Organic Apple Orchard Apprenticeship in Maine

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Apple Acres Farm is an organic apple orchard and agrotourism business in southern Maine. We are seeking two enthusiastic apprentices to assist us in our work during the 2019 season between May and November. We also run one of the largest music festivals in the North East, now in its 21st year, which receives around 8,000 attendees. Apprentices will get to work at both businesses, and will acquire knowledge and skills in farming, event planning, customer service, and business management. We also host 3-5 weddings each year. 

Our season is broken into segments, with May-June being a lot of outdoors farming work, July mostly being focused on the music festival, August through October being focused on customer service while the farm store and cafe is open, and November being focused on cleanup and putting the orchards to bed for the winter. While day to day you will do the same or similar things for many days in a row, overall the six month term will provide a very diverse experience. You will also receive a day each month to work on an independent project (Previous projects have included researching food deserts in Maine, hosting a Cambodian dessert tasting, and creating a podcast, among others). Apprentices also receive reading materials and handouts, and attend farm workshops through the Maine Organic Farmers Association. There is a community of farms and apprentices you will meet, and you will do work days on other types of farms as well. 

Organic Apple Orchard Apprenticeship Details

Apprentices receive housing, a weekly CSA veggie and egg box, and $200/week. Because most of your expenses are covered the typical apprentice is able to save 75% of their income while living on the farm, and is able to earn tips at the music festival while bartending, and at the farm store during the season. We are LGBTQ+ friendly and generally very open and friendly, we work as a team and expect apprentices to take on emotional ownership of the farm and do the work as though it was their own business.