Are you an aspiring farmer looking to gain experience on not one but two farm businesses operating on the same beautiful land? Are you wanting to learn about vegetable AND herb production?! Lost Farm is offering an apprenticeship; join their team!
About the Farm
We are a small market garden nestled amidst remote wilderness of Northern BC. We are owned and operated by myself and my wife, Bethany Slaman. We have approximately 1 acre in cultivation sitting on a larger 70 acre parcel that is surrounded by forest, ridges, valleys, mountains and rivers. Located approximately 25 minutes driving from Smithers, BC, we operate a fresh vegetable business under the name Quality Harvests and an herb enterprise (culinary, medicinal, fresh, dried) under the name Wild West Herb Co.
We have been in operation for several years moving around the valley operating on leased land. We purchased our current property, named Lost Farm, in the Fall of 2023. 2024 was our first growing season at our new home, and we initiated the ongoing task of setting up the farm.
We follow organic practices and regenerative principles with an agroecological perspective. We believe intensive, sustainable food production is one of the best things we can do for ourselves, our communities, and our planet, and we are striving to make as much of a positive impact as we can.
In 2024 we had 2 full time employees, 1 part time employee, and a few occasional volunteers. We start seeding indoors in February, then begin ramping up in March. We start planing in the ground in caterpillar tunnels by April and begin planting outside by May. We begin selling at farmers markets in May (we do up to 3 markets each within an hour’s drive) and we have a CSA membership that runs from June-October. We also sell to a local store and some restaurants/fishing lodges.
About the Apprenticeship
Aside from the initial bed preparation, irrigation set up, and planting work that comes with spring, we soon begin maintaining and harvesting. The summer days are long here, and the season is short and intense. When we can spare the time we are always catching up on infrastructure to develop the farm (2025 plans include fencing and planting hedgerows in main walkways), starting exciting new projects, or swimming in the rivers and climbing mountains. September we receive our first frost and do our final plantings, and by October we are beginning to wrap things up and shut things down. November is the slowest month where we are drying and processing herbs and doing final shut down tasks.
About the Farm Mentors
Skills this farm has to teach
| vegetable and herb production | market gardening |
|---|---|
| garden + field prep | DIRECT MARKETING – csa/restaurants |
| compost tea + organic preparations | harvesting/washing/packing produce |
| Cover cropping | livestock integration |
| irrigation | observing biodiversity |
| building + growing in high tunnels | pastured poultry |
| trellising + pruning | Weeding using hands/hand tools/small machinery |
Housing, Wage and Duration
Basic, one-season accommodation available is on-site. A better equipped rustic/rural cabin rental available next door. Our full time staff from 2024 rented the cabin next door for the summer and they were very happy with it. The cabin is a 5 minute drive or 15 minute walk to our house.
Starting at $18/hr, but negotiable depending upon experience, and opportunity for wage increase throughout season based upon performance.
Start date would be late March or April and run until mid November.
Be sure to check out Lost Farm on the world wide web!
About the Community
Smithers, located in the Bulkley Valley, is about as good as it gets. You won’t find any major cities near here, but we do have all the essentials, including a movie theatre, bowling alley, and two breweries. Living in the North is about being surrounded by remote wilderness and beautiful nature. The seasons are dramatic, and wildlife abounds. The rivers teem with fish, and the mountains beckon. People stop to chat, and are happy for the community. The farm is located outside of town down a dirt road, and that means you are amongst the quiet peacefulness of rural BC. Farm animals entertain, nature’s rhythms set the pace, and there are plenty of trails, lakes, rivers, and mountains nearby. And if you’re looking for amenities or a social evening, Smithers is a stone’s throw away.
More Details about this Apprenticeship and How to Apply
Application deadline January 31, 2025.
Interested in an Apprenticeship but this isn’t quite the right one? Check out other Young Agrarians Apprenticeships being offered in 2025 here.