Work With Us
Employment
Wheelbarrow Farm provides full-time employment to four people and apprenticeship positions to four people. Currently, all of our positions are full.
We are also a company that allows for and encourages worker ownership. A young farmer can start as an apprentice, then become a manager and eventually a partial owner. This is one way in which we encourage a sharing of the profits among all farm workers and allow for access to farmland that would be untenable for many young people in the GTA.
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeships are a great way to explore your farm dream and learn some useful skills. If you are thinking about getting into farming or just having a really large garden, this is your place to start.
Apprentices live at the farm during the growing season, working and learning alongside the staff and volunteers. In exchange for your efforts in the field (5 days/week) we teach you everything that we know, we feed and house you, we provide 6 full days of field-trip workshops on other farms and we also do many on-farm workshops. We also provide a $500/month stipend.
Apprenticeship positions are available from May to October.
Accommodations are private cabins or a private room in the main house.
Fun stuff: We are close to lakes, trails, and Toronto. There is a swimming pond on the farm. Jam space for musicians. Campfires. Vegetable baseball.
Many of our former apprentices have returned to work on the farm as employees following a successful first season!
Wheelbarrow Farm is a part of the CRAFT program - a network of educational organic farms.
Here are some of the areas you will gain knowledge in:
Greenhouse management
Tractors and implements (including our new SOLAR-ELECTRIC tractor!)
Soil science
Small-scale market gardening tools
Cover cropping
How to plant, care for and harvest 40 different vegetables
Planting trees and propagating perennials
Saving Seed
Farmers markets
Farm finances
Electric motors and alternative energy
To apply for an apprenticeship, please send a resume and cover letter to wheelbarrowfarm (at) gmail .com
Volunteer
We offer volunteer opportunities through the WWOOF Canada program. We also offer volunteer opportunities without participating in the WWOOF program.
Volunteering at Wheelbarrow Farm involves commiting to a minimum 2 week stay at the farm. During your stay, you will live and work alongside the farmers, managers and apprentices. We offer a private room or cabin, food is provided and a small travel bursary is provided to cover your transportation costs to and from Toronto. You are expected to work 6 hours/day, 5 days a week.
Join our lively crew of young farmers excited about creating a sustainable and restorative agriculture!
Former Staff and Apprentices
Carson The Plant Farm Co. (https://www.facebook.com/theplantfarmco/)
Connor Jardin Farm (https://www.facebook.com/jardinfarm/)
Jenny Knuckle Down Farm (https://www.knuckledownfarm.ca/)
Tracy The Haute Goat (https://hautegoat.com/)
Jason and Tarsila Way to Grow! Gardens (http://waytogrowgardens.ca/)
Alex YMCA Community Farm
Kate K. Rogers Sustainable Farming (http://www.krogerssustainablefarming.com/)
Lo La Ferme Cooperative Aux Champs qui Chantent (https://www.facebook.com/FermeAuxChampsQuiChantent/)
Krys Patchwork Pastures (https://www.facebook.com/highlandpastures/)
Rachel Turkey Farmers of Ontario