Company description

Job description

Learn to Farm With Us
How do you practice Adaptive Agriculture? You start by educating yourself on cutting edge practices, by questioning conventions, by equipping yourself with the skills to flex, adapt, and adjust to changing conditions and contexts.

At the School of Adaptive Agriculture, students are immersed in a residential training program and are exposed to a broad spectrum of scales, styles, strategies, and skills. This 12 week program combines experiential learning on a 5,000 acre diverse ranch with classroom based learning in order to send students off with a comprehensive vocabulary, skill set, and understanding of the foundations of small scale agriculture. Over 25 field trips and 12 guest instructors participate in this unique learning experience, giving students a well-rounded education that helps launch them into their career in the food system.

• Thinks holistically

• Sees the importance of thoughtful questions

• Is innovative, driven, and collaborative

• Wants to be part of the new face of agriculture and help transform our world for the better.

This program is for adults who have decided to enter the food system. They may not know what their role will be yet. But they want to be among the million new farmers, ranchers, and small businesses leaders this country needs in order to transform agriculture through creative, sustainable and profitable enterprises.

The School of Adaptive Agriculture is part of the movement to make that happen. This is a unique, residential intensive program where students get true hands-on experience with vegetable, grain, fruit, and livestock production. Students spend extensive time in the field, attending lectures and discussion, readings and field trips so that students are exposed to a wide range of scales, forms of production, theories, and vocabulary. Students are given a broad spectrum of agricultural learning that equips them with the background, vocabulary and context for the next steps in their agricultural careers. They will also leave with hands-on practical experience and a framework for creative decision making and communication skills.

Students can choose to enroll for a second term to pursue a 'capstone' project. This program connects students to a specific focus area or mentor where they learn about a specific area of interest. Capstone students set learning objectives and then work with their mentor to build a strategic plan. The plan may include guided mentorship on a local farm or ranch, self guided research, or interning with a local business. Each Capstone project comes in increments of three month terms, with guidance from staff on campus and a network of mentors. Housing may be provided on campus or could take place on the farm or ranch where the student is learning. Post graduate opportunities on the ranch are also available for students seeking to apply their learning in an incubator entrepreneur program. A local network of landowners and business owners are also at the fingertips of graduates seeking other possible opportunities.


The total cost of the 12 week program is $4,000. Students receive food, housing, and a high quality, comprehensive education during the Practicum Program. They are expected to be engaged in classroom activities as well as farm chores. Scholarships are available to help students meet their financial obligation.

• Tuition is $2,500

• Room and board fees $1,500

The school is unique in all that it has to offer. Based on a historic ranch in rural Mendocino County, the school campus includes a 1920s school house, library, outdoor kitchen, bathhouse, dining area, composting toilet, and workshop.

• Students live in private 10X12” canvas wall tents equipped with solar power and fully furnished.

• Two showers with hot water are available after a long day working and learning, in addition to onsite laundry facilities.

• 5 days a week students cook meals together in an outdoor kitchen stocked with staples and farm fresh produce, meat and eggs (provided by the school).

• Despite the rustic setting, wifi is available on the main campus 24/7

Application instructions

Deadline

February 02, 2018