Dreaming of living the life of a Homesteader? Tired of the rat race? Want a simpler, less stressful life? Looking for a way to begin homesteading but not sure where to start? A homestead apprenticeship is a perfect way to bridge the gap.
Or perhaps, you’ve been dabbling in the lost arts of homesteading and want to test your skills before heading out into the great unknown? Watching YouTube will only get you so far. Weekend classes can teach you valuable skills as well, but nothing compares to real life experience. Making the first big step into the wilderness is not for the faint of heart. A homestead apprenticeship is a safe way to test the waters.
Every one who has been down this road has stories to tell, both good and bad. That’s all part of the adventure of living the homesteading life. Opportunities where your greatest fears will be challenged. Situations where you will be tested to see what you are made of. It is in these most difficult challenges, where the skills you have learned beforehand will be tested and tried.
Hone your homesteading skills through apprenticeship
There’s no better test of your endurance than to live it out. But to do so requires an environment where your skills and character will be tested to the breaking point. No one in their right mind would learn to walk a tight rope without a safety net. Having a net which you can fall back on if needed, produces confidence through practice, trial and error. The greatest lessons of life are often the result of our failures, and it is what we do with these lessons which then defines who we are.
Our homestead apprenticeship program in partnership with Fields of Zion International offers many opportunities for learning directly under the wing of experienced guides who have made the journey and lived to tell the tale.
Apply OnlineRead the stories of our founders, their journey, and how they got started on the homesteading trail here. (Link)
Learning Opportunities as a Homestead Apprentice
Homesteading skills related to land and buildings.
Post and Beam
A huge part of homesteading is learning basic trade skills, as the cost to have someone else fix or build can often be out of reach for the homestead budget. Homestead apprenticeship students have the opportunity to learn valuable skills such as:
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- Land selection, purpose and acquisition
- Building construction: residential carpentry, electrical, plumbing, design, masonry, heating systems
- Landscape design and earthwork
- Light commercial design & construction
- Alternative energy: solar PV, solar hot water, geothermal
- Building maintenance
Homestead skills relating to livestock:
Ducks for meat and eggs.
A homestead apprenticeship offers many opportunities to learn animal husbandry.
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- Raising backyard poultry
- Chickens & ducks for meat and eggs.
- Pigs on the homestead for land clearing and meat
- Small ruminant care and housing
- Hay & feed storage
- Goat on the homestead for meat & milk
- Basic creamery skills
Homestead skills relating to gardening:
Growing vegetables on the homestead.
The homestead apprenticeship offers opportunities to learn what it takes to have a successful homestead garden.
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- The homestead garden
- Fertility and soil management
- Homestead orchard crops
- Herbs and flowers
- The importance of livestock
Homestead skills relating to preserving:
Cheese making
Knowing how to preserve the foods foods grow is an integral homesteading skill. A homestead apprenticeship teaches:
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- Canning
- Freeze drying
- Dehydration
- Food storage and safety
- Cheese making
Homestead skills relating to on farm business:
Selling at Farmer’s Markets
The fact is that no matter how self-sufficient we try to be, there will always be reasons to need some form of income. For many homesteaders the dream of self-sufficiency means having an income stream that originates on the homestead. Being able to produce an abundance to sell or trade at some point in the journey can really be rewarding. Homestead apprenticeship offers opportunities to learn how to move to the next level in the following areas:
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- Market gardening
- The farmstead creamery
- Selling wholesale & retail
- The on farm market
- Meat & eggs for resale
- Licensing
- Agrotourism opportunities
- Value added products
- CSA
- Sales & marketing on the farmstead
- Distribution & farmers markets
Homestead skills relating to equipment:
Farm Equipment Operation and Service
Successful homesteaders need a basic knowledge of the equipment needed on a small farm. Homestead apprenticeship teaches basic familiarity with the following:
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- Gardening hand and power tools
- Tractors, basic service and maintenance
- Construction hand and power tools
- Vehicles, basic service & maintenance
Homestead skills relating to Mental preparedness:
For the homesteader, there is no more important skill than mental preparedness. One problem with venturing into to unknown is that while we may be able to mentally prepare for certain situations, the very nature of the beast says that unknown events are sure to happen. The everyday life of a homesteader becomes to expect the unexpected. There is no way around it, but that’s all part of the adventure! Homestead apprenticeship offers invaluable insight into the thought process of dealing with life’s daily hiccups, while keeping your sanity, and making sure you live to fight another day.
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- Character development
- Leadership skills
- Communication
- Community living
- Faith and Spirituality
A 2022 survey by Homesteaders of America showed that 74% of those polled claimed to be of Christian faith, and the largest majority of 43% were conservative in their political views. We believe there is a strong reason for this trend, and that the need for spirituality in the life of a homesteader is extremely important.
Ministry on the Homestead
For those interested in a closer walk with God, we also offer tools for ministry on the homestead. Visit our ministry website here.
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- Family ministry
- House church
- Intentional Christian Community living
A day in the life of a homestead apprentice
Harvesting
Here’s what an average day might look like as a homestead apprentice.
Farm tasks for the day are assigned weekly, but life on the homestead is always subject to the unexpected, so tasks may need to be re-evaluated as needed. Otherwise farm chores begin around 7am. Feeding the chickens, pigs, goats and ducks happens every day despite the weather. Morning milking, hay and water are done as well as a visual check of pens and other areas of the farm which might need attention. This is also the time for bottle feeding the goat kids.
Mornings are the busiest times on the farm when everyone pitches in to help. Someone will hang the open flag out to welcome customers to the on farm market. Then we’ll all gather together for a snack or late breakfast and discuss the plan for the day.
Skill building takes place throughout the day with a break for lunch in the middle. The group will usually participate together in a learning activity such as making cheese or a construction project. Then individuals will be assigned differing tasks. Sometimes we’ll be working as a group, sometimes in pairs, sometimes alone. While tasks like milking stay the same, the farm and Mother Nature present differing challenges almost daily.
Milking Goats
5-6 days a week, participants will be given task assignments for different areas of farm business. This is a way to practice skills learned while earning a monthly stipend covering room & board. Examples of work assignments might look like; assisting with farm market tasks, Cleaning eggs, covering milking/dairy shifts, garden related tasks, cleaning pens or assisting with butchering poultry to name a few. Typically 4-5 hours or 24 hours per week.
Optional working shifts may also be available as a way to earn extra income on farm. First come first serve. Pay will be based on job /skill level.
Throughout the day, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn from our resident homesteaders. While some projects take a few hours, some may take days or weeks to complete. But the satisfaction of seeing a project from start to finish, knowing you had a hand in its completion, is one of the most rewarding aspects of homesteading.
Wood Fired Pizza
Evenings typically end in gathering for a meal and fellowship time. It’s a time to share and learn from each other. Good food and great laughs! We offer a weekly Christian study and fellowship events as well for those interested.
Meals:
Apprentices team up and share in kitchen/cooking duties. Cooking will often be a skill building exercise in itself.
We provide basic organic staples: flour, grains, beans, lentils, oil, rice, spices, etc. We also provide our own goat milk, yogurt, cheese, and eggs. Please note: our meat, eggs, and dairy products are not 100% organic. Organic Produce will be grown by participants and supplemented in the off season. Quantities are limited. Special dietary needs may require an surcharge.
Evening meals are provided 6 days per week. 1 day each week we encourage our participants to venture out and explore. Dinner on this day is the participants responsibility and it’s a great opportunity to get a taste of the local flavor.
Breakfast & Lunch will be prepared by participants. Additional snacks are the participants responsibility.
Commitment:
Minimum stay is 3 months
Full season homestead apprenticeship 1 year.
First Priority and placement is given to longer stays and married couples.
Accommodations:
Individuals: Bunk room style living arrangements (2-3 bunks per room). Rooms feature WiFi, 110v power outlets, desk, heated in winter.
Couples: private bedroom features WiFi, 110v power outlets, desk, heated in winter. (Camper option available 3 seasons.)
All students share communal bath, kitchen, cooking, dining and lounging facilities. Baths include composting toilets & indoor shower. Kitchen includes indoor & outdoor cooking/prep areas, wood fired oven, gas grill, hot & cold potable water, utensils, cookware, electric stovetop, etc.
Homestead Apprenticeship Pricing:
Introductory Homestead Experience – 3 months
$1499 individual, $2699 Married Couple
Intermediate Homesteading Adventure – 6 month
$1999 Individual, $3499 Married Couple
Intensive school of Homesteading – 12 month
$2999 Individual, $4999 Married Couple
Books and materials: a list of recommended and required items can be found here. These items are at the participants expense.
Room & Board: $1400/month. (Paid out of monthly stipend earned though work credit.)
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Apply Online
Interactive Farmstead Learning Centers
Each homesteading apprentice school operates at one of our Interactive Farmstead & Cultural Learning Centers under the direction of a local resident homesteader/farmer. Our vision is to see homesteading schools around the world. Below is our current list of available properties as well as those in progress.
Saco River Farms, Steep Falls, Maine
In 2007, our founders began transforming this 1.5 acre plot of land, located in a rural subdivision, into what has now become a working farmstead. What began as an adventure in rural living, and a desire to be as sustainable as possible, carried them on a unique journey, demonstrating what is possible to those who are willing to go the distance.
More information about the Homestead Apprenticeship school.
We believe in being of clean mind, body and soul. Rules and requirements are set by our resident homesteaders and can vary based on location. However, please keep the following in mind.
House Rules:
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- No Illegal drug use on property.
- No excessive consumption of alcohol.
- No Smoking of any kind on property.
- Sorry, no dogs allowed on property.
- Jeopardizing the safety and or well being of our residents or fellow students will result in immediate removal from the program without refund.
- This program is not to be considered an offer of employment or housing. Student housing is valid only for the duration of your paid enrollment.
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Healthy, Sustainable, Fresh Food…
From Our Farm to Your Table.
That’s Our promise!
