Growing Tomorrow’s Farmers–2017 Style

Horn Farm Interns 2016

Our incubator farm program requires participants to have two years of farming experience, and we found there were lots of people feeling called to farm who didn’t meet that requirement. In 2016, to meet that need for experience, the Horn Farm launched a farm internship program. We welcomed four interns into our new program and the season was successful beyond our wildest dreams. All four interns are continuing to build their skills and experience in farming both on and off the Horn Farm.

Joshua Witchger

Leaving behind a job as a fermentation specialist at Brooklyn Brine, Joshua and his wife moved from New York City to York where she completed a year-long residency at Memorial Hospital. Looking for a community of like-minded people, Joshua contacted the Horn Farm and quickly found a place to fit in. He volunteered in 2015 on Sterling Farm–one of the farms in the Incubator Farm Project. In 2016, Joshua took part in our Farm Internship. He was particularly inspired by the Introduction to Permaculture class that he took as part of the internship.In December, Joshua returned to the Horn Farm to teach a Vegetable Fermentation class.  He has moved back to Brooklyn, where he is continuing his permaculture studies, working in a ‘cave’ aging fine cheeses while looking for work as an urban farm manager.

Miranda Komissar-Gindling

Miranda Komissar-Gindling

Miranda was looking for a farm internship where she could learn farming techniques which used hand tools. She relocated from Maryland to be part of the farm internship at the Horn Farm. A very hard worker who enjoys weeding made her an invaluable part of the Horn Farm team. Miranda is completing a farm internship on a convent in upstate New York where she is responsible for the dairy cow and is learning to make artisanal cheeses. We are delighted that this spring she plans to return to the Horn Farm for a second year in the internship program.

 

Andrew Horn

Andrew Horn

Andrew spent a year in New Zealand working on a variety of organic farms in exchange for food and lodging. He returned to his hometown of York looking for a way to continue to explore his interest in farming. The Farm Internship was exactly what he was looking for. Andrew wanted to continue his exploration of a career in farming, and the Horn Farm needed skilled help on the farm this season, so we’ve hired him to be Assistant Field Manager for 2017. He’ll be starting seeds in the greenhouse next week.

Betsy Dorbian

Betsy Dorbian

In 2016, Betsy Dorbian was considering a career change. After 25 years as a massage therapist, Betsy was ready for something different. Having studied permaculture design in an academic setting, she felt she needed hands on skills. She applied to and was accepted into the Farm Internship program. Betsy ended her first season by saying that she’d ‘found her people and her place’ at the Horn Farm. She is returning for 2017 ready to make her dream of becoming a flower farmer come true. As a second year intern, Betsy will plan, grow, harvest, and market cut flowers.

We are proud to be growing tomorrow’s farmers! Is farming calling to you? Our Farm Internship is a part-time, hands-on training program for people with 0 to 2 years of farm or gardening experience. The program provides foundational knowledge and practical skills for those interested in small-scale, intensive, organic, permaculture-based production methods. Applications are now being accepted.