Tablehurst and Plaw Hatch Community Farm

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Farm Apprenticeships

Both Tablehurst and Plaw Hatch are part of the biodynamic apprenticeship scheme. This involves a 2 year practical on-farm training coupled with week long block courses organised by the bdaa and weekend courses organised by the local participating farms in your area. These theoretical courses outline the backbone of biodynamic agriculture, offering enriching, thought-provoking discussion and enlightenment, whilst balancing with the day to day realities of practical farming and gardening. It is important to choose the farm suited to your interests in farming, as all the farms who are linked to the scheme are autonomous.

Tablehurst Farm offers training experience with: animal husbandry on a large scale including beef, sheep, pigs and poultry; crop management and field rotations; tractor and implement usage; composting; fencing and top fruit (apple) management.There would also be an opportunity to learn some meat processing skills from our butcher's shop staff as we process one beef animal, 4 pigs, 5 lambs and 140 chickens every week.

Plaw Hatch offers training experience with: dairy herd management and processing; animal husbandry on a small scale including sheep, pigs, poultry; crop management and field rotations; tractor and implement usage; composting; fencing; soft fruit and vegetable garden management.

Apprentices are housed on the farms and all utilities and courses are paid for by the farm. Dependent on the situation, housing is either offered as individual or in a shared house. Some communities eat together a prepared meal, or have to see to their own. It is important to realise that this is not a paid job, but a training. Though you will be working full time, you will be paid a nominal amount to cover your basic everyday needs. Each apprentice should be prepared to work in all areas of the farm/garden, as the apprentices are rotated to gain experience in all areas of work.

If you are interested in a farm apprenticeship, please contact the farms in the first instance.