Andy Lyon
RR 2 Box 57,
Millerton, PA 16936
570-537-2128
do.what.works@gmail.com
Farm markets to restaurants, two
farmers markets, and CSA-like farm
supporters program. More than a
dozen farmer's markets are in the
area, and the farm is less than an
hour from Ithaca and the Finger
Lakes. Farm sales are mostly
vegetables and pasture raised
eggs—and also a strong
application of pasture management,
grassfed livestock, raw milk,
fermented vegetables, maple syrup,
and forestry, all with an eye on
making them additional products
for sale.
Spring Meadows Farm
My farm design adapts traditions I
grew up with to modern materials,
technology, and markets. Variety of
management tools used to trouble
shoot sustainability of farm and
health care of livestock. I have
worked with livestock since I was
four; trained hunting dogs since I
was 15. In 2003 I quit the hobby of
dog training and took up oxen as a
serious work animal. Each team I
have trained has had children
working with them.
I offer hands on learning
experiences for the inspiration of
interacting with engaged learners.
Though the individual will do much
helpful work and I am grateful for
this help, having your help is not
my motive for offering these
experiences. All applicants are
screened for learning skill level
and openness to improving ones
learning skills. Options for hands on
learning are offered to an individual
based on a letter of introduction
and telephone conversation. The
applicant is welcome to visit the
farm and stay over for one night as
well to get to know the farm but this
is not required.
Overview
- Source of power:
oxen.
-
Oxen are used to: logging, blue stone quarrying, manure spreading, general farm chores.
- Other livestock:
haying, logging, gardening, manuring, and anything
needing to be hauled around the farm.
- Acreage:
255; 1.5 in intensive high yielding garden, 32 in pasture, 41.5 in
pasture/hay field, 180 woodlot
- Skills offered in:
Farmers’ market experience, experiential learning
skills, work place communication habits, organic vegetable production,
grass-fed dairying and beef, pastured pork and poultry, ox driving, low
stress animal handling, homeopathics, herbal medicine. Also occcurring on
the farm but not related to work; wild crafting, hunting, full vigor forestry, how
to apply management tools to troubleshoot sustainability and health
problems, and many other in depth farm management topics. The more you
are focused on contributing instead of what you get out of it, the more you
will learn though contributing. The more one gives, in a healthy way, the
more one will receive as will all things in life.
- Work hours:
Hours 7-9am Dinner/midday meal, 11-3pm, rest break,
4-6pm, some livestock chores before bed. 8 1/2 - 10 hour work day with
12+ hour days on market days. You work 5 days a week. Must help with
chores on day off if here. Apprentice also gets vacation days and days to
visit other farms or go to workshops or other learning experiences.
- Terms:
Options for hands on learning; all have room and board provided.
- Applications:
Applicants must write a letter of introduction (contact farm
for instructions), that shows a willingness to engage and be comfortable to
interact with when communicating with the farm, has an interest in learning
about farming though does not need to be experienced with farming and the
experiential learning situations found in the sustainable farming movement.
- Visits:
Anyone may come and visit the farm for one night after writing a
letter of introduction (contact farm for instructions) showing serious interest
in the farm. No special time will be set aside for answering visitor's question
but you will be invited to join in the work and at the midday meal I am free to
talk some. Gifts of home made food or tools or special skills will be
encouraged but no cash payment.
- Lessons:
For those wanting in depth knowledge about a particular topic.
Instruction will be at least 3 hour/day with what will be covered agreed to
before the individual comes. This costs $100/day plus help with jobs
needing done to keep up with the business of the farm while here.
Particularly individual will take responsibility for routine tasks that are easy
to show a person who is here for a short stay.
- Internship:
Two nights up to a five week stay. Must stay a week to get the
stipend. All internships end at 5 weeks.Intern expected to work on whatever
jobs need to be done, dedicated to doing good work and reaching stated
goal for a good stopping point for each work period. One afternoon a week
time will be taken to give intern a taste of a specific experience, or overview
of a particular part of the operation. These topics will be agreed to before
the internship and will be covered as part of work that is in season but with
openness to intern asking questions and giving intern enough instruction to
introduce the topic not just get the job done.
- Advanced Internship:
five week stays. All internships end at 5 weeks.
Advanced Internship is for individual wishing to improve experiential
learning skills and communication habits to the level where they can
apprentice. Must do 25 weeks total with 2 week breaks between each 5
week internship. Each week intern will have an afternoon to reflect on
progress with experiential learning skill and communication habits then a
brief talk with me that evening for 1/2 hour or less on these topics. Intern
expected to work on whatever job needs to be done, dedicated to doing
good work and reaching stated goal for a good stopping point for each
work period. No time will be set a side for lessons, as experiential learning
skills are all about how to learn while working.
- Apprenticeship:
full season, at least 4/1 till 11/1. Apprentice acts as an
assistant managing sales as I coach them and steps up to lead in many
other roles. Applicants having written a letter of introduction (contact farm for
instructions), having 2 years of positive references showing that they have
good experiential learning skills or having done 5 advanced internships at
this farm are given the chance at the position or having done one internship
and have one year positive reference showing good experiential learning
skills. Individual must have experienced most of the tasks involved in the
work and have a desire to become skilled at all tasks.
- Expectations:
The expectations with experiential learning skills and
communication habits will be clearly stated before the apprenticeship
begins. The experiential learning skills make the individual able to learn
while working, without them the individual will get little from the
apprenticeship experience. The communication habits are essential to the
apprentice being a contribution to the farm. Both experiential learning skills
and communication habits are the skills of farming. Anyone who farms for a
living must continually improve these skills and deal with the consequences
that come from any area where these skills are lacking. During two
evenings each week, apprentice will meet with the farmer about scheduling
the week's work and planning work with marketing for the week. Also
apprentice is free at the midday meal to ask questions about farming
beyond what needs clarified to do specific tasks, otherwise apprentice in
not to ask questions about farming as it interferes with the farmer's personal
space and the business of the farm.
- Apprentice must:
have experience at farmer's markets. Be a team
player. Be mindful of excellence. Be able to deal with all difficulties in away
that creates positivity. View apprenticeship as a serious career path
- Stipend:
$90/week for intern or apprentice.
- Apprenticeship Bonuses:
8% of sales; on completing season up
to $1500 reimbursement for receipts showing spending by the apprentice for
education in the 12 months before the last day of apprenticeship; Any
expenses or use of car related to work; 10% of income from forestry, on
farm sales, and meat sales; 15% of vegetable sales at farmer's market.
- Accommodations:
room in my home (renting in the nearby hamlet at
apprentice's expense is another option); meals consist of simple but good
eating of grassfed milk, meat, butter and milk products, eggs, grains,
seasonal veggies and fruit, homemade wine, local/homemade bread, wild
teas, wild game, and wild plants.
- Visit first:
If you wish but not required. Those interested please contact the
farm for directions on writing a letter of introduction.
- Trial period:
Very serious trial period for apprentice only;
1. Apprentice first day of work must show desire to learn to farm and show
they have moved past the learning about farming stage by showing
experiential learning skills and hustle as well as demonstrating effort at
improving in these areas while staying relaxed and comfortable to
work around.
2. By end of 5th week communication habits must be well developed and
consistency at continuing to improve experiential learning skills and
communication habits must be demonstrated while showing one presence
to be relax and comfortable to work with.