2 YEAR BIODYNAMIC APPRENTICESHIP IN YORKSHIRE, BEGINNING JAN 2016

"The two year Biodynamic Horticultural apprenticeship will be available at the Clervaux Trust (part of the Ruskin Mill Educational Trust) in Croft, North Yorkshire near Darlington from January 2016 subject to an informal interview and CRB/DBS check.

The apprentices are expected to work full-time Monday-Friday 8.30-16.30 with some occasional evening and weekend duties such as watering, opening/closing the polytunnels, feeding animals and to help out at our two open days a year. During the week you would be involved with everything that it takes to run a market garden whilst providing therapeutic care to adults with minor learning disabilities for certain session throughout the week.

Tasks involved on a day to basis are harvesting for a weekly veg box scheme and veg stall, wholesale for an organic farm shop and for our local artisan cafe and bakery in Darlington. Other tasks required are sowing, transplanting, weeding, watering, pruning, composting, fencing etc that vary with regard to the time of the year, some animal care such as feeding, watering, moving livestock to new fields as well as assisting in checking them over that includes numerous tasks throughout the year.

The garden is within a 100 acre biodynamic mixed farm that offers a number of craft activities such as green woodworking, pottery and felting and also includes livestock such as sheep, goats, pigs and chickens as well as grassland, woodland, the Clow beck and the river Tees.

As part of the apprenticeship, over the two years you would have to attend four week long courses held elsewhere at other biodynamic farms on plants, soil, animals and astronomy as well as two 2-3 week long winter courses held elsewhere. You are expected to make you own way to them and as they are dotted around the country require that you arrange your travel in advance of which costs are reimbursed and food and accommodation is provided whilst you are on the courses. The courses go some way in covering the portfolio units but on top of that you’re still expected to have to put in some study time of an evening and weekend in order to be able to complete the apprenticeship portfolio by the end of the two years."

Contact Roberto Romano for more information, at roberto.romano@clervaux.org.uk.

www.clervaux.org.uk

www.biodynamic.org.uk/training

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