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The trainee during Phase 1 will orient to the trajectory of the season’s curriculum, learn about organic farm philosophy and design, and be introduced to residential community guidelines and practices.

The trainee will become familiar with the 26 week curriculum and expectations regarding weekly study and hands on experience. Interns will learn about the basic framework for successful small scale organic farming and begin to conceptualize their own farm/garden project design (“faux farm””) to be presented at the end of the season. Trainees learn best organic practices and guidelines for early spring field work including transplanting and greenhouse propagation as well as hand raised bed construction. Trainees are introduced to community building practice in the residential training cohort including facilitating meetings and building supportive connection.

Debra Martin, Farm owner/ co-manager and student supervisor
Horton Road Organics co-owner and supervisor since 1992, educating new organic farmers since 1997.
Also holds an MA in Couples and Family Therapy and maintains a part time psychotherapy practice.

Trainee will be invited to attend workshops and gatherings offered by a number of local sustainable agriculture organizations including Rogue Farm Corps, Eugene Permaculture Guild, Young Farmers Collective, and Biodynamic Association. Trainee will participate in weekly on farm community meeting that includes social connection, education and food.

Knowledge of organic farm philosophy and basic design
Small scale greenhouse propagation, seeding and transplanting skill
Experience with beginning ground preparation
Community development including healthy communication and conflict resolution skills

Trainee receives a 26 week curriculum that includes class outlines, two texts, suggested homework assignments and access to an on farm library. Trainee is guided by supervisor in hands-on field work, given a thorough introduction to each task and its rationale, given opportunity to ask questions and engage specific activities. After the trainee has had some initial experience with a task, they receive suggestions for refinement or improvement. Supervisor is available during work hours to answer questions trainee has. Weekly meetings reinforce and refine new weekly trainings.

Trainee will receive feedback in a one hour meeting at the end of Phase 1 with supervisor to reflect on the trainee’s understanding and performance based on a particular rubric on essential skills with a 1 – 5 rating scale. Trainee is given positive feedback and encouragement regarding areas in which they are doing well and specifics in one to three activities where they might improve. Trainee will have opportunity to receive support for any cultural adjustments and challenges.

Trainee rotates through all basic activities involved in operating a small scale organic farm.

Trainee learns methods and participates in field preparation, composting, irrigation, organic field fertilization, record keeping, plant cultivation, organic pest and disease management, small scale tools and equipment, cover cropping, harvesting, vegetable preparation and marketing.

Lainey O’Sullivan
Horton Road Organics Field Manager/ Intern Coordinator. Lainey graduated from our apprenticeship program in 2022. She holds a certificate in Permaculture Design.

Trainee may continue to attend ongoing local workshops and gatherings offered by local sustainable agricultural organizations previously mentioned and community outings to recreational sites such as the Oregon Coast and Sisters Wilderness organized by the apprentice/intern/steward cohort.

Knowledge and skill regarding organic field preparation and fertilization including how to interpret a soil sample report
Vegetable harvesting and preparation skill
Field plant care skill and knowledge including weeding, trellising, frost and pest protection
Knowledge and skill in organic management of common pest and diseases in vegetable crops
Knowledge and skill in local marketing including farmer’s markets, CSA’s, online stores, retail and restaurants
Knowledge of appropriate technology, small scale farm equipment

Weekly classes and homework guide trainee through each aspect of small scale farm design included above and given hands-on corresponding training in the field. Trainee conducts additional research to answer homework questions with a particular goal in mind. During Phase 2, trainee is developing their own farm design by answering weekly homework questions that relate to their chosen area of future farm/ garden project involvement.

Trainee is offered a one hour feedback session at the end of Phase 2 to reflect on trainee’s experience, learning curve, and what questions remain in light of their long term goals. At this meeting, it is common to suggest specifics for future study based on trainee’s interests and talents.

Trainee is offered a 100′ X 5′ garden bed in which they can optionally use to experiment growing their own crops. In addition, trainee attends a weekly one hour class called the “Inner Farmer” designed to support trainee well being, inner understanding, communication skills, cultural reflection and community cohesion.

Trainee during Phase 3 synthesizes accumulated experience and knowledge from the season and refines their written “faux farm” design project to be orally presented to and critiqued by their peer group and instructors.

Trainee is introduced to “Alternative Models” in sustainable agriculture not explicitly demonstrated by Horton Road Organics, given guidance in organizational farm structures, record keeping, certification, and business considerations. Trainee is supported in their synthesis of material learned throughout the season by using supervisor consultation alongside their own ressearch. Trainee benefits from critiquing peer farm projects presented during the last 4 weeks of the season.

Debra Martin, Farm owner/ operator/ co-manager.
Horton Road Organics co-owner and supervisor since 1992, educating aspiring organic farmers since 1997.
Also holds an MA in Couples and Family Therapy and maintains a part time psychotherapy practice.

In addition to offerings during Phase 1 and 2, trainee is invited to partake in local cultural events in Eugene including restaurants, pubs and cafe’s, art, and music festival events.

Development of cohesive organic farm or garden project design
Knowledge of alternative agriculture models like No-till and Permaculture
Understanding of business, record keeping, certification needs of small scale farm

In Phase 3, trainee continues to follow recommended reading and homework directed by the 26 week syllabus.

Trainee will continue to receive direct feedback and ongoing training in the closure phase of the farm season. Trainee will receive group feedback when presenting their “faux farm” project design including suggestions for further study and refinement.

Trainee attends several field trips at the end of the season that introduce operations featuring seed production, non-profit educational garden design, and Biodynamic agriculture.