Organic farming/artisan food product internship?

[mn_praline]

Thanks everyone for your great advice regrading culinary schools and the food biz in other posts. I'm glad I decided to hold off on school and secure an internship to begin.

After the internship and in near future I am interested in learning more about the organic farming process, or an artisan product such as cheese or honey.

I found many opportunities online about farms that hire interns in exchange for food and board. Does anybody have experience with this or have suggestions? I am game for any location. I have absolutely no experience in farming or animals but would give anything for a chance to learn through immersion. I also have a marketing background.

Thanks and I look forward to your replies!

[DGresh]

Just a pointer, as I don't have any direct experience with these folks (other than having bought their cheese from time to time) but check out Bobolink farm in northern NJ--

www.cowsoutside.com

From their site: "We offer internships in cheesemaking, grass-based dairy farming and bread baking.
Internships can take the following forms:

Agritourism: one, two or three-day, with off-farm housing available (there are several bed-and-breakfasts and motels in the area, at a range of prices). Tuition: $100/day. Farmers, craftspeople and others are invited to make barter proposals.

Short internship: two month minimum, (room and board may be available on-farm).

Academic Internship: We may be able to develop an internship to meet your school's academic requirements. (some schools call them "externships"). Typical culinary internships of, say, 18 weeks, will be offered in conjunction with recognized culinary arts programs.

Seasonal appenticeships: For the serious would-be cheese and/or bread artisan, a full-season (10-12 month) apprenticeship is available, including all aspects of grass-based milk production, cheesemaking, ripening room operations, baking, and direct marketing."

[lgss]

My sister and her husband run an organic vegetarian CSA in WI. They usually have a couple apprentices each summer. They have bees, so do collect and sell honey.

[mn_praline]

thanks so much for your suggestions!

[DanaB]

A good resource for organic farming internships can be found at WWOOF -- Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms. There are branches all over the world. Here's a link to the international branch: http://www.wwoof.org/ and the U.S. Branch: http://www.wwoofusa.org/what.html

[cgribble]

Hi mn_praline,

just wondering what advice you were given regarding culinary school. I was looking into it myself.

[soupkitten]

shoot. if i'd seen this post over a year ago, i would have rec-ed the gardens of eagan internship program, locally to the op.