Are you an aspiring farmer looking for a mixed farm with livestock diversity and veggies on the prairies to gain more skills, knowledge and experience? Farm One Forty in Saskatchewan is offering an apprenticeship just for you! APPRENTICE POSITION OPEN
ABOUT FARM ONE FORTY
Farm One Forty is located near Vanscoy, Saskatchewan within Treaty 6 Territory.
Arlie Laroche and her husband, Brett grew up on conventional farms, where they gained extensive knowledge about farming. As young adults they began learning about regenerative agriculture and permaculture and wanted to implement those aspects into their own farm. Their goal is health and diversity in soils, animals and humans.
They raise pastured pork, grass fed beef and lamb (and some years chickens) as well as garden veggies, some fruits, and honey bees.
They do planned grazing with their sheep and cows together in summer and in the winter they bale graze. The pigs are in a pasture rotation system as well. In the veggie gardens they have hugelkulture beds and wicking beds and harvest rainwater. They use mulched paths and compost. There is some grain production as well andthey practice no-till, cover cropping and cocktail mix plantings.
Another goal at Farm One Forty is to help reconnect urban people to where their food comes from and give them a connection to a working farm. To achieve this, the farm regularly hosts public farm tours, sleigh rides, kids farm camp, and fully catered on-farm meals in partnership with their Saskatoon restaurant, Odla.
Arlie and Brett have two children (ages 9 and 11), Brett works full time in the city as a civil engineer. Arlie has farmed full time since about 2013.
About the apprenticeship:
The participant is to assist with a wide variety of livestock and vegetable production tasks. These include animal care tasks like feeding, watering, cleaning shelters, moving portable fencing and loading/sorting animals. As well as gardening tasks like soil preparation, planting, harvesting and processing vegetables. The applicant will also assist with infrastructure projects like setting up irrigation, compost systems, and other small construction projects. There will be opportunities to meet and interact with customers at various events on the farm and in the farmer owned restaurant including farm tours, volunteer days, and “meet your farmer” events. There will also be opportunities to help out with the kids camps.
As part of the apprenticeship, you will meet with other apprentices across Saskatchewan who are part of the Young Agrarians Apprenticeship program. Field days, learning opportunities and potlucks will be planned with this group at each host’s farm.
About the farm mentors
Arlie Laroche is the owner that is present day-to-day and the apprentice would work with her doing all animals related tasks and small construction projects. There will be another 1-2 staff that the apprentice will work alongside during the internship
Skills this farm has to teach:
The following skills are being offered by this farm. While you’ll get exposure to many of these areas, it is likely that not all will be covered. Apprentices will work to identify the skills they want to develop through a learning plan with the host farm.
| Garden management | ROTATIONAL GRAZING |
|---|---|
| watering and feeding animals | Grass fed cattle |
| building / repairing / infastructure | pasture raised pigs |
| seeding / weeding / harvesting vegetables | direct marketing |
| farm to restaraunt relations | Grass fed sheep |
Skill required of the apprentice
-Some experience working with animals and driving a regular vehicle is a must. Driving tractors, quads, etc. would be considered an asset but is not required.
-Most importantly, the successful candidate will have a willingness to learn and be a critical thinker with common sense, highly motivate, and passionate about regenerative ag.
-Good social skills and communication are key as well. If the apprentice is interested there is opportunity to help out with workshops and farm tours.
-Being flexible and able to switch gears regularly, sometimes midway through a task as occasionally things pop up that demand immediate attention.
-Ages 18-30 an asset because this position is subsidized by a grant that requires it.
-The apprentice will need to bring good work boots, gloves and work clothes.
Housing, Stipend and Duration
*Farm One Forty will prioritize someone living in Saskatoon for the position as the farm is only 20 minutes from the city.
(someone with their own accommodations and vehicle).
*Housing MIGHT be available – to be determined in interview.
* They will pay $14/hour and the position is 8 hr/day, 5 days/week.
* The apprentice will have two days off per week. If they wish to take additional days off, they can likely work that in as long as it is communicated ahead of time.
*The apprenticeship is from May 1st to September/October 2022
(start and end dates are flexible)
About the Community and Land
Farm One Forty is very close to the small town of Vanscoy, Saskatchewan. Sometimes there are community events held there but it is mostly a bedroom community to Saskatoon. The farm is only about 15 minutes away from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where (under normal circumstances) there is a wide variety of festivals and events that go on all summer long. Saskatoon has a vibrant music and culinary scene. Farm One Forty has built a nice community around the farm events and products and they also co-own the restaurant, Odla in Saskatoon that has a strong community and following as well.
“This farm is located in Treaty 6 territory which is the homeland of the Metis. This area has a deep history. I would like to acknowledge all those who walked these lands before me, beginning with the herds of wild buffalo that once roamed here, and the many nomadic peoples that followed them across the prairies. The land where this farm sits today likely holds the footprints of many indigenous tribes. These may include the Atsina (Gros Ventre), Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Nakota (Assiniboine), Nakawē (Salteaux), Lakota (Sioux), and the Cree. It is difficult to know for sure because these groups were careful not to leave a trail, and never to take too much. As a white settler-descendant, I am grateful to all of the original caretakers of the grasslands. I recognize the hardship First Nations suffer today as a direct result of the loss of land and livelihood that occurred during colonization, and I pledge to work towards indigenous reconciliation in every way that I can.”
-Arlie Larouche
Young Agrarians recognizes the unresolved Indigenous land title and rights in the diverse territories in what is today called Canada. As we live and work in the context of and in response to a colonial system of laws and policies, it is important to acknowledge the historical and ongoing impact of agriculture and land enclosure on Indigenous lands and food systems. In this context, we acknowledge our collective responsibility to position Indigenous Peoples and their experiences with coloniality, in a narrative of reconciliation that places ecology, land stewardship, and Indigenous land title and rights at the forefront – if we are to sustain the Earth’s ecosystems in today’s rapidly changing climate.
Our deepest hope is that the future of our food systems is diverse, interconnected, and resilient, embraces people of all walks of life and sustains the water, plants, and creatures in ways that benefit and work alongside Indigenous Peoples and narratives and ways of knowing and caring for the land.
This farm, like many others, is surrounded by agricultural cultivated land, uncultivated land, Indigenous people and voices from non-settler walks of life. We encourage everyone to build relationship with the land and community that surrounds the place where you will be learning.
More Details about this Apprenticeship and How to Apply
Deadline to apply – January 31st, 2022
Interested in an Apprenticeship but this isn’t quite the right one? Check out other Young Agrarians Apprenticeships being offered in 2022 here.