Holistic Regenerative Farm InternAt — Kiani Preserve

The Holistic Regenerative Farm Intern will be mentored in all aspects of holistic regenerative farming including soil health and rehabilitation in order to produce nutrient dense food, seed to harvest and post-harvest practices, basic animal husbandry with a focus on animal welfare and free-range foraging, basic bee keeping, ecosystem management and native plant restoration practices. Together, these practices enrich understanding of the connections between the land, plants, humans and farm animals leading to healthier people and a healthier planet.

Tasks:

1. Assisting in planning veg, cover and forage crop rotations.
2. Using organic amendments, foliar sprays and ground soaks for soil and plant health
3. Feeding the worm bin and using vermicompost in foliar and ground soak applications promoting biodiversity within the soil.
2. Sowing seed, planting and harvesting veg and fruit
3. Post harvest procedures of cleaning veg and fruit
4. Basic Bee keeping and chicken tending duties
5. Basic irrigation and tool upkeep and repairs
6. Native plant restoration from gathering seed to out-planting
7. Creative native plant corridors for wildlife
8. Help create a balanced gardens and orchards through observation and organic practices including pest mitigation

Training:

Each week the student will participate in the following activities:
1. Employer orientation that includes a tour of the work sites, overview of meeting, tasks and responsibilities (1x mtg).
2. Weekly team meetings where goals for the week, month season and year are discussed and action items are set for the week and are assigned.
3. One on One mentor shadowing for each and every assigned task and general skill training.
4. assigned reading and podcasts on regenerative farming, soil building, bee keeping, soil biology etc.
5. weekly \\farmication\\ lectures on topics related to soil health, crop rotation, pest mitigation.
6. guest visits with lectures and training on bee keeping, soil/orchard fertility, native plant restoration practices

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the academic internship, the student will be able to
1. understand the connection between building soil health and producing nutrient dense food (with an emphasis on organic and biodynamic soil building practices).
2. plan, plant and maintain a veg, fruit and native plant garden/farm.
3. plan crop and forage rotation systems.
4. understand the principles of farming/ranching in a regenerative manner which promotes land, human and animal welfare/health creating a closed loop sustainable system.
5. create, overtime, a balanced garden ecosystem that begins to maintain itself
6. teach others the basic practices and principles of a holistic and regenerative approach to food systems and ecological health promoting biodiversity