Garden Internship
OAEC offers two internship positions each year in our 45 year-old biointensive organic gardens. The gardens are a rich setting… Read More >
Program Administration Internship
OAEC brings on two Program Administration interns each year to support a wide range of OAEC programs and departments including… Read More >
Internships Overview
Each year, OAEC hires 6 enthusiastic interns to live and learn at OAEC for 10 months. Interns work 25 hours per week in one department – Program Administration, Facilities or Garden. In return, each intern is given full room and board which includes a cozy private cabin to live in and access to our fully-stocked organic, vegetarian kitchen. Interns get generous vacation and sick leave, access to all the facilities onsite, and free participation in the Permaculture Design Certification course. Interns take part in the life of the residential community and participate in community cooking and chore rotations. There may be opportunities for additional paid work on site, though these are coordinated separately from the internship. All land residents and staff, including interns, are required to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
More Information
Internship length: Internships begin in early February and end in mid-December.
Intentional community: Interns participate as members of our community while at OAEC. We share meals and facilities. All community members also have collective responsibilities, with all residents participating in scheduled cooking, cleaning and chore rotations (these are in addition to intern work hours). We celebrate non-sectarian diversity and are fully committed to maintaining a pluralistic, supportive, and honest working and living environment. The community is comprised of approximately 17 people, including 2 teenagers.
The land: OAEC is located in western Sonoma County on 80 acres of organic gardens, meadows and forest of oak, fir and redwood. During free time, interns are encouraged to take advantage of the facilities, which include:
- backcountry trails
- a large swimming pond
- a library/meeting room
- industrial kitchen and pantry
- a hot tub
- a cedar sauna
Housing: Intern housing is provided, with each intern having their own cabin that is completely private and free-standing. Each of the units vary in regards to size and amenities, but all are rustic and conducive to a simple lifestyle. Interns share access to the community bathhouse and hot showers.
Meals: A highlight of living at OAEC is the food! Produce is largely from the Center’s renowned gardens and other high quality, locally sourced ingredients are available for personal meals. During OAEC courses and events, meals are cooked by professional chefs. When there are no visitors scheduled, residents take turns cooking a shared dinner together every night. Breakfast and lunch are ad-hoc or on your own with full use of the kitchen and pantry ingredients. While OAEC maintains a vegetarian kitchen, it should be noted that not all residents are vegetarians.
Course participation: Interns have the opportunity to participate in OAEC’s course offerings. While this option is dependent on the available space in each course, interns are guaranteed a spot in one open-to-the-public course during their internship.
OAEC seeks individuals who embrace living simply in a semi-rural community while working in a thriving nonprofit organization. Applicants should be flexible, energetic, comfortable in groups, and able to manage a diversity of challenges. A good sense of humor, communication skills, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn are essential attributes of prospective interns. Each internship is intended for one person, as we cannot accommodate spouses, children or families. Due to the sensitivity of our natural environment, pets are not allowed.
Apply
- The priority deadline is October 15th. Early application is encouraged!
- Visit each individual internship page – Facilities, Garden, Program Administration – for more specifics and to download the application.