Meet our 2023 Farm Apprentices
Elaine, Georgia
Why did you choose to become an apprentice: Amber Waves has a great learning program. I was interested in the process of growing grains. It’s something I haven’t done and I’m excited to learn about it this season.
What do you value the most about your experience so far: I value making a community with my fellow farmers.
What do you plan to do after your apprenticeship: I plan on continuing farming one way to another next year.
Your favorite farm task/chore and why: Transplanting is one of my favorite tasks. It’s like a video game. Lightning Round: Favorite veggie: Kohlrabi
Planting or harvesting: Harvesting
Dad hat or classic trucker hat: Dad
Ocean or bay: Ocean Cherry tomato or heirloom: Heirloom
Sarah, Pennsylvania
Why did you choose to become an apprentice: I wanted to try farming and AW has a really great apprenticeship program where I’d be able to learn and experience a lot.
What do you value the most about your experience so far: The emphasis on us learning new things and having detailed discussions about all things farm.
What do you plan to do after your apprenticeship: Continue farming hopefully!
Your favorite farm task/chore and why: Driving a tractor and packing CSA boxes. Lightning Round: Favorite veggie: Any fresh herbs
Planting or harvesting: Planting
Dad hat or classic trucker hat: Trucker
Ocean or bay: Ocean
Cherry tomato or heirloom: Cherry
Julia, Oregon
Why did you choose to become an apprentice: I wanted to work outside and find a community that values education.
What do you value the most about your experience so far: I had a little bit of farm experience prior to Amber, and I love being able to build on that existing knowledge and grow more confident in myself and my farming abilities!
What do you plan to do after your apprenticeship: At the end of this season, I will move back to Oregon and work another winter in the greenhouses at a lavender farm. I don’t fully know what is in store for me next summer, but I am thinking about coming back for a second season!
Your favorite farm task/chore and why: My favorite farm task is transplanting. I’ve really enjoyed learning how to drive the transplanter and it is rewarding to get more comfortable with practice. The other side of this task is sitting low down on the back of the transplanter where we take the little baby plants from a tray and tuck them into their new homes in the ground.
Lightning Round: Favorite veggie: Peppers
Planting or harvesting: Planting
Dad hat or classic trucker hat: Trucker
Ocean or bay: Ocean
Cherry tomato or heirloom: heirloom
Zoe, New Jersey
Why did you choose to become an apprentice: I chose to work at Amber Waves because of their comprehensive apprenticeship program as well as their public programming and community engagement.
What do you value the most about your experience so far: I value the opportunity to learn within such a vibrant farming community and spend every day outside!
What do you plan to do after your apprenticeship: After the apprenticeship, I plan to continue farming either at Amber Waves or another farm. I would eventually like to work with sheep to combine my interests of textiles, food, and farming.
Your favorite farm task/chore and why: I love driving the transplanter because of the precision and teamwork it involves! Lightning Round: Favorite veggie: Zucchini
Planting or harvesting: Harvesting
Dad hat or classic trucker hat: Dad
Ocean or bay: Ocean
Cherry tomato or heirloom: Cherry
Lily, New York
Why did you choose to become an apprentice: I have always loved food, so I went to Culinary School; as my passion for food has grown, so has my curiosity for the growing process.
What do you value the most about your experience so far: Learning how to care for plants! From seed to harvest, there is something each part of the growing process can teach you; plants are just growing and adapting. Watching them do that and seeing how your contribution creates a healthy plant makes each moment meaningful. The value of just accepting each part of the process is a great mindset to wake up with.
What do you plan to do after your apprenticeship: I am working on launching my own cookware company! So, I will be working on a Kickstarter and growing that business.
Your favorite farm task/chore and why: Watering; I didn't realize how many techniques go into properly watering. It would be intuitive, and eventually, you better understand what the plants need. Watering is about knowing the whole environment when to let something be, and when to intervene (for example, as it's gotten hotter, we need to water more); when you get it right and walk out of the greenhouse feeling confident. Lightning Round: Favorite veggie: Radish
Planting or harvesting: Planting
Dad hat or classic trucker hat: Dad
Ocean or bay: Bay
Cherry tomato or heirloom: Heirloom
Teo, Uruguay
Why did you choose to become an apprentice: Last year, thanks to my employer in Uruguay invited me to learn at Amber Waves and have the opportunity to be part of the apprenticship training.
What do you value the most about your experience so far: They have a great team. They all care about your wellbeing and support you in every task. They spend time with you and answer your questions and give you the opportunity to practice in the field.
What do you plan to do after your apprenticeship: To start a new farm in José Ignacio Uruguay, taking as an example the great Amber Waves project, but starting from the beginning.
Your favorite farm task/chore and why: Harvesting and making CSA boxes, its fun, dynamic, creative, and you can always learn something new.
Lightning Round: Favorite veggie: Arugula
Planting or harvesting: Harvesting
Dad hat or classic trucker hat: Trucker
Ocean or bay: Ocean
Cherry tomato or heirloom: Cherry