Apprenticeship Program

Interested in urban farming?  Consider our apprenticeship program!

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The Lansing Urban Farm Project (LUFP) will accept four Apprentices at Urbandale Farm in the 700 block of S. Hayford.  Apprentices will learn how to start and run an urban farm and will acquire hands-on experience in growing and marketing produce.  Apprentice graduates interested in starting their own urban farm will be assisted in finding land and planning for their first year.

• Apprenticeships run from April 30 through November 1, about 20 hours/week, and include a mix of instruction, farm work, market experience, and field trips.

• Apprentices receive a stipend of $4000 over the course of the program.

• Apprenticeships are open to all Lansing residents, but we especially encourage applicants who are young adults (18-25) and who live in the Urbandale Farm service neighborhood (bordered by 496, Clemens, Kalamazoo, and 127).

• There will be an information session about the apprenticeships hosted at Foster Community Center, 200 N. Foster, Room 109, on Thursday, March 14, at 7PM.   Those interested are strongly encouraged to apply.  Applications are due by 5PM on Thursday, March 21.

Requirements for the apprenticeship

  • Interest in learning how to grow and market local food, and to engage in urban farming as a community-building effort.
  • Physical requirement:  Must be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions and perform a diverse set of farm tasks that will include lifting and carrying heavy objects (as much as 40 pounds at times).
  • Must be available to attend the program for its entire duration, April 30 through November 1, for about 20 hours per week.  The schedule will include farm and field experiences 4 mornings a week (Tuesday through Friday, 8am-noon), plus a rotating market schedule to include Wednesday afternoons at the Allen Street Farmer’s Market and Saturday morning/afternoons at the Urbandale Farm Stand.  No more than 5 program days may be missed (throughout the whole program) before stipend payments are affected.
  • Applicants must undergo a background check.  This is the policy followed by Allen Neighborhood Center to screen all staff and volunteers.
  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the information session on March 14th.

Thank you for your interest in the Apprenticeship Program!

Contact us at 517-999-3916 for more information or to RSVP for the info session.