Stewards of Irreplaceable Land – SOIL – Canadian farm apprenticeship program

Get out of the city and experience rural farming

We’re in our twenty-second year linking Canadian farmers with young folks wanting to work and learn on an organic farm using sustainable practices. Our goals are to encourage the growth of sustainable agriculture, expose potential apprentices to a rural lifestyle offering valuable hands-on learning to acquire the basic skills or even provide the basis for an agricultural career and to assist the farmer with the necessary support required to successfully run their organic operation. The farmers and farm community can also benefit greatly from the influx of new ideas, energy and enthusiasm of apprentices.

Examples from Northern BC

Farm 1

We farm in the beautiful Bulkley Valley about 8 km from the town of Smithers. The farm consists of a one acre market garden with two greenhouses. We are in our third year of market gardening and are looking to expand the garden acreage. We also raise Highland cattle and Berkshire pigs. We sell produce at the local farmers market and directly from the farm. As the garden grows so will our marketing output perhaps leading to markets in neighbouring towns in addition to local restaurants. We farm on organic principles . The Bulkley Valley offers a range of outdoor activities including mountain biking on a myriad of local trails, hiking, mountaineering, canoeing and kayaking. In winter the area boasts a variety of winter sports. The Bulkley River is famed for its fishing. An apprentice will have a room in our log house and share meals with the family. A stipend of $350 will be offered.

Farm 2

Maude Island farm is what I would call an unintentional community. The Bateham-Dixon family of 5 is joined by many local people from Haida Gwaii who come out and stay with us and help out. In the summer we get many WWOOFers from all over the world who make our lives all the richer. We work hard in the garden and on new construction projects, but sunny afternoons are reserved for swimming at the beach. We encourage the apprentices to explore the area by kayak or hiking and will arrange days off so people can go camping. Take part in care of chickens, planting, cultivating, harvesting and prep of produce, composting, gathering seaweed, homesteading skills such as fish canning and smoking, breadmaking, butchering deer, hide tanning, woodchopping, wild food gathering etc. The apprentice will have a private cabin and share vegetarian and wild game meals with our family.

Visit their website here.