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Paicines Ranch

Paicines, California

	MESA Notes – Public
	Website :	http://www.paicinesranch.com
	Blog, Online Newsletter, etc. :
	Public Contact Information:	[email protected]

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About the Placement:

Detailed Placement Description

Paicines Ranch is 7500 acres of holistically managed, certified organic rangeland and irrigated cropland located on the central coast of California. Our focus is on how to imagine, design, create and manage agricultural practices that build and support ecosystem health, are economically viable and socially inspiring. The ranch is in the early stages of several innovative design and establishment projects as well as ongoing management including:
o A diverse polyculture vineyard that will be managed using planned grazing of sheep throughout the year
o Conversion of conventionally managed organic row crops into a polyculture of no-till crops (forage, grain, seed, vegetable and herbs), orchard crops, silvopasture and planned livestock grazing
o Onsite composting/vermicomposting operation in order to reduce offsite fertility inputs and increase soil health on farmland and rangeland
o Management of a trial farm, ranch garden, headquarters agriculture projects
o Baseline and ongoing ecosystem monitoring of the entire ranch including soil carbon and soil biology, wildlife and plants
o Maintenance of infrastructure on 6700 acres of rangeland

Our employees aree passionate about grazing and farming systems that significantly improve soil health, biodiversity, nutritional quality of foods and quality of life for the people and communities involved in agriculture. The position will involve working in all aspects of farming, livestock management, infrastructure development, planning, design, research, monitoring, and day-to-day work.

Primary Production :

Cattle, cover crops and vineyard start-up

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About the Internship

Training Hours:

30/week on average – sometimes more or less depending on task, supervisor availability and skill level of participant.

Training Expectations :

Work week Thursday – Monday. Generally working during day light hours (appx. 7-3:30), supervision provided as required by skill/task level -min. 2 hours/day. Needs mobility, ability to lift at least 50 pounds – bending, twisting, pulling, hammering.

On-Site Training, Steward’s primary activities :

• Sheep care and management to include grazing planning, paddock moves using electric fencing, monitoring of livestock, record keeping, forage and stock water, providing mineral, fence maintenance and care of guard dogs
• Care and management of chicken flock: collecting eggs, feeding, watering, paddock planning and moves
• Additional ongoing work projects
o Ranch garden and trial farm planning, planting , irrigation, weeding
o Researching and trialing principles and practices as needed
o Monitoring of temperature data loggers, weather station information and well loggers.
o Biological monitoring of rangelands and crop fields
o Compost making and monitoring
o Repairs and maintenance of infrastructure

Climate and Location Description

Rural location, no access to public transportation. Mild/moderate weather – with excess rain this year (so muddy).

Compensation :

$10/hr – California minimum wage, furnished dorm room, with shared kitchen/bathroom

Accommodations and amenities provided :

Dorm style furnished room (bunk house) with shared kitchen and bathroom access. Free internet.
NOTE – the only supported cell phone service is Verizon. Check to see if personal phone has Wi-Fi calling capability.

Preferred start date :

March

Preferred length of internship :

2 months

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