One of the most inspiring parts of our lives is the joy, energy and curiosity that young people bring to Blue Rock Station. Over the years, folks have found their way here and many have asked to stay for a few weeks or months to learn a bit and experience a greener lifestyle.
Our internship program began in 2007 when Elyse Perruchon called and asked if she might intern with us for part of the summer.
The idea of interns had not occurred to us – but Elyse was so sweet and intelligent that we gave it a try. Over the years the program has grown (and become a bit more formalized), with more then 80 interns by 2022. We soon were receiving far more requests for internships than we could manage (we turn away 10 candidates for every one accepted).
If you are interested in finding out more about becoming an intern at Blue Rock Station, read on…
- Internship Guidelines / What to Expect
- Internship Application (first step – fill this out and then we will talk)
- Internship Agreement (we will sign this after all details set)
2022 Summer Internships (April through September – minimum two weeks but for a real learning experience four weeks or more is best)
At Blue Rock Station, a green living farm, we take pride in our ability to translate green living principles (re-think, repair, reuse, reduce, recycle, respect) into ways to live happy and fulfilling lives. The goal for the summer intern program is to provide a wide range of opportunities for each person who lives, eats and works at the farm to find their own definition of sustainability by designing and building at least one project.
Interns live and work at Blue Rock Station. Annie and Jay Warmke, the owners and operators have lived in other parts of the world and enjoy hosting interns from around the globe, as well as from the US. Blue Rock Station plays host to many international groups annually and encourages an exchange of learning among visitors and interns. Sustainable living translates easily into any language.
Some examples of typical Skill-building Projects:
Building/construction/systems:
• Design and build water collection for the tiny house project
• Design and build solar electric system for the tiny house project
• Design and complete finish work on the tiny house (325 sq ft building) including making straw blocks for insulation & earthen plastering
• Finish work on existing buildings (new barn, Earthship, Dogwood Chalet) including work on a water heating system for the New Barn
• Earth plastering and basic carpentry
Ecology:
• Implement the beginning phases of the forest management plan for BRS
• Map the 33 acres of forest at BRS
• Create a forest walking tour that includes signage for plants/trees
Food production/preservation
• Plant spring garden/create schedule for succession planting
• Plan and plant the summer, fall or winter garden
• Conduct a food preservation program
• Create water system for west pasture
Marketing
• Create videos for use with BRS booklets including rammed-earth tire foundation construction and how to build a plastic bottle greenhouse
• Create regular podcasts for BRS projects
Skills You’ll Learn:
• Participate in the photovoltaic system installation to learn the basics
• Learn how to make and apply a variety of earthen plasters
• Assist in a straw bale build including rammed-earth tire foundation work
• Goat herd management including milking and natural health
• Assist with garden food planning & production
• General farm chores that might include feeding chickens, milking goats, feeding pigs, working in the garden
• Lead and participate in tours
• Participate in menu planning, daily cooking and food preservation
• Assist other interns in their projects
• Write about your experiences and projects for blogs and/or a publication
Blog Post: My 2023 Internship at Blue Rock Station (Dalia Fabb-Soto)