Baby Goats Have Arrived!
Residential Opportunities with RDI
Join Our Residential Team - Commonweal Garden 6-Month Worktrade Program
If you would like to gain more hands-on permaculture experience, and immerse yourself in the daily routines of life on our Permaculture demonstration center in Bolinas, consider applying for our 2008 Worktrade Program at Commonweal Garden. We are looking for several enthusiastic and hard-working individuals who would like to deepen their hands-on experience in plant propagation, garden care, natural plasters & finishes, animal husbandry and more. We are also seeking individuals who have strong skills in construction.
These positions involve a wide scope of work - from planting in the garden, tending to our chickens and goats, making compost, seeding and plant propogation, construction projects, helping set up for on-site courses, pruning, beekeeping, working with volunteers, and more. Specific activities are dependent on the season, your prior experience, and special projects happening on the farm.
Worktrade participants live on-site in rustic campgrounds (housing will be finished in Fall 2008) and work 30 hours a week in exchange for fresh garden goodies, staple beans and grains, weekly training with our Garden Manager Matt Berry , and access to selected on-site programming.
Special projects for 2008 include: application of natural plasters and finishes to new construction, installing first phase of infrastructure for the Commonweal Healing Garden, installing integrative animal pens into the garden for our sheep and goats, various natural and traditional construction projects, installation of new propagation greenhouse.
Skills Needed
We are looking for hard-working people with a permacultural background and hands-on experience. Graduates of a Permaculture Design Course are preferred. Desirable hands-on skills include: gardening, tree work, animal husbandry, and construction/natural building. We are looking for individuals who have good communication skills and can bring a positive attitude to our garden and community. Ability and comfort working independently and within a community is a must.
In addition to hands-on learning during assigned projects with our staff, worktraders and interns will also have the opportunity to participate in selected on-site classes, including 4-Seasons Permaculture Design Course, Wildcrafting Series, and more.
Hourly Exchange:
30 hours/week
Housing & Food:
Work-traders and interns stay in private rustic campsites (housing available in Fall, 2008) with shared shower, kitchen, and bathroom facilities. Fresh organic produce from the garden is provided, as well as other staples like rice, beans, and oats.
Length of Stay:
6 months or more preferred. Shorter stays may be available under special circumstances.
Location:
The Worktrade Program is offered at our primary location, Commonweal Garden. Located within the Point Reyes National Seashore, our 20-acre ocean site offers gardens, ponds springs, orchards, pastures & trails leading into myriad coastal & mountain native plant and wildlife communities. Favorite local surf site is located in front of farm.
See a slide show of our worktrade program here!
Upcoming Dates:
The dates of our 2008 Commonweal Worktrade Program are as follows:
- April 1, 2008 – September 30, 2008
- October 1, 2008 – March 31, 2009 (excluding a 2-week holiday break in December)
For more details on our worktrade program, download our worktrade agreement here .
How to Apply:
Please prepare the following items IN ONE DOCUMENT and send via email to: info@regenerativedesign.org:
- a resume, including an outline of any relevant experience in permaculture, gardening, construction, natural building, irrigation, and animal husbandry
- one written page of why you are seeking this position and what you hope to get out of it
- dates of interest
- three references - at least 2 who which are work related (names, affiliation, and telephone #)
