesses. Apprentices share our home and meals with the family. There is a stipend
available.
Location: near Queen Charlotte, BC
Farm #3 [FULL FOR 23-24 SEASON]
Primary production: Mixed organic vegetables, fruit, seeds
This farm accepts couples
This farm is not able to accommodate children
This farm offers a wage
Apprenticeship term: April 1 to October 31
This farm has signed the SOIL Host Charter
We are located on unceded Kwantlen territory in the Fraser Valley, in a rural-area that is only 45 minutes to Vancouver BC. The farm is located on 20 acres that includes wild spaces, streams, forest, orchards and a grassy field called the "fun field", we cultivate 3.6 acres of this land to grow mixed vegetables, edible flowers, herbs and seeds. Our farmers have decades of farming experience as well as formal training in horticulture, small-farm operations, and leadership.
As a cooperative farm and cooperative farm community we value community, communication, and living with respect for the land - we are outdoorsy folks who like building/making/learning/sharing/growing together (although we also value solitude!) . Our cooperative farm has been in operation for 40 years and as farmer here you will learn every aspect of small-scale organic farming operations, with hands on experience following seeding/planting plans, nurturing plants from seed to harvest and preparing food for our customers (restaurant, CSA and market). Our small leadership team will work alongside you and provide regular check ins to help support you as a farmer.
Housing is located on the property, in small furnished cabin spaces with private entrances (heat/internet/basic cooking supplies included). There is a fully-stocked outdoor kitchen, outdoor private hot shower, composting toilets, wood fired sauna, and access to shared free laundry/wifi available. This is a community farm, so there are opportunities to eat/laugh/cook communally if you choose. We actively uphold the right of every individual within our community to be treated with dignity and respect - discrimination, harassment or bullying regarding race, sex, disability, gender, sexual orientation, beliefs, and socio-economic background is not welcome.
This is a paid work opportunity with two positions available starting at $18/hour with health benefits (after waiting period required by our provider).
Location: Langley
Farm #4
Primary production: berries, vegetables, flowers
This farm accepts (and prefers) couples
This farm might be able to accommodate children
This farm offers a stipend
Apprenticeship term: May to September
This small, mixed farm is located in the beautiful Nuxalk territory of the Bella Coola valley. Rivers, mountains, waterfalls, bears and salmon abound in this vibrant Great Bear Rainforest ecosystem. In the middle of this wilderness is a small valley that boasts fertile soils and a warm microclimate for growing most crops that can be cultivated in BC. We are just 20 minutes away from the ocean.
Our small family started this farm just 3 years ago so our operation is still small but we are growing a wide variety of vegetables, berries, flowers and other in a 1.5 acres field and in a large greenhouse.
One of us is a soil scientist who has taught agroecology and farming for the past decade, the other is a documentary filmmaker.
The apprentices will be farming with us; tending to crops, harvesting, going to market and will be living in a camperized school bus that we just finished fixing. It is very cozy and is completely independent with internet, electricity, kitchen, shower, etc.
Location: Bella Coola
Farm #5
Main Production: cherries, apricots, plums, peaches, apples, pears, grapes, onions, zucchini, cucumber, melons, basil, tomatoes, celeriac, cardoon, eggplant, hot peppers, winter squash
This farm accepts couples
This farm offers a stipend
Apprenticeship Term: April 1 to October 25, 2021
This farm has signed SOIL's host pledge
The farm is located in the semi-arid wilderness of the Fraser Canyon and is nourished by gravity-fed, pure mountain water and powered by the sun. I grow a diversity of vegetables and fruit for market and restaurants in Vancouver. In addition to basil, cucumbers, celeriac, cardoon, fennel, squash, eggplants, zucchini, peaches, cherries, plums, and apples, the farm specializes in growing over 30 varieties of heirloom tomatoes. Apprentices will have many different learning opportunities such as: orchard management, irrigation, off-grid living, food preservation, seed saving, garden planning, marketing strategies, and crop production. Apprentices will have their own cabins with cooking area and organic food staples are provided. There is a swimming pond on the farm and we are surrounded by hiking trails and the Fraser and Stein Rivers. A weekly stipend of $200 is provided.
Location: Lytton, BC. 260 km northeast of Vancouver 3 hr drive.
Farm #8
Main Production: Vegetables (very wide diversity), Cut flowers, Edible flowers, Culinary herbs, Tea herbs. Decorative corn and other curiosities
This farm accepts couples
This farm could accept children
This farm offers an hourly wage
Apprenticeship Term: Either May-Aug, or June to Sept.
We are a family of 3 (Jason, Krystyna and Maya), on a small-scale heritage farm, growing mixed vegetables, herbs, cut flowers and edible flowers on about 1.5 acres. We prepare beds at the beginning of the season with a BCS, but for the rest of the season we use a broadfork, a tilther, hoes and hand tools, and we protect our crops with row cover.
We are entering our 6th year of farming, second at this location, more ready than ever to have a bountiful season. We sell our produce and flowers at two Farmer's Markets in Vancouver (Riley Park on Saturdays and Mount Pleasant on Sundays) as part of a collective at our stall. We also run a CSA program (approximately 30-50 shares), from June to October and sell to restaurants as well as organizations that focus on feeding those in need.
Our methods of growing are sustainable and ecological, including reduced tillage and a focus on soil health. We followed an apprenticeship with an organic farm 7 years ago, so that is the only way we know to grow (but we are not currently certified).
We are looking for people who have an interest in growing organic food, but previous farm work is not necessary:
-must be able to work outside in any type of weather.
-ability to learn a variety of tasks, keep up with a fast pace and have an efficient mindset.
-clear communication and respect for everyone
-must have great teamwork skills, but also can work alone
- ability to lift minimum 30lbs, do repetitive tasks, work bending down /crouching /kneeling
- use various hand tools(knives, hoes, rakes, weedwacker, tilther, broadfork)
Location: North Surrey, close to bus routes
Farm #9
Primary products: Eggs, meat, wool, fresh produce
This farm accepts couples
This farm could accept children
This farm does not offer a stipend
Apprenticeship Term: May, end date flexible.
Immerse yourself in the beauty and power of the Cariboo, Heart centre of British Columbia. On a beautiful 515 acre Historic farm, known to the community for its history with gardening and known for its unique special micro climate (Our neighbours grow watermelon outside!) this land is home to an eagle family, many wildlife, creeks streams and ponds while also living directly along the Mighty Fraser River and is located 45 minutes from Williams Lake. The area has many hiking trails, lakes and river for fishing, and only an hour and a half away from the well known mountainous Barkerville Highway, that offers amazing hiking, skiing, gold rush town, mountains etc...
On a hot day, lets dip our toes in the creek or swim in the river, after having our hands in the enriching soil. Lets be barefoot in the garden while planting, seeding, weeding and watering, while sending our blessings for a fruitful harvest.
Lets work side by side to build a greenhouse and build fences so our animals can safely roam the land.
Lets walk through the land harvesting wild herbs for making teas, tinctures and salves. Learning plant identification. Lets spend evenings tieing our harvested wild prairie sage into smudge sticks and talk about culture, history, and better ways to work with the land.
Lets connect with community and show pride in what we do by selling our beautiful grown and harvested goods at the local farmers market.
Learn to operate a tractor, rotor tiller, and learn livestock husbandry for grass fed cows, sheep, and pasture poultry :)
There will be some hard days, and some easy days. This historic property has as old of fences as the history of the place, the farmland had been neglected for year and years and has to clean up to do, making it safe for animals to roam.
With my years of farming experience, as well as 2 year diploma in Sustainable Agriculture, I will do the best I can to help guide and teach a ambitious student :) I am always happy to answer questions, and if I don't know the answer, lets dig for the answer together.
Apprentice would have their own bedroom and bathroom in the basement of a large house.
Shared meals. In our home we eat whole food meals, mostly using what is self grown and harvested, we don't have unnatural sugar of sweeteners in the house, and mostly cook gluten free. and are happy to cook vegetarian if that is desired. :)
We have wifi and are also in cell service.
Location: Between Quesnel and Williams Lake
Farm #10
Primary products: Vegetables, microgreens, edible & cut flowers
This farm accepts couples
This farm is not able to accommodate children
This farm may offer a stipend
Apprenticeship starts: February
Apprenticeship ends: end of December
Historically, we were a high end hospitality destination with an onsite farm to table restaurant. While we do still host retreats on site, the farm to table project was such a hit that it has shifted the focus of the property and we have recently become the first year-round organic production farm in the area!
There is no shortage of learning opportunities here. With both our soil and water based systems we have a wide variety of indoor growing spaces and we are continuously learning what is possible - think harvesting tomatoes and greens throughout the winter in a greenhouse that is heated geothermally through the ground water! We are continuously stretching the boundary of what growing organic food looks like and finding the most energy efficient ways to do it. We have just recently (last summer) integrated chickens into our project and are looking forward to their contribution to our beautiful ecosystem.
For recreation, we are situated within a 10 minute drive (20-30 minute bike ride) to some of the most amazing lakes for paddling or swimming in the summer . Also close for viewing the incredible Brandywine waterfall in the sea to sky corridor OR get to some incredible climbing/hiking destinations-- it is possible to bike a short distance on the highway and connect on the popular Sea to Sky Trail that connects from Squamish all the way to Pemberton!
During the winter, we can get quite a lot of snow, So we do recommend a vehicle as we are 15 minutes from some of the most iconic skiing known to man kind, whether that be alpine skiing/snowboarding on Whistler Mountain, or cross country skiing in the Callaghan Valley. We also have a Sauna and cold plunge perfect for those cold winter nights.
Our location is pretty isolated from the nearby communities that border us (by car we are 30 minutes north of Squamish & 15 south of Whistler Creekside) however there are seven others living and working on site — all with our own unique set of skills and interests. We all reside in our own beautiful staff housing, which provides a good amount of independence and private space. That being said we do get together for team meetings and community dinners on a regular basis and it is important that everyone here is on the same page and that we are all working towards the same goals
Previously we operated on a $100/week stipend for our volunteers, and basic kitchen ingredients. Housing will likely be shared with other volunteers. Sauna/Gym use is free to use at your leisure and of course complimentary garden goods from the farm
Location: Whistler
Farm #13
Primary products: vegetables, fruit, cafe on farm
This farm accepts couples.
This farm may be able to accommodate children.
This farm may offer a stipend.
Apprenticeship term: May to September
This farm has signed SOIL's host charter
There are three pillars that we live by on our farm. First is our commitment to our values; we regularly evaluate and improve our operations to ensure that we carry them out ethically, naturally, and sustainably. The second is to growth; we challenge ourselves to improve and set goals for excellence year after year. The third is to create a positive work environment; we take pride in listening to our team, supporting them, and leading by example in how we treat others.
One of the distinguishing features of our farm is our open-air on-farm casual fine dining restaurant. This relationship means that we get to collaborate with accomplished chefs as well as grow an incredible variety of crops throughout the season. We supply our crops to the restaurant as well as a school lunch program.
Because our farm is only 4 years old and our restaurant only 2, our internship not only comes with learning opportunities, but opportunities for input and experimentation as well. We have a room in our home as well as a 30’ trailer for accommodations. Staff dinners are prepared by our chefs and employees and interns are entitled to a 40% discount at the restaurant.
The work is tremendous, but the rewards even greater. We ask a lot of our team, but also appreciate their work immensely. We believe we are on the leading edge of an exciting movement within the agricultural sector and see our farm/restaurant design as something that could help improve issues around food security, climate change, and nutrition.
Location: Maple Ridge
Farm #16
Primary Products: organic fruit and vegetables
This farm accepts couples
This farm could consider hosting an apprentice with a child or children
This farm offers a stipend
Apprenticeship starts: April
Apprenticeship ends: end of October
This farm has signed SOIL's host charter.
Ron and Erin have been farming organically since 1984. Together with our family, have a lot of experience that we would love to pass on to learning farmers. We live in a beautiful, clean mountain environment, surrounded by crown land , and the traditional land of the Nla’kapamux people. We live simply, off grid. We use out houses, and have an outdoor shower. Each cabin has a solar panel to provide basic needs. There is wifi available. We sell our produce at the Vancouver farmers markets.
We grow about 7 acres of vegetables, and we have a couple acres of fruit trees. We specialize in open pollinated varieties, and heirloom varieties. Apprentices will work from April until the end of October for room and board, and a stipend of $250.00 per week. Cabins and cooking facilities are provided. There is a pond on the land, and a river with a beach. There are wonderful hiking trails nearby. Apprentices need to be committed to wanting to learn and work hard. We are a family farm, and there will be lots of fun interactions as we work together.
Location: close to Lytton.
Young Agrarians Apprenticeship Program
Are you an aspiring farmer looking to gain skills and knowledge that match the ecological and regenerative values you hold? Are you feeling the farming bug, but not quite ready to take the plunge and launch your own business? Young Agrarians and our network of exceptional mentor farmers are now offering advanced, hands-on farm apprenticeships in regenerative agriculture. Participants with a serious interest, curiosity and commitment to full-time farming are invited to apply.
Our apprenticeships are a full immersion program that puts you into the heart of running a farm business, day in and day out. Our carefully selected family of farm mentors have diverse expertise and skill sets – their farm philosophy is guided by a holistic framework that recognizes the connectedness of the land and people. Although farm activities will be different on each farm, the core activities will involve care of soil, pasture and livestock, farm direct marketing, and using sustainable practices for cereal, grain, and vegetable production.
As part of the program, you will also visit other farms that are hosting apprenticeships. This gives you the opportunity to learn from other ecological farmers and make connections with other apprentices in the program. Learn more about the Young Agrarians Apprenticeship program and apply here. Host farms will conduct video or phone interviews with select applicants. Confirmation of successful applicants will be in late February/early March. Apprentice start dates vary by farm; however, are generally in April or May.
Compensation: Room, board, and wage/stipend packages vary from farm to farm. Housing is safe, secure and the internet is available on each farm. Enjoy access to farm fresh food and some shared meals.
Listen to what former apprentices have to say about their farming experience with YA!
Application deadline: Jan 31