Internships
Transform yourself and transform the world
at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice (WVC), Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, near Terre Haute.
Do you dream of owning a farm someday? Are you interested in hands-on environmental and sustainability work? Do you want to learn more about the local food system? As a White Violet Center intern, you’ll work alongside our experienced staff who will teach you by doing. This is not a classroom study but actual farm labor that will educate you on what it takes to grow food and raise animals.
It’s all very hands-on.
Expect to work outdoors for hours at a time planting, harvesting and weeding in the certified organic garden and in the barn and pastures caring for the alpacas and/or with the alpaca fiber.
Be a part of the sustainability cycle.
On our farm we create healthy food in a way that restores the earth, rather than takes from it. We care for our animals and in return we get eggs, compostable material and fiber. We’re farmers and we’re proud of what we do. Join us.
Curious about day-to-day activities, benefits, and general internship details?
Organic farming
Get knee-deep in vegetables and fruit. Discover what it takes to run a small USDA certified organic farm — planning, planting, nurturing, harvesting, and selling.
Alpacas & chickens
Participate in the day-to-day work of animal husbandry, maintaining pastures and supplying for nutritional needs of alpacas and chickens.
Fiber arts
Fiber arts abound in the winter months and on rainy days — felting, spinning, weaving, knitting, skirting, and dyeing.
A day in the life of a White Violet Center intern
Every day is a little different and work will always depend on what time of year it is and the weather. Responsibilities are rotated among the interns so you’ll either start with animal chores or begin in the field. Here's a sample of what to expect from life on the farm!
Field work
8:30 a.m.
Weed, harvest, weed, seed, transplant, weed, trellis, prune, wash and pack produce. In the cold-weather season, you may skirt alpaca fiber instead.
Noon: Lunch
1 p.m.
Weed, harvest, weed, seed, transplant, weed, trellis, prune, wash and pack produce. In the cold-weather season, you may head back inside to skirt some more alpaca fiber.
4 p.m.
Done
Animal chores
8 a.m.
Animal chores: scooping poop, changing water, restocking hay, giving feed, collecting eggs, and checking on the well-being of the animals
10 a.m.
During the crop-growing season, join the garden to weed, harvest, weed, seed, transplant, weed, trellis, prune, wash and pack produce. In the cold-weather season, skirt alpaca fiber or join the garden to weed, harvest, weed, seed, transplant, weed, trellis, prune, wash and pack produce.
Noon: Lunch
1 p.m.
During the crop-growing season, it's back to the garden to weed, harvest, weed, seed, transplant, weed, trellis, prune, wash and pack produce. In the cold-weather season, skirt alpaca fiber or join the garden to weed, harvest, weed, seed, transplant, weed, trellis, prune, wash and pack produce.
2:30 p.m.
More animal chores: topping off water, restocking hay, collecting eggs, and checking on the well-being of the animals
3:30 p.m.
Wash eggs until done
Other possibilities
Work the Farm Store
Work the Terre Haute Farmers’ Market
Weekly intern enrichments
Weaving and felting for farm store products
Assisting in the commercial kitchen
Help in the cut flowers operation
Evening chores such as securing the chickens and closing farm buildings
For more about life outside of work, learn more about the housing and other benefits of your internship.
Questions?
Thank you for your interest in an internship with us! Do you have more questions about being an intern at White Violet Center for Eco-Justice? Please complete the form here and someone from the program will contact you.
Ready to apply? Use the button below to head over to the application form instead.
