Host Farm Info
Host Name:Brenda Callen
Farm description:Living Energy Farm is 127 acre off grid intentional community, organic farm, and appropriate technology development center in Louisa, Virginia. LEF is home to nine long-term residents and children. We are completely off the grid and use minimal fossil fuels. We grow most of our food, and operate an organic farm in seed production for income. Our mission is to demonstrate, and promote, technologies and lifestyles that are truly sustainable and accessible to everyone worldwide
Internship description:We are unique in that we are not looking for short term interns, but for someone interested in communal living for the longterm with a devotion to our mission of ecologically sustainable living. We want someone interested in apprenticing closely with our experienced seed grower to eventially manage or co-manage seed production.
Languages spoken on farm:Mostly English, with one person fluent in Spanish
As part of a shared effort to provide a safe and inclusive experience for all interns and host farms, including BIPOC AND LGBQTIA+ participants, please describe how you will foster a sense of community, safety, and acceptance on your farm:We foster a sense of community through our shared community meals, group community meetings, and our working together day to day . We strive for our community meetings to give people an opportunity to convey their concerns and figure out together how to build trust and respond adequately to the needs of each individual.
Would you be able to provide financial compensation for an intern? If so, what form would this be in?Interns would be joining our income sharing community where we decide on our budgets as a group, and individual stipends.
Would you be able to provide housing and amenities for an intern? If so, what form would this be in?Private room, and access to public spaces (living room, bathrooms, kitchen). All meals and snacks provided.
What are your general expectations for an intern?Interns would be living and working with us as they experience what it it like to live in an off grid farm community. Work weeks are 30 to 40 hours depending on the season and projects.
Are you able to provide educational on-farm training for an intern?On farm training is through an intensive apprenticeship. We are also interested in exploring with interns the possibility of their participating in the course.
Preferred start date(s):July/August 2022
Preferred length of internship:We are looking for a year's commitment to work towards considering long term membership. We would start with a three week provisional period.
