Apprenticeship Program

The Holcomb Farm CSA apprenticeship program is a season-long experiential immersion into the life of a community farm. Along with two year-round staff and a few summer part-timers, the apprentices provide the labor necessary to make the farm work. In exchange, apprentices receive a stipend, housing, and hands-on training in organic vegetable production.

April:
Apprentices arrive in early April, settle in to the farmhouse, and start working on field preparation and greenhouse work. April is a good time for learning the equipment, becoming familiar with the organization of the farm, and working on spring construction projects.

Apprentice House

May:
As the weather warms, the greenhouse nearly overflows with transplants. We start spending long hours on the back of the mechanical transplanter. Field preparation continues with plowing, discing, fertilizing and harrowing. Weed control ramps up with mechanical cultivation.

Cultivating greens with the basket weeder

June:
As the strawberries ripen, we start harvesting for CSA distributions while still spending considerable time transplanting, cultivating, hoeing, weeding and possibly irrigating. By this time apprentices are taking on significant responsibility in their respective roles.

Washing Radishes for an Early CSA Distribution

July:
Planting and cultivating continue as we spend more time harvesting main season crops. In a dry year, irrigation is a top priority. Apprentices take turns monitoring distributions and getting to know CSA members. The days are long and hot, but trips to the swimming hole or the ice cream stand are not uncommon…

Direct Seeding

August:
Weed control has slowed down (hopefully) as we spend more and more time harvesting. Throughout the season, we occasionally take time to visit other area farms. Apprentices attend the summer NOFA conference in August. We also take part in the Western CT CRAFT program, a group of small farms that trade educational farm tours to enhance the experience of our apprentices.

Washing the vegtables

September:
The best weather of the season! Harvesting is still heavy. We plant cover crops and spread compost. The first frosts usually happen at the end of the month, bringing an end to many of the warm season crops.

Spreading Compost

October:
Things slow down a bit for the last few weeks of harvesting. We clean up the farm, plant garlic, and have the harvest festival.

Sam hauling pumpkins to the CSA distribtution.

November:
Closing up the farm for a long winter hibernation. Apprentices say goodbye.

Ready for Winter