Apprenticeship Penobscot, Maine

Penobscot, Maine USA

Above: Good Farming Apprenticeship Network
participant Horsepower Farm, Penobscot, Maine
USA, is a diversified market garden and sheep horsepower farm.
Horsepower Farm
Paul, Andy & Donna Birdsall
90 Horsepower Farm Road
Penobscot, ME 04476
207-374-5038
info@ruralheritage.com/penobscot
Diversified market garden, dry beans and other storage crops, sheep, hay, and some grain for livestock. We work alongside apprentices with a view to developing their capability to function independently and effectively as part of the
farm community.
Overview
  • Source of power: 6 horses, tractor for bucket work.
  • Horses are used for: virtually all tillage, planting, cultivating, haying, harvest, fertilization, logging.
  • Acreage: 65 open, 300 wooded.
  • Other livestock: sheep, pigs, chickens.
  • Skills offered inmanagement of market garden and crops, sheep, logging; most apprentices come away able to harness, hitch, and drive teams on farm work.
  • Work hours: 8 hrs/day, 44 hrs/wk.
  • Terms: room & board; dates by arrangement, length by mutual convenience; 3 apprentices at a time.
  • Stipend: yes.
  • Accommodations: small farm house with cooking facilities, wood heat, outhouse; we furnish food, apprentices prepare their own meals.
  • Apprentice must: have a sincere desire to learn and be really excited
    by the prospect of learning how to farm with horses; attitude is
    more important than prior experience or skills. Must accept that draft
    training is highly structured.
  • Visit first: yes.
  • Trail period: 2 weeks, depending on circumstances.