Permaculture Farm Internship
What to expect
Santa Cruz Permaculture supports a thriving, just, and sustainable world through courses, consulting, and farming.
About the Farm
We steward a 26 acre organic and regenerative farm 20 minutes north of Santa Cruz on the coast. We’re headed into our second CSA season and will be expanding 5-10 acres of vegetables, fruit, and flowers, an extensive permaculture food forest, watershed management, natural building, and more.
About the Work
Interns can join our crew Thursdays and/or Fridays between 8am and 4pm (you choose a 6.5 hour period for a 2-unit internship), with a break for a half hour lunch.
Our internship days are a fun and communal day of learning by doing. Please note that this is not a class but rather an opportunity to volunteer on a working production farm. You will gain a lot of experience and know-how and work all day with a team of other interns and staff to learn how to farm. Our main task in the spring is planting, weed management, and setting up irrigation, in summer and fall it’s the same plus harvesting, and in winter it’s all about pruning.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Farm
The Santa Cruz Permaculture Farm is new to this beautiful 26 acres and our growing methods will evolve as we transition soil that was cultivated organically, but traditionally, to a no-till, biologically complex ecosystem. Heading into our first full growing season, we’ll use organic methods of pest control, while beginning to integrate compost, worm castings, cover crops, and beneficials to regenerate the soil, increase resilience, and build biodiversity. We welcome CSA members for a farm tour to learn more!
Our farm hosts many events, including dinners, potlucks, internships, classes & more. CSA members will be invited to a tour at a pre-season event and will continue to have many opportunities to join us throughout the year.