Sustainable Farming Certificate Program

Application formPlease fill out this form in Microsoft Word and email it as an attachment when submitting your application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. International candidates will be considered but only if they have a visitor’s visa and have their own personal health insurance while in Canada.

Full Name:

Email address:

Phone:

Are you currently a resident or citizen of Canada?

If no, then will you be able to obtain a Canadian visa and health insurance if you are accepted to the program?

How did you hear about the SFC program?

Have you visited Everdale? If yes, when? Which staff members did you meet?

Which section(s) of the SFC program are you applying for? Section one is a prerequisite for section two. Apprentices who participate in both sections one and two and demonstrate a keen interest in organic farming will have the option of attending section three. Please indicate if this is of interest to you.

Section One – Farm School (4 weeks – April)

Section Two – Practical Training (8 weeks – May and June)

Section Three – Farm Work (20 weeks – July to mid-November)1

Do you have any questions about the SFC program costs as outlined in the program description document?

11If you are applying for the full 32-week apprenticeship, inclusive of Section Three, please complete the Extended Application form.

Extended ApplicationApplication deadline for 2018 season: December 15, 2017

Before writing your application, carefully read all the material presented here, the program description document and go through our website to learn more about our other programs.

Whenever possible, we encourage prospective apprentices to visit and volunteer at Everdale farm for a day or more during the April-November growing season of the year prior to their application. This is an excellent opportunity for you to talk with the current apprentices and get a better idea of what Everdale is and how the apprenticeship works. Contact the Farm Manager (wolf.chrapko@everdale.org) to arrange a good day to visit.

The application process is as follows:

1. Send your full application and up-to-date resume by email to the Farm Manager. You will be notified that your application has been received.

2. If your application is a good match for our program, you will be contacted to arrange an in-person discussion and working interview at Everdale.

3. If the in-person discussion is positive for the applicant and for the Farm Manager, your references will be contacted by the Farm Manager.

You are welcome to contact Everdale at any time during this process to check on the status of your application. The earlier you send your application the sooner you will receive a response and the better your chances of being offered a position.

Along with you completed application, please attach the following:

Resume and cover letter: Up to date.

References: Please list below the names of three references along with their contact information (mailing address, phone number, and email address). We don’t need reference letters, just contact info. References must be from people such as employers, instructors, associates and others in a position to comment on your work style and character. References from family members and from people whose sole relationship with you is as a 'friend' are not accepted.

Photo: (optional). It’s particularly useful for us to have a photo of you if you have visited Everdale in the past but only briefly. It helps us remember who you are.

Please send your application along with the above documents to:

Wolfgang Chrapko, Everdale’s Farm Manager: wolf.chrapko@everdale.org

Everdale is located in Dish with One Spoon Treaty lands, in the ancestral territories of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Wendat, Tionontati, and Attawondaron people.

1. Why are you applying?

2. Do you have any past gardening/farming experience?

3. Please list all classes of driver’s licenses you hold. If you are not licensed, by what date do you intend to get your license?

4. Please briefly describe any experience that you have in each of the following activities:

a. Physical labourb. Managerial and supervisory workc. Cookingd. Cleaning and organization e. Operating vehicles, machinery, trailersf. Operating tools and equipment g. Building or repair projectsh. Other related work or recreational experience or skills

5. Most Everdale staff live on the farm. Communal living arrangements can be challenging. What expectations do you have about living and working on the farm? What experiences and skills will you bring to this situation? Have you lived in communal situations in the past?

6. In broad strokes, what is your understanding of privilege and oppression, and how do you see your own relationship to these concepts on a daily basis?

7. What are you most expecting to gain from the apprenticeship program?

8. What do you anticipate would be the biggest challenge(s) for you in completing your apprenticeship?

9. In order of importance please list which of the following best describes your reasons for wanting to learn more about organic farming and gardening. Add as many other categories as you wish.

a. Self-sufficiency: Learn how to grow food for myself.b. Food justice: Use farming/gardening as a way to promote social change.c. Economic: Make some or all of my future income selling healthy food.d. Lifestyle: Pursue a rewarding hobby.e. Personal health: physical activity, healthy diet.f. Artistic: Create beautiful gardens or landscapes.g. Ecological: a platform for creating ecological solutions.h. Social: A way to connect with people.i. Other: Please elaborate.

10. Farm work is hard physical work in hot sun, freezing cold and heavy rain with long hours and a fast pace. What is the hardest you’ve worked for something? Physically and/or mentally?

11. Is there anything else you would like us to know about you that hasn’t been asked above?