Internships and Volunteer Days
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About the farm
Day’s Walk Farm is a certified organic, mixed crop farm located in the suburbs of Melbourne. We promote and practice regenerative farming techniques that preserve our soil and environment such as low tillage production, cover cropping and native revegetation. We grow all of your favourite vegetables as well as fun, heritage varieties beloved by the many restaurants we supply. We also connect with and educate our community through volunteer days, farm tours and events, as well as a stall at the Coburg Farmers Market every Saturday morning.
Volunteer days
Internships
Wednesday is our one and only volunteer day. We have the capacity to welcome up to 6 volunteers to the farm. Tasks will vary depending on what is needed around the farm but have included weeding, transplanting seedlings, seed saving and harvesting. No experience necessary, we will teach you everything you need to know.
Volunteer days commence at 7am (or 7.30am in the cooler months, when there is less light) and we work through until lunchtime, usually at 1.00pm. We share a cooked morning tea and lunch as a team. You also get to pick a box of veg before lunch to take home as a thank you.
If you are interested in joining us, please reach out via email at almightyveg@dayswalkfarm.com.au
We are looking for interns who enjoy working outdoors. Applicants should be fit and ready to experience the farming life!
The internship runs bi-annually for 4 months: spring/summer from beginning of Sep to end of Dec; and summer/autumn from mid Jan until mid Apr.
To apply send a current CV to almightyveg@dayswalkfarm.com.au with a cover letter. The cover letter should include what you hope to get out of the internship, as well as where you are on your farming journey and where you see yourself one day.
For the spring/summer internship please send your application during June. We will be in touch to arrange a visit to the farm in July. The internship commences early September.
For the summer/autumn internship please send your application during October. We will be in touch to arrange a visit to the farm in November. The internship commences mid-January.
About Paul
Paul Miragliotta, business owner and operator of Day’s Walk Farm.
Thank you for considering doing an internship at the farm. I am entering my 9th growing season at Day’s Walk Farm. I have learned farming is a one step at a time endeavour and now feel confident to facilitate an early step into agriculture for other keen learners via an intern program.
I come to farming having obtained a diploma in organic agriculture, a cert II in carpentry, short courses in fencing and tractors, a couple of seasons work on a similar farm, WWOOFing, and more, after changing career from work as a radiographer.
The details
Exposure to each aspect of the business, starting with harvest, then weeding, transplanting, sowing, irrigation, administration, deliveries, farmers markets, basic tractor operation and maintenance, crop planning, cover cropping & record keeping. In the areas listed, interns move through observation and learning, to training, to developing skills and having a go with some autonomy.
Reflection on tasks performed during the week, e.g. ‘what did we do?’ and ‘why did we do that?’ This activity seeks to meet the level the intern is at and deepen their understanding.
The internship includes residency on farm, with food provided (a variety of very fresh veg; some meals together), stipend, working both with Paul and other staff.
The stipend covers the workload that is repeated every week. This is usually the harvesting or weeding. It will usually take 12 hours of the intern’s week, and they are reimbursed for this labour which makes a significant contribution to the farm.