The two apprenticeships will run from the beginning of April  to November 1. One position is focused primarily on poultry while the other will focus primarily on organic vegetable production. Both apprenticeships will overlap each other on a daily basis. 

The end of March marks the beginning of our poultry season with the arrival, via US mail, of our first batch of 150 broilers. Upon arrival, the chicks are settled into the brooder. After four weeks, they are moved from the brooder onto the intensively rotated grazing pasture and at ten weeks they are butchered on Wednesday. This sequence repeats itself for tenty weeks until the beginning of October. Everyday, during this period, the birds are moved onto fresh pastured, watered and fed. Our 300 layer hens are also fed and watered twice a day, eggs are collected, sorted and boxed. Layer hen mobile coops are moved onto fresh pasture as needed. By the end of the season we will have raised, processed and sold over 3000 birds, as well as 100 turkeys. Early season is focused on equipment and facility preparation, systems set-up, irrigation as well as marketing and CSA recruitment. Late season is focused on harvesting, winter storage orders and putting the farm to rest for the winter. Goats are milked and tended to throughout the year as is our horse.

Stipend: We provide a monthly stipend in addition to full room and board. The stipend amount is subject to the level of commitment and experience of the applicant.

Food: Poultry, ground beef, eggs and goat milk are available from the farm. Vegetable amounts and variety dependent on the season. Basic staples such as rice and flour are available on the farm.  Apprentices/woofers eat separately from Tony and Barclay with a shared weekly “farm dinner” with everyone living on the farm.

Housing: Interns will have their own living/sleeping area inside one of three furnished trailers. The kitchen and communal living room are inside a cabin equipped with a full fridge, gas oven, kitchen table, sofa, wood stove, etc. Workers share and are responsible for a composting toilet and outdoor shower, in addition to a wash sink. All workers are asked to keep their living spaces clean and organized. During the cold spring and fall months, apprentices have the use of an indoor bathing area in the main farm house.

Quivira Coalition Activities:   This apprenticeship is offered through Quivira Coalition’s New Agrarian Program.  The full cohort of apprentices on regenerative ranches and farms across the west will attend an April orientation, participate in supplemental education provided in partnership with Holistic Management International, and attend the annual Quivira Conference, hosted with Holistic Management International and the American Grassfed Association, in November.  Apprentices are also required to write several reports during their apprenticeship; these reports will go through the NAP Coordinator at Quivira, and be posted on the Quivira website.

Time off: One and a half consecutive days off a week. A 5 day paid vacation is offered sometime in late August or September, to be taken all at once or broken into individual days.

Visitors: Telluride has a large tourist draw. As a temporary resident, the apprentice may experience that draw through requests for visits from friends and family. The apprentice may also want to express their enthusiasm for the program by inviting friends and family to visit. We ask that the apprentice use wisdom and judgment to balance the apprenticeship demands with time available for guests. Apprentices will be asked to discuss visitors in advance with Barclay and Tony. Visitors are welcome but must work along side the apprentice for half the day on the apprentice’s scheduled workdays. Parents and grandparents are exempt. 

Pets: We cannot accommodate pets on the farm.

All the fun stuff: Tobacco and Alcohol are permitted on the ranch. Illegal drugs are not. Any use of marajuana (legal in Colorado) and alcohol must be on the apprentices time off. Guns are allowed under certain conditions to be arranged with Barclay and Tony ahead of time. No parties unless Barclay and Tony are invited. 

Health Insurance: The farming lifestyle has inherent dangers. While personal health insurance is not required to participate in the apprenticeship program, it is strongly encouraged. The farm carries Workman’s Compensation to cover injuries incurred on the job. But if the apprentice is injured on his or her day off, gets sick, or has or develops chronic conditions like allergies, these types of issues should be covered by personal health insurance. 

Farm Vehicles: Many of the farm vehicles are standard transmission. The apprentice will be expected to competently operate these vehicles. Apprentices must have a valid driver’s license.

Personal Vehicle: There are no instances (or very few) when the apprentice would be required to use his/her own vehicle around the ranch. In order to run personal errands and travel on days off, however, the apprentice will need the flexibility of his or her own vehicle.

Services available to the apprentice:

• Washer and dryer:  There is a shared washing machine and a clothes line is available for drying.

• Internet connection: Internet is available in the apprentices living quarters but phone service is spotty at best. AT&T works best in Norwood. Verizon, not so well. 

Additional items the apprentice will need for the duration of the apprenticeship? Will need Bed linens and towels.

Activities on the operation that the apprentice will not participate in? Tractor operation is limited and is determined on an individual basis. 

Living in Norwood, Colorado: The farm is situated outside Norwood, Co., on a mesa-top in the beautiful San Juan Mountains of southwestern Coloraod, 33 miles West of Telluride and 100 miles East of Moab, Utah.  Norwood is a small town with very little night life.  There are two grocery stores (one being our local food hub), a laundromat, liquor store and a few restaurants. We have a community center and are building a brand new library. Our nearest airport and large box stores are  a 1.5 hour drive in Montrose, Colorado. Temperatures can fluctuate 40 degrees or more during a single day. Highest temps are in the 90’s lowest, below freezing. Weather is unpredictable, be prepared for all conditions.