Introduction
The internship is an 8-week period of practical, supervised, real-life training on a family permaculture farm on Hawai'i Island. We offer qualified applicants a unique opportunity to
- Gain hands-on experience
- Participate in on-going projects
- Carry out a supervised independent study project.
This program is for those who want to expand their work experience in agroforestry and permaculture, and challenge themselves in creating an extension-level publication that serves the Hawai'i community.
Summer internship position available (June - July 2012)
Above photo: Our farm, Hawai'iki Agroforestry Project, in Holualoa, Hawaii, showing alley cropping research site in 2003.
Activities
We have a wide range of on-going activities and special projects that interns will have opportunities to participate in consistent with their skills, knowledge, and abilities. Interns work on our farm as well as participate in other facets of our activities, such as educational events and research projects. Interns work a minimum of 30 hrs/week on farm projects, as well as working on a special independent study project that we will collaboratively design during the first two weeks of the internship.
New Project: Hawaii Community-Based Food Security (2012-2013) This project educates Hawaii residents about food security and how to grow food at home in perennial gardens with reduced imported inputs of fertilizers, fuel, and chemicals. Interns will have an opportunity to participate in this project consistent with their writing, editing, and research skills.
New Project: Value-added small farm enterprises for Hawai‘i (2012-2013) This project promotes high quality food, fiber, and health care crops grown in diverse agroforestry systems to provide Pacific island family farms both subsistence and commercial opportunities. Interns will have an opportunity to participate in this project consistent with their writing, editing, and research skills.
Revitalizing Breadfruit—Ho'oulu ka 'Ulu (2010-2015), a project to promote breadfruit as an attractive, delicious, nutritious, abundant, affordable, and culturally appropriate food which addresses Hawai'i's food security issues. Interns will have an opportunity to participate in this project consistent with their abilities.
Hawai'iki Agroforestry Project Interns will be involved in developing and maintaining our research and demonstration farm, which currently includes planting a new 1/3 acre tropical multistory perennial homegarden. Our farm is located in Holualoa, Hawaii, in the heart of the upland Kona agricultural belt, with a tropical climate and average annual rainfall of 2,000 mm (80 inches). We planted our farm in 1995, and much of it is currently being redesigned and renovated for additional food production. Craig is currently spending much of his time on educational and research projects, which means interns work long hours in the field independently.
Agroforestry education We take part in various educational activities such as workshop presentations, talks for community groups and school classes, and farm tours. We also publish a wide variety of educational materials, including the popular Agroforestry.Net and The Overstory E-journal. Interns can assist with educational activities at a level consistent with their knowledge and skills.
Above photo: Craig Elevitch is currently focused on education and research in agroforestry, food security, and permaculture. With his daily guidance and supervision, interns work largely independently in the field and have opportunities to participate in other educational activities consistent with their experience and abilities.
Qualifications
We are looking for candidates who would like to learn more about agroforestry, permaculture, sustainable development, organic agriculture, local food production and food security, resource conservation, community forestry, environmental education, and similar fields. On-the-ground experience in community service roles weighs heavily in our decision to accept candidates into our program. Completion of a permaculture design course, wilderness awareness training, or on-farm experience are all pluses. We are looking for participants who can work well both independently and who thrive as team members and collaborators. People who have a long track record of carrying out service projects get the most out of this program. Field skills such as in farming and gardening, construction, and field research activities are highly valued, as are writing, communication, and computer skills; however, people who have a long track record of carrying out service projects get the most out of this program. Knowledge of tropical plants, animals, and soils is highly desirable prior to applying. Command of spoken and written English is required.
This is 8-week experience includes a minimum of 30 hours/week of fieldwork on our site plus many hours per week of study and research on an independent study project. There is a $250 reservation fee to be paid in advance to hold your space. The program includes daily interactions with Craig Elevitch regarding fieldwork and coaching. Craig works closely with interns to achieve a valuable experience for everyone. There is usually only one intern at a time participating in the program. There are simple intern living accommodations available. Interns are responsible for your their food and other personal items. Upon successful completion of the internship, the $250 reservation fee is refunded.
Interns must be willing to dedicate themselves entirely to the internship experience during the 8-week period. They must have their own cell phone, laptop computer, and health insurance, and agree to be tobacco, alcohol, and drug-free during the entire internship period. Interns are responsible for their transportation to/from Kona and are required to show us documented legal residency status in the U.S. Due to staff time constraints, we cannot help non-U.S. citizens with immigration documents (in other words, please do not ask us for immigration assistance).
Independent study project
An independent study project complements the field work and is an integral part of the internship. During the first two weeks of the internship, we will develop a project involving research, design, education and possibly field study. The project is intended to produce an extension-level educational product of lasting value (e.g., a how-to guide, research data, workshop curriculum, visual documentation, etc.) that will benefit growers and communities in Hawai'i.
How to Apply
Prospective interns are required to complete our application (Word file). If you have any questions, send an e-mail to internship@agroforestry.net. Brief, specific questions are most likely to be answered quickly. We receive lots of e-mail, so we usually do not have time to answer general questions. Make sure that you have thoroughly read the website and supporting materials before you contact us or apply.
Download the application (Word file)
Above photo: 2011 intern Elin Rosenblad at breadfruit harvest location. Elin's independent study project documented her 7-week experience of replacing her familiar northern European foods with locally grown foods, such as breadfruit.
FAQ
What are the costs?
There is a $250 reservation fee to be paid in advance in order to hold your place. Once your place is reserved, cancellations up to 60 days before your internship start date and receive a refund minus a $100 cancellation fee. For cancellations within 60 days of your internship start date, there is no reservation fee refund. Upon successful completion of the internship, the $250 reservation fee is refunded. Interns cover the costs of their food (aside from what is available from our farm), personal items, and all travel costs to/from Kona. There is no cost for staying on our farm during your internship.
Can I start at any time of the year?
Our internship program is ongoing. We usually have only one intern at any given time, and at certain times of year we cannot accommodate any interns. You should schedule your time here as far in advance as possible to ensure that there is a place for you.
Is this program only for U.S. citizens and permanent residents?
We welcome program participants from anywhere in the world. However, upon arrival you must show us your legal U.S. immigration documentation valid for the entire 8-week period of your internship.
Who will supervise me?
You will be supervised by Craig Elevitch, Director of Agroforestry Net, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to empowering people in agroforestry and ecological resource management. The organization's internationally recognized publications have guided thousands of readers in becoming more proficient in ecological food production, agroforestry, and reforestation. Craig edits The Overstory E-journal, a monthly agroforestry journal with 8,700 subscribers in over 185 countries. He has coordinated numerous workshops and field days for Pacific island agroforestry, with over 2,000 farmers and resource professionals participating since 1993. His books include Agroforestry Guides for Pacific Islands (2000), The Overstory Book: Cultivating Connections with Trees (2004), Traditional Trees of Pacific Islands: Their Culture, Environment, and Use (2006), and Specialty Crops of Pacific Islands (2011) all of which promote diverse agricultural systems that produce abundant food. Pathways to Abundant Gardens: A Pictorial Guide to Successful Organic Growing (2007) highlights Hawai'i gardeners and their vibrant, bountiful, and sustainable food gardens. Craig completed the permaculture certified basic and advanced training in 1990-91, and has authored over 75 permaculture and forest stewardship management plans throughout Hawaii. You can expect an hour or two a day working and/or meeting with Craig.
How much of my time will the internship take?
We expect you to devote yourself entirely to the internship, which includes farm and garden work, your independent study project, educational activities, and other related work and projects. You are also expected to participate in general household activities such as food harvesting, preparation, clean-up, etc. This is not a "9 to 5" experience, rather, it requires flexibility and willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done. We are looking for people who will make the most out of their experience.
Can I complete an internship in less than 8 weeks?
Only in special cases (extensive tropical agroforestry experience and ample experience writing extension-level educational materials) would we consider an internship period of less than 8 weeks.
Will there be an orientation?
There is a two week no-fault trial period during which time you will be able to get a feeling for our farm, projects, and working environment and we will get a sense for how well we work together.
How long will it take for you to respond to e-mail questions?
Before writing us, please read this web page and scan the contents of Agroforestry.net to learn more about our activities. Questions that are specific and require brief answers are more likely to be answered quickly.
Above photo: Audience for Craig Elevitch's presentation about traditional tree homegardens, which took place at the Kona Outdoor Circle, in Kona, Hawaii.
Accommodations
Above photo: Interns stay in an open-air cabin in the midst of a perennial homegarden and food forest setting. There is outhouse, kitchen, and shower access.
How to Apply
Prospective advance study interns are required to complete our application [Word format]. If you have any questions, send an e-mail to internship@agroforestry.net. Brief, specific questions are most likely to be answered quickly. We receive lots of e-mail, so we usually do not have time to answer general questions. Make sure that you have thoroughly read the website and supporting materials before you contact us or apply.
Taylor Thornton (2009). "Craig's internship introduced me to an exciting model for tropical subsistence through agroforestry, as well as numerous methods with which to educate others. This was a very physically and intellectually demanding experience through which I learned many valuable and often unexpected lessons. It required a considerable investment of time and energy on my part, but I gained immeasurably in return." Read Taylor's independent study project, "Can I Grow a Complete Diet: Designing a Tropical Subsistence Garden," written during her internship.
D. Niki Mazaroli (2011). "The guidance was invaluable. Craig’s advice was (and remains) incredibly important to my total experience. I valued his open communication and professional approach to problem solving and advice giving. In the spirit of 'See one, do one, teach one', I thrive when shown tasks and then am able to work through them on my own. Thus, I thought that the internship had a perfect balance of guided and independent work—the best of both worlds!" Watch Niki's introduction to tropical homegardens, produced during her internship.
Lauren Mawe (2012). "The immersive experience working in tropical agroforestry helped me rapidly grow my skills set, and build up my strength. I appreciate how Craig values the cultural heritage in Hawaii, and also requires a research project that is of educational benefit here. Living in a context that was environmentally conscientious and sustainable was invaluable. " Read Lauren's independent study project, "Illustrated Homegardens for living light in the Tropics" created during her internship.
Above photo: Agricultural extension agents and farmers tour Hawa'iki Agroforestry Project.
Contact information:
Craig Elevitch
Permanent Agriculture Resources
PO Box 428
Holualoa, Hawaii 96725 USA
E-mail: craig@agroforestry.net
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