2010 Internship Application Form – Ahualoa Tea & Egg Farm

Farm Owner: Ben Discoe and Deb Pun Discoe
Farm Address: 46-4091 Old Mamalahoa Hwy, Honokaa HI 96727
Farm blog: http://washedashore.com/eggsntea/
Farm email: ben@vterrain.org or debpun@gmail.com
Skype names: bdiscoe or deb.pun..discoe

Farm Description:

We are looking to host one intern or two interns as a couple (long-term partners, married couples). We’re looking for 30 hours a week and prefer you to have some previous experience with agriculture (farming or gardening).

We are a 2.3 acre family farm at 2,500 feet (760 meters) elevation (cool nights, warm days). Since 2005, our farm serves as an education model for adults and children in Hawaii. We have tea (Camellia sinensis), small flock of egg-laying hens and vegetable gardens for our meals. We are vigorously working towards self-sufficiency and real sustainability, using minimal inputs and biochar.

We are a two-family non-smoking household: one husband and wife in their late 30’s who are the primary farm owners and both parents-in-law who are gardeners and yoga gurus in their mid-60s. We live in a close-knit community of neighbors who are kind and supportive of what we do. We also give back to the community by actively volunteering at school gardens, volunteering at local libraries, teaching origami and raising awareness for backyard food gardens.

Besides tea, some vegetables we grow include greens (kale, broccoli, cabbage, Asian greens), carrots, 4 kinds of potatoes, Chinese dryland taro, 3 kinds of sweet potatoes, eggplant, stringbean, beets, asparagus, citrus (orange, tangelos), avocado, yacon, green beans, tomatoes, peppers, corn and soybeans in the summer.

Internship duties:

You will be involved in all aspects of the farm and be able to work independently.

Tasks include a lot of weeding, harvesting, tending compost, planting and processing tea, gathering wood, clearing brush, etc. It’s an opportunity to learn sustainable practices hands-on.

We expect you to be self-motivated, self-directed, respectful, communicative and genuine. We know that a highly motivated unskilled worker is more valuable than a highly skilled un-motivated worker.

Work Schedule:

You will be expected to work 30 hours/week.  Generally, this is 6 hours per day, 5 days per week.  We are flexible on time, for example if it is raining.

Typical schedule: 8:30a-breakfast, 9a-12noon-farmwork, 12-lunch, 1-4p-farmwork, 6pm-dinner

  1. Should enjoy physical work and being outside all day (rain, shine, bugs, heat, cold-you get the picture)
  2. Ability to do physical work for a sustained period of time.
  3. Ability to hustle. Manage time well.
  4. Self-motivated learner. Asks whole questions.
  5. Common sense and safety skills
  6. Positive attitude
  7. A good back and general good health.
  8. The ability to take responsibility and be accountable-gets things done.
  9. Enthusiastic and involved
  10. Ability to make and keep commitments

Compensation:

You will receive on-site room and board, and the sustainable-agriculture education that goes along with the work.

Room and Board – Living in Community:

Living space is provided for 7 days a week – an unfurnished garage which includes electricity. It’s a sheltered place to pitch a tent to define your personal space / privacy. We provide the tent, high-speed internet, outdoor hot shower, small refrigerator, washer, dryer and electricity. There are yoga classes and a wood-fired sauna available every week, and opportunities to get a ride from the farm to Waimea town three times a week.

Meals:

The household could be called flexitarian / localvore. We have eggs and lots of veggies. Vegans / veggies are WELCOME to intern here, we can provide extra ingredients within a reasonable request (like soymilk, tofu, margarine, etc.) and you are welcome to use the kitchen.

Monday through Sunday: dinner can be eaten together with our family and we do the cooking. You are expected to clean up and wash dishes twice per week after supper. You can use the kitchen to make your own food. Our family washer and dryer (and clothesline), shower, etc. are available for you to use as well throughout the week.

* Required Fields

Your Full Name: *
 If you are a couple, give your partner's name here: 
then have them fill out and submit this form separately.
Age: *(Must be 18 years old at time of application)
Mailing Address:
City, State, ZIP:
Country: *
Home Phone: Mobile Phone:
Email: * Skype:

In case of emergency, Contact Name:
Relationship to you:
Mailing Address:
City, State, ZIP:
Country:
Home Phone: Mobile Phone:

  1. Please indicate your preferred internship start and end dates. We recommend at least one month commitment because of the training and setup involved.
    Preferred Start Date: *
    Preferred End Date:
  1. Please indicate which dates you are unavailable during the internship period (e.g. weddings, vacations)
  1. Why are you applying for this internship and what do you hope to get out of it? *
  1. Please describe your farming or agribusiness experience. *
  1. Please describe your educational background including what training or coursework you have completed that may relate to the internship you are applying for.
  1. Interns are expected to be able to complete field work typical to farming operations including standing for long periods of time, significant physical exertion related to weeding, pruning, and harvesting, lifting 50 lbs, and other manual tasks. Do you have any limitations that would affect your ability to perform such work? If so, please describe.
  1. Please provide contact information for three people that can comment on your work ethic, responsibility, willingness to learn, and integrity. The people should be former employers, teachers, co-workers, etc.