EP 13 Ever wanted to be a farmer? Hear from two of our apprentices

Описание: What does a modern farming apprenticeship really look like? On this episode of the Amber Waves Farmcast, hosts Amanda and Katie sit down with apprentices Maya and Natalie to unpack a full season on a 35‑acre organic vegetable, grain, and flower farm on the eastern end of Long Island. From learning to drive tractors before a DMV road test to bulk harvests of winter squash and sweet potatoes, they share the skills, surprises, and community that define life on a working, teaching farm. You’ll also hear why apprenticeships matter right now as the average American farmer nears retirement, and how on‑the‑ground experience can shape future paths in food justice, education, and urban agriculture.

What you’ll learn:

How a paid, 9–10 month farming apprenticeship works at Amber Waves, from weekly classroom topics to hands-on rotations across equipment, flowers, CSA, and wash/pack[[1]]
The difference between August “harvest, harvest, harvest” and fall’s heavy, bulk storage crops like winter squash, popcorn, and sweet potatoes
Confidence-building firsts: irrigation fixes with an impact driver, running implements, and working with a 20+ person seasonal crew
Why apprenticeships are critical: the average U.S. farmer is 58, and the country is losing roughly a million acres of farmland per year
Urban ↔ rural bridges: taking full‑season field experience back to city gardens, school programs, and food access work

Chapters:

0:00 Welcome to Amber Waves Farmcast
0:40 What is a farming apprenticeship?
3:30 Inside the Amber Waves curriculum and rotations
8:00 Apprentices’ origin stories: city roots, WWOOFing, and scaling up
14:30 Tractor firsts, irrigation saves, and crew life
21:00 August intensity vs. fall bulk harvests
27:00 Cooking from the field: squash, tomatoes, radicchio
32:30 Why apprenticeships matter now: pipeline, land, and livelihoods
38:00 Urban agriculture, education, and what’s nex

00:00 Reflecting on New Friendships and Community
00:35 Introduction to Amber Waves Farm Cast
01:11 Defining a Farming Apprenticeship
03:21 Natalie's Journey to Farming
04:18 Maya's Path to Amber Waves
06:55 The Challenges and Rewards of Farming
13:03 The Intensity of August Harvest
15:31 The Joys of Fall Farming
20:39 Applying Farm Experience to Urban Life
23:51 Advice for Future Apprentices
24:18 Preparing for the Apprenticeship
25:22 Choosing the Right Farm
27:30 The Learning Experience
31:15 Economic Considerations
34:34 Cooking and Community
41:10 Looking Ahead
Call to action:

Enjoyed this episode? Please like, subscribe, and share to support the show.
Interested in Amber Waves’ apprenticeship program? Apply or learn more on our website.
Join our CSA, visit the farm market, or donate to support farmer training and food access.

Hashtags:

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