Students Farming for Internships

The number of students looking for internships that allow them to sit around all day in an air conditioned office may surprise you. Recent consensus shows that many more students are trying to find internships doing green work or work on a farm.

These students may be onto something. Not only are they more likely to learn something if they're doing work out in the field, literally, but Fast Company recently reported that farming will be the hottest green job during the next 10 years.

A recent article by The New York Times reported that the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service found that 1,400 farms were seeking interns this year, almost three times as many as two years ago. The NSAIS is financed by the Department of Agriculture.

And not all students opting for farm internships are agricultural majors hoping for an opportunity with one of the nation's large conventional farms. Instead, most are studying a variety of majors and are more interested in internships at smaller organic and sustainable farms.

The Sustainable Farming Internships and Apprenticeships Database, which is run by the NSAIS, is a good place to see what kind of farming internships are being offered. As of today, the database has 93 pages full of available internships throughout different states.

For instance, Hay Creek Stock Farm in Sebeka, Minn. is looking for one intern at their 160-acre farm. The intern will gain skills in animal husbandry, pasture management, organic vegetable production and direct marketing. The internship runs through Sept. 15.

Lavender Hills Farm in Vashon, Wash., also is hiring an intern to work on a 1/2-acre lavendar farm and garden and live with the farm's owners and their two children. This internship lasts from July 1 to August 15.

Flat Creek Lodge in Swainsboro, Ga. and Charis Eco-Farm in Staunton, Va. also are seeking interns.