Information about the 2023 Organic Farm Internship
More About the Organic Farm/VSA Internship Program:
The VOL Supported Ag (VSA) program is an on campus organic Community Supported Ag (CSA) program. In a CSA program, individuals and families from the community sign up to receive a share of a farm’s harvest by paying a flat rate fee in the winter/early spring preceding a growing season. Their fees go towards the farm’s supplies, seeds, and employee salaries. In return for their support, each member receives a weekly share of vegetables and other items grown on the farm. The VSA season lasts 20 weeks, from May to October, and we offer 90 shares. Interns that apply and are selected to participate take two classes related to organic production and to the internship for which they earn credit. When the semester concludes in May, interns are expected to work full time on the UT Organic Crops Unit in South Knoxville. The internship is extremely hands-on and emphasizes learning through experience. You will have many opportunities to learn about crop production, rotation, succession, small business marketing and management, pest management, weed control, and food safety practices (among other topics).
How to Apply for the Organic Farm/VSA Internship Program:
The Organic Farm Internship Program is not currently hiring.
More Information About the Classes:
PLSC 275 — Organic and Sustainable Crop Production. This class is taught by Dr. David Butler. Class description is as follows: Introduction to organic and sustainable production practices and principles for vegetable, fruit, field, and forage crops. Introduction to organic certification, soil fertility & quality, tillage systems, crop rotation, cover crops, propagation, composting, season extension, and management of weeds, insects, & diseases in organic cropping systems.
PLSC 492 — Internship in Plant Sciences. Time/Location is dependent on intern schedules. Registration for this class is locked until all interns have been selected. This class is led by the VSA coordinator. Credit is earned by both successfully completing the class component of the internship in the spring semester as well as participating in field work during summer. During the early spring portion of the class, the interns and the VSA coordinator will discuss topics and projects directly related to the internship and the VSA program including pest and disease management, crop planning, marketing, etc. During the later spring portion class is held on the farm and consists of hands-on tasks such as seeding, transplanting, weeding, etc. in preparation for the upcoming VSA season. After classes end in the spring interns will work full time on the farm to gain experience and earn the remainder of class credit.