Filter by Popular CategoriesAre you an aspiring ecological farmer who wants hands on experience working the land and living in community? Springer Family Farm in Foam Lake , Saskatchewan might be the place for you!
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About the Farm
Kris Springer and his wife, Jay, operate a mixed grain and cattle farm where biodiversity is central to everything they do. The Springer family focuses on growing a diverse combination of cash crops, cover crops for grazing, and feed crops to support both soil health and livestock production.
Kris incorporates strategic crop rotations along with vermi-extract, compost tea, and the use of leafcutter bees to enhance soil biology and pollination. Their cattle are managed through rotational grazing, ensuring adequate rest periods for pastures and maintaining sufficient biomass to continually feed soil microorganisms.
To extend the growing season and support year-round soil cover, the Springers also integrate biennials into their system. Altogether, their approach builds resilience, promotes ecological function, and strengthens the long-term sustainability of their farm.
The farm runs 200+ plus head of cow-calf and yearling heifer enterprise. June has the release of leafcutter bees. There is an alfalfa seed enterprise, intercrops, making vermicast extracts and teas to apply to seed and cash crops. The farm houses a moderate size worm farm to expand in the future. Springer farm sap tests their crops to identify any nutrition issues and shortfalls. Cover crops diversity and added biology are used to reduce the use and reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
This farm is located on Treaty 4 territory and the traditional and ancestral lands of the cultures, languages, and People from Cree, Ojibwe, Saulteaux, Dakota, Nakota, Lakota, and Métis roots. These communities have a deep relationship with this land based on, among other things, a spiritual connection and subsistence extending back thousands of years.
Website:
Our Workplace Culture
These are perks that come with the job:
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About the Farmers
Kris and his wife Jay moved to Foam Lake from Alberta to farm in the community they grew up in and raise their kids. They have 3 children that work and live away from the farm. They are invested in building their local community and encouraging regenerative farming.
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About the Apprenticeship
Summer work hours start at 8 am and end around 6 pm. In seeding and harvest, apprentices will work later and earlier, but the farm values the need to stop the work.
The apprentice will be learning what it involves to rotationally graze with electric fencing, running equipment, and how to implement the soil health principles with growing crops, seeds, and forage.
They are going to have four significant experiments on the farm this year
- Brewing an amino acid foliar and soil-applied amendment
- Strip tilling cash crop, forage, and bi-annual species into old pasture using different pre-seeding impacts
- Using an alfalfa pellet to replace the starter fertilizer and add carbon to the seed row
- Use our water supply line to water a pasture after a short duration graze with reduced rest time(30 days0).The ideal duration of employment is The apprenticeships run from April –
- November. Dates are flexible for students.
The job requirements are
- Class 5 Valid Drivers License & Vehicle
- Springer family farm is looking for apprentices with the desire, curiosity, and passion to learn, think creatively, be self-motivated
- Learn hands-on regenerative farming
- Basic quad and tractor-driving skills are an asset
- Apprentices must have attire for work on a farm
Apprentices are willing to learn these skills:
- Observing biodiversity
- Assessing soil heath using soil testing,Assessing soil health in the field,Techniques to encourage plant diversity,Techniques to minimize tillage,Techniques to integrate cropping & livestock
- Safety around animals,Moving animals in a field,Feeding & watering
- Crop planning & rotations
- Compost tea making & application
Compensation
Minimum Wage – 18$ and hour depending on expereince
About the Community
Foam Lake 12 miles away has 1200 people and there are stores to serve the community, groceries, hardware etc. Yorkton a bigger center is 1 hour away. Fishing lake park has great beaches and good fishing. We are a part of a holistic management group that meets monthly.
19 km to Faomlake
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Accommodation
Accommodations: yes
Accommodation details: Housing – TBD. Housing will be off-site
The apprentice is responsible for their own meals and lunches
Accommodations shared with other employees/apprentices: yes
Access to a full bathroom with running water: yes
Type of dwelling: Four seasons
Accommodation checklist:
- Furnished,Running water (potable),Shared bathroom,Bath,Shared Laundry,Shared kitchen
Pets permitted: no
Guests permitted: yes
Rent: To be Determined
Accommodation Agreement: no
Other information:
We look forward to seeing you all!