In partnership with the Abundant Table, the local Episcopal campus ministry at California State University, Channel Islands (CSUCI), the Abundant Table Farm Project (ATFP) is a young adult Christian community seeking a contemporary Benedictine rhythm of life with a land based ministry in Ventura County. The goal of this internship is to form young adult leaders who are attuned to the destructive disconnect between land and table in our culture. ATFP participants will leave our program with first-hand knowledge of issues related to this disconnect–including environmental sustainability; organic, small scale agriculture vs. industrial agribusiness; community health and access to unprocessed foods, especially as it relates to disadvantaged communities; immigration and labor issues–and a passion to work for justice around these issues.
ATFP will achieve this goal by offering a group of young adults the opportunity to:
- Live for a year in intentional Christian community
- Work for a small scale organic farm and/or intern with a local community organization addressing justice issues facing the community
- Reflect on their experience of land based ministry within a context of Benedictine spirituality
Our Vision:
The Abundant Table Farm Project seeks to provide an alternative model of living for young adults interested in vocational discernment around spirituality, community, and stewardship of Creation. In line with the Episcopal Service Corps values of simple living in community, service, and reflection on service, ATFP hopes to create a space where young adults can negotiate what it means to live out the gospel message within the local community and the broader church, in our current context of human beings alienated from each other and the earth.
This project will equip young adults with practical and spiritual skills for creating sustainable community and agriculture. ATFP participants will leave our program with first-hand knowledge of issues related to the above mentioned disconnect–including environmental sustainability; organic, small scale agriculture vs. industrial agribusiness; community health and access to unprocessed foods, especially as it relates to disadvantaged communities; immigration and labor issues–and a passion to work for justice around these issues.
Our Structure:
Live:
The Abundant Table Farm Project is a 12 month long intensive internship (in August). Two young adult interns will live together in intentional community with other farm staff in a three bedroom farm house on a 5-10 acre working farm owned by DeBusschere Ranch.
Work:
Interns will work 50 hours a week to maintain, develop and sustain the work of the 5 acre farm. This includes, planting, harvesting, weeding, washing, packing, marketing and distribution of the harvest using a CSA model[1], local farmers’ markets, and other possible outlets. You will also have the opportunity for community engagement and food justice work.
Reflect:
Interns will engage in important activities that provide critical reflection on the work they are doing and build intentional community. Some of these activities include, but are not limited to: weekly community dinners, Sunday evening house worship in the Episcopal tradition with Eucharist and liturgy (similar to the Catholic Worker Tradition), meeting with program coordinator on a consistent basis, three retreats a year, service learning opportunities, and community reflection times.
Our particular focuses are: Community Supported Agriculture, holistic health and nutrition, farm to school, and farm education.
We spearhead a project called Rooted Futures, which engages under-served youth in experiential learning about food systems, nutrition, and their own cultural food story.
Benefits:
Interns will receive:
- Housing
- Monthly stipend minus taxes
- Health insurance
- Access to the produce grown
Internship begins August 2011 and runs through the end of July 2012
Please note: This internship is for young adults ages 20 to 30. It includes strenuous work, demanding schedule, little vacation, and the need for good communication skills is very important as there are plentiful requests for engagement with the community.
Application timeline:
Rolling application deadline, preference given to applications submitted by May 1st.
To apply: You will need to submit an initial application through the Episcopal Service Corps website: www.episcopalservicecorps.org . Please make sure to mark Abundant Table Farm Project in your process and answer the essay questions in relation to your interest in the farm project.
Need more info: e-mail us at info@theabundanttable.org or call at 1-888-707-6513
Website: www.theabundanttable.org and www.jointhefarm.com
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