.July 3rd, 2009

Steve Wilson - future farmer

Steve weeding peas in FranceI'm extremely interested in small-scale organic farming and am looking for opportunities to further my farming interests. Ideally, I'm looking for the right opportunity to accept larger responsibilities, whether this be on an "incubator" farm, share-cropping on someone else's farm, a partnership, or a farm manager or assistant manager position. However, in moving to the eastern US, an apprenticeship/internship on a farm would be greatly beneficial to learn the different cultural aspects of the soils in the area.

I am primarily interested in practicing and learning all aspects of self-sufficient, sustainable, and successful organic vegetable farming. The scale of farm I'm interested in is a small (2-10 acre) organic market garden. I am very interested in organic farming and farming as a way of life. I am hoping to gain as much hands-on experience and see as many different diverse farms as possible before taking the plunge myself and starting my own farm. I am looking to move back to the eastern US, in order to be closer to my family.

My experience

I am currently at Sun Island Farm on Maury Island (adjoining island to Vashon, Washington). I started here in November 2008. Sun Island is one of the fastest growing farms on the island and I was hired to help facilitate that process over winter. We've been doing infrastructure improvement projects like deer fence construction, land clearing for future expansion, building a processing shed, etc. I've been learning fruit tree pruning as well. I'm also working with Dr. Bob Norton at his homestead on various projects. (View photos of Sun Island.)

From March-November 2008, I apprenticed at Plum Forest Farm in Vashon, Washington. Plum Forest is a 5-acre organic farm growing vegetables for a small CSA, an on-farm self-service stand and farmers market. Plum Forest also raises egg-laying hens for eggs sold through their farm stand, pastured broilers for meat and pastured Scottish Highland cattle for beef. I was involved in all aspects of the growing, caring for, harvesting, processing and selling all products of the farm. (View photos of Plum Forest.)

Other farming experience I have has been WWOOFing on organic farms in Europe. For six months, from March through September 2007 I volunteered through the WWOOF Independents organization on eight small farms in Spain, France, Norway and Ireland. I stayed from two weeks to five weeks on each farm.

Each farm involved physical labor and tasks typical for organic farms. I can supply character and work references from my interships and some of my wwoof farms if desired. I've experienced almost all aspects of farming including, but not limited to:

I've had experience working at a farmers markets, with stand set-up, preparation and stocking, and at Plum Forest I staffed the market stall every Saturday during the season. I also have experience preparing CSA boxes. Lastly, I have completed the Seattle Tilth Comprehensive Organic Gardener course and have volunteered in their demostration gardens as well.

In addition, I have years of experience mowing, edging, using a chain-saw, strimming (weed eating), etc. with gas powered equipment, both two-wheel BCS walk-behind tractors and four- and two-wheel drive tractors. I also have many years of woodworking and light building experience.

In addition ...

I've been a professional graphic and web designer for 10 years and freelance in my spare time. You can view my online design portfolio.

About me

I am 35 years old, single and am in excellent health. I don't smoke or do any sort of drugs. I like a cup of coffee in the mornings and every once in a while I enjoy a beer or a glass of wine, but it's very seldom and never excessive. I am primarily vegetarian, though I do eat locally-sourced, humanely raised meat if the opportunity is there.

I have a Washington State drivers license and a clean driving record. I have been driving since I was 15. I also have significant experience operating small two- and four-wheel farm tractors, and with a front loader, back-hoe, mower and other implements.

I'm comfortable in lots of living arrangements and do well independently. I've lived in small communal environments and enjoyed them when the mix of people was right. As long as the living situation isn't too drafty or wet and has some sort of heating capability, has a decent kitchen and bath facilities, I am usually fine and can live quite comfortable in the most basic situations.

I'm a very hard worker, self-starting, I pick things up very quickly and am eager to learn. Before exploring my interest in farming, I worked in the "communications" industry for 10 years and have lots of customer service experience, so I can definitely say I am a good communicator and an overall good people person.

Please know that I am very serious about farming, and if you want to contact me about opportunities please don't hesitate! Click here to contact me.

weeding leeks

Toe-nailing rafters

Potato planters

Weeding in Ireland

Other links to web pages that contain more information about me:

Couchsurfing - my profile on couchsurfing (an online community of travelers and hosts)

Flickr - my photo page

My web site - my personal web site

Thanks for reading!