Have you been dreaming of calling a field of flowers your workplace? Are you interested in floral horticulture, fuzzy alpacas and creating joy-filled farm experiences for your community? Blooms on 7 is excited to offer a hands-on apprenticeship opportunity just for you!
About the Farm and the Mentors
Blooms on 7 is located just south of Sherwood Park, Alberta (15 minute drive, east of Edmonton) – Treaty 6 Territory
Blooms on 7 Flower Farm was started by Brianna Sims in the spring of 2021. Like many of us, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brianna began to consider her vision for her own future, her family’s future and her passion for growing. Having recently welcomed their daughter Margo into their family, Brianna and her husband Tim knew they wanted to raise their children on a farm because growing up in the country had been formative to
their own experiences. Brianna jumped into farming with both feet despite not having any formal horticultural experience other than an online flower farming course and a love of growing veggies for her family. She started the farm with the intention of selling
wholesale cut flowers to local florists but quickly found that the demand for that was limited. What wasn’t limited was the public’s interest in experiencing a cut flower farm! By August of 2021 Blooms on 7 was offering a u-pick and workshops and had moved from a wholesale to retail model. Further farm revelations and refinements were made in 2023, when Blooms on 7 was mentored by Farmer Tam of Prairie Gardens in the Young Agrarians Business Mentorship Network. You can read about their experiences in that program HERE!Today, Blooms on 7 is the only flower farm in Western Canada to grow over 200 varieties of cut flowers and offer small-group alpaca experiences!
Brianna and Tim are not alone in this adventure. The farm wouldn’t be what it is without Louise (mum) and her alpacas, Ashley (sister) and her love of design/leading workshops, and Sarah (youngest sister), an expert pumpkin grower! Margo is also not alone – she became big sister to Charlie in 2022. Their farm is truly family run. Each brings a different perspective and skill set to the table and the most rewarding part of this adventure has been strengthening their relationships with each other, the land, and their
community. Going into year 5, they are looking to expand our season by growing more cut flowers under cover, offering more workshops/on farm experiences, and continuing to provide fantastic u-pick experience. While the farm has grown significantly since 2021, they stay close to their vision: connecting with the land, connecting with our community, and bringing joy into peoples’ lives with sustainably grown local flowers.
To find out more about Blooms on 7 please visit https://www.bloomson7.ca/ or @blooms_on_7
About the Apprenticeship
As part of the apprenticeship, you will meet with other apprentices across BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba who are part of the Young Agrarians Apprenticeship program. Field days, learning opportunities and potlucks will be planned with the Manitoba group at each host’s farm. You will also be invited to attend a regenerative or organic food conference during or following the apprenticeship.
Skills this farm has to teach:
The following skills are being offered by this farm. Apprentices will work to identify the skills they want to develop to a learning plan with the host farm.
| Crop planning + Field PREP | hand tool + Equipment operation |
|---|---|
| MULTI-VARIETY Flower Production | Animal health and handling |
| assessing soil health & Fertility | FiBre Processing |
| irrigation set-up/use | compost making/processing |
| Agritourism & Public Education | Harvest to Market |
Skills Required of the Apprentice
A willingness to learn!
Physically fit and able to work in adverse weather conditions.
A valid full Class 5 driver’s license is essential and access to a vehicle is helpful.
This farm is unable to host international apprentices.
Housing, Wages, and Duration
The apprentice will be responsible for finding their own accommodation, as the farm is commutable from the city of Edmonton, AB.
Hourly wage of $17.00/hr to start.
The ideal duration of the apprenticeship is from April to November.
About the Community and Land
More Details about this Apprenticeship and How to Apply
Applications due: January 31st, 2025
Contact Steve Olsen – Alberta Apprenticeship Coordinator for questions:
steven@youngagrarians.org
Interested in an Apprenticeship but this isn’t quite the right one? Check out other Young Agrarians Apprenticeships being offered in 2025 here.