Do you want to learn how to grow and raise a variety of vegetables and livestock? Are you interested in learning more about CSAs? FortWhyte Farms is excited to offer a hands-on apprenticeship just for you!
About the Farm
FortWhyte Farms is located in Winnipeg, Manitoba – Treaty 1 Territory
FortWhyte Farms is a 20-year-old, award-winning social enterprise and working farm that bridges communities, creates learning and employment opportunities for youth, and grows healthy food for our community.
Over the years, it has evolved from small apiaries and aquaponics to a non-certified organic Market Garden and regenerative agriculture practices. They raise a small herd of KuneKune pigs, pastured heritage laying hens, and a warren of rabbits.
Their Market Garden supplies fresh produce for their CSA program, an on-site seasonal market, commercial kitchen, and summer employment program. They also sell to other organizations.
You can read more about Fort Whyte Farms along with their sustainability and community building initiatives here: https://www.fortwhyte.org/about/fortwhyte-farms/
About the apprenticeship:
This apprenticeship is a unique opportunity to try your hand at growing a diversity of crops, learning a wide variety of farm production techniques and raising animals.
During this apprenticeship you will learn everything involved in a vegetable market garden and CSA. In the spring there is greenhouse work with seedlings and field prep. Come summer there is planting and ongoing field maintenance, along with harvesting, washing and packaging of produce. You will also get to participate in the market and learn how their produce can be preserved.
Over the course of this apprenticeship you will also participate in the ongoing care and maintenance of livestock. You will learn how to raise livestock raise humanely and free from antibiotics, hormones, and animal by-products
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.
About the mentor:
Skills this farm has to teach:
There is a TON of diversity on this farm, so for an enthusiastic apprentice the possibilities for learning are nearly endless! See the list below to get a sense of some of the projects you would be helping with on FortWhyte Farms next season.
| Crop planning + Field PREP | hand tool + Equipment operation |
|---|---|
| MULTI-VARIETY VEGGIE Production | Animal Care/Maintenance & Health |
| assessing soil health | HaRVESTING/WASHING/PACKING |
| irrigation set-up/use | compost making/processing |
| greenhouse management | CROP STORAGE + PRESERVATION |
Skills Required of the Apprentices:
A willingness to learn and to try your best are the most important qualities the apprentice needs to have.
A valid full class 5 driver’s license is essential and access to a vehicle is helpful.
Housing, Wages, and Duration:
- No accommodations available. Apprentices are responsible for commuting to the farm daily.
- Wage is $18/hour. This farm is reliant upon a federal wage subsidy grant and can only hire an apprentice 30 years old and younger.
- As part of a larger organization, they aim to keep a Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. work week. While busy months may require occasional evenings and weekends, this schedule supports a healthy work-life balance for their staff.
- Duration: May – October 2025
About the Community and Land:
FortWhyte Farms is part of FortWhyte Alive, a 660-acre reclaimed urban green space in Winnipeg Manitoba. FortWhyte Alive is dedicated to providing programming, natural settings, and facilities for environmental education, outdoor recreation, and social enterprise. In so doing, FortWhyte promotes awareness and understanding of the natural world and actions leading to sustainable living.
FortWhyte Farms is located on Treaty 1 Territory, the traditional gathering place of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene people and the traditional homeland of the Métis people.
More Details about this Apprenticeship and How to Apply
Contact Sara Yagelniski – Manitoba Apprenticeship Coordinator for questions:
saray@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.