Mahonia Gardens Apprentice
Last Updated On: April 14th, 2026 at 11:21AM MST
Contact information
Farm Address:254 E. Adams Ave.
Sisters, '--, 97759
Primary Contact: Kait Crowley
Primary Phone:
Type: Cell
Number: 541-588-3551
Email: training@roguefarmcorps.org
Website: https://www.roguefarmcorps.org/host-farms/mahonia-gardens
Website: https://mahoniagardens.com/
Internship information
General Farm Description: Mahonia Gardens is a one-acre market garden in Sisters, Oregon. We only use organic practices and emphasize biodiversity. Our practices align with the idea that quality soil creates quality food. Benji Nagel and Carys Wilkins founded Mahonia Gardens in 2013, making 2024 our 12th season. Prior to that, we had worked on a variety of farms in southern Oregon and abroad, participated in full-season internships in California, and studied and practiced Permaculture principles. The youngest members of our farm are Lupine, 2, and Junius, 6. They are an absolute joy and will spend some time with us on the farm. The most important aspect of our project is our commitment to lifestyle. We choose to farm because of the way we are able to interact with our environment and community through growing and selling food, spending our days outdoors and always learning. Although we have developed a profitable farming model, economic growth is not our primary goal; rather, we strive to maintain a balanced lifestyle. We work hard all summer so we are able to take the winter months off. We primarily cultivate in 4’-wide intensive, permanent beds resembling French-Intensive or Bio-Intensive styles, and are influenced by contemporary market gardeners such J.M. Fortier and Curtis Stone. Labor on the farm is done by hand, using efficient and ergonomic hand tools such as broadforks, digging forks and wheel hoes to create and maintain beds. We are not purists of any particular method or style- we’re always learning, always trying new things, always questioning ourselves and being open to the unknown. While we have a history of offering a traditional CSA program, farmers markets, and wholesale, we now sell most of our produce through our farm stand. “The Stand” is located at our home property in downtown Sisters. We not only sell our own vegetables here, but we steadily bring in veggies, flowers, flour, honey, berries, etc, from other local farms. The Stand operates as a self-serve honor system.CRAFT Member Farm? No
Internship Starts: April
Internship Ends: October/November
Number of Internship Available: 2
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until positions are filled by early-mid March
Minimum Length of Stay: 500 training hours (~3-4 months minimum)
Internship Details:
An Apprenticeship at Mahonia Gardens is part of Rogue Farm Corps’ beginning farmer training program. Hands-on field training at the Host Farm is complemented by a series of classes, farm tours, discussions, and networking events organized by Rogue Farm Corps.
EDUCATIONAL EVENTS
Apprentices join other beginning farmers for an Educational Event Series facilitated by Rogue Farm Corps.
The full event series includes:
24 classes focused on foundational sustainable agriculture concepts, skills, and the food system.
7-10 farm tours which showcase practical skills and individual farmers’ stories and provide insight into diverse production and marketing systems.
3-5 discussion circles with topics including Food Justice / Food Sovereignty, and Next Steps for Beginning Farmers.
RFC strives to make all educational events inclusive and welcoming to people from all backgrounds and identities. Classes, tours, and discussions are led by Rogue Farm Corps staff, agricultural professionals, and expert farmworkers/farmers.
For more information on these events, please visit our event series page and sample schedule.
Educational Opportunities: A Mahonia Gardens employee’s responsibilities will include: -Propagation: seeding/planting/transplanting/cuttings -Bed preparation -Weed management -Composting -Harvesting -General farm maintenance -Cultivation -Irrigation -Sales (deliveries, farm stand etc) Our days in the field are generally kept ~8 hours. However, there are some tasks to be done at odd hours that will be a part of the job. These include opening/closing the farm stand, closing hoop houses in the evenings, wholesale deliveries, weekend irrigation and necessary harvest, etc. This still leaves us time for many summer lake adventures, hikes, yoga, music and dancing. We try to keep our work/training days in the field to 8 hours, and we often work just 4 hours on Fridays to enjoy an extended weekend. We work rain or shine, heat or cold--though there are often tasks best suited for whichever weather conditions are at hand. Days are usually well-paced and we rarely perform a single task for more than a couple of hours. Occasional lifting of 50# is necessary. Because our farm is very small, we will generally be working together, side-by-side. This creates a learning environment in which you get to learn from experience and direct conversation and discussion with the farmers. As well, there will be times when you are asked to work alone or without supervision. We will have monthly check-ins and two evaluation sessions.
Skills Desired: We are looking for someone who has the following qualities: Physical work experience--preferably on a farm. We would prefer to hire someone who has spent a whole season, or most of a season, working or interning on a farm. We need to know that you work hard, sweat and enjoy a satisfying day of labor. Ability to lift 50 lbs.--however, we are trying to keep loads lighter for long-term spine health. Desire to learn: asking questions and attempting to do your best quality work will be highly regarded. General fitness. You don’t need to be a marathon runner, but you do need to be capable of enduring long days of bending, lifting, shoveling, pushing wheelbarrows and more. Mindfulness: of self, the people around you, the environment, your actions and reactions. Practiced communication skills: we need to be able to talk openly about what and how work is being done. We will work and live in close quarters and need to know how you are feeling. A willingness/desire to improve communication skills is important. Beginner mentality: No matter how much experience you have, we want you to enter this program as a beginner with humility, and an openness to our ways of doing things. Active listening: we will expect you to practice generous, active listening and will provide you with a worksheet. Self-motivation, independence and work ethic: we will expect you to be observant and notice what needs to be done. Flexibility: plans change constantly with farming based on weather, opportunities, or mishaps, and you need to be able to roll with it. Prioritizing is difficult on the farm with endless variables involved, and you will often see the decision making process play our right in front of you. Clean drivers license: you may be asked to drive our truck to farmers market or on deliveries
Meals: Free Mahonia-grown vegetables with seasonal variability Discounted (25% off) non-Mahonia products from our farm stand (honey, flour, veggies from other farms, etc)
Stipend: Starting Compensation: $15-$17/hr DOE $100/month self-care bonus 1 day/month paid sick leave $500 season completion bonus Promotion to higher wages, management position is possible with return the following season. *highly experienced= 2 or more full seasons of similar veggie farming experience, with management experience a plus
Housing: Because we farm on leased land, and we do not live on the farm. However, we are lucky to own a house on a large lot in the middle of Sisters less than a mile from the farm. Our lot has ample room for our house, a converted-garage home for Benji’s dad, a geodesic dome greenhouse, propagation house, 2 small cabins, an outdoor kitchen and outdoor shower and compost toilet. One cabin is kept available for guests while the other is reserved for a member of the farm crew. The cabins each have a private feel. The insulated cabin is equipped with electricity and a space heater. Wifi works well. The bathroom is outdoors with full privacy enclosure, a hot shower and a bucket-system compost toilet. The outdoor kitchen includes a full-sized fridge, running cold water, dishes, pots and pans, a tea kettle, a toaster oven, and a five-burner propane cooktop. Our home is within walking distance from a laundromat, groceries, coffee shops, library, trails, etc. Having a car is very handy, as Bend is a 30 minute drive and has a lot more to offer. We love furry friends, but due to past experience we have a strict no-pet policy with our Apprentices.
Preferred method of Contact: email